Avyaya (Indeclinables) MCQs Quiz | Class 10
This quiz is designed for Class X Sanskrit (Code: 122) students, focusing on Unit: Section C: Applied Grammar. It covers Avyaya (Indeclinables) with specific attention to uchchataiḥ, ca, śvaḥ, hyāḥ, adya, atra–tatra, yatra–kutra, idānīm; adhunā/samprati/sāmpratam; yadā–tadā–kadā; sahasā; vṛthā; śanaiḥ; api; kutaḥ; itastataḥ; yadi–tarhi; yāvat–tāvat. Attempt all 10 multiple-choice questions, then submit to see your score and review answers. You can also download a detailed answer PDF for revision.
Understanding Avyaya (Indeclinables) in Sanskrit
Avyayas (अव्ययानि) are a fundamental part of Sanskrit grammar. Derived from the word ‘Vyaya’ (expenditure or change), ‘Avyaya’ literally means ‘that which does not change’. These are words that do not undergo any declension (change in case, number, gender) or conjugation (change in tense, mood, person). They remain constant in all circumstances, making them unique and important for constructing grammatically correct and meaningful sentences.
Key Characteristics of Avyaya:
- Invariable Form: Avyayas retain their original form regardless of the subject’s gender, number, or case, or the verb’s tense or mood.
- Function: They primarily function as adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, or interjections, adding nuance and structure to sentences.
- Types: Avyayas include adverbs of time (कालवाचक अव्यय), place (स्थानवाचक अव्यय), manner (रीतिवाचक अव्यय), conjunctions (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय), interrogatives (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय), and particles.
Common Avyayas and Their Usage:
Let’s explore some of the important Avyayas covered in your curriculum:
कालवाचक अव्ययानि (Time Adverbs)
- अद्य (adya): Today. (e.g., अद्य रविवासरः अस्ति। – Today is Sunday.)
- श्वः (śvaḥ): Tomorrow. (e.g., श्वः विद्यालयं गमिष्यामि। – I will go to school tomorrow.)
- ह्यः (hyāḥ): Yesterday. (e.g., ह्यः अहम् अपठम्। – I read yesterday.)
- इदानीम् (idānīm): Now, at this moment. (e.g., इदानीं किं करोषि? – What are you doing now?)
- अधुना / सम्प्रति / साम्प्रतम् (adhunā / samprati / sāmpratam): Now, currently. (Synonyms for ‘idānīm’ often. e.g., अधुना वर्षाकालः अस्ति। – Currently, it is the rainy season.)
- यदा… तदा… (yadā… tadā…): When… then… (Correlative pair. e.g., यदा सूर्यः उदेति, तदा कमलानि विकसन्ति। – When the sun rises, then lotuses bloom.)
- कदा (kadā): When? (Interrogative. e.g., त्वं कदा आगमिष्यसि? – When will you come?)
- यावत्… तावत्… (yāvat… tāvat…): As long as / as much as… so long as / so much as… (Correlative pair. e.g., यावत् जीवसि, तावत् सुखं जीव। – As long as you live, live happily.)
स्थानवाचक अव्ययानि (Place Adverbs)
- अत्र (atra): Here. (e.g., अत्र आगच्छ। – Come here.)
- तत्र (tatra): There. (e.g., सः तत्र तिष्ठति। – He stands there.)
- यत्र… तत्र… (yatra… tatra…): Where… there… (Correlative. e.g., यत्र धर्मः, तत्र जयः। – Where there is righteousness, there is victory.)
- कुत्र (kutra): Where? (Interrogative. e.g., त्वं कुत्र गच्छसि? – Where are you going?)
- इतस्ततः (itastataḥ): Here and there, hither and thither. (e.g., बालकाः इतस्ततः धावन्ति। – Children run here and there.)
- कुतः (kutaḥ): Whence? From where? Why? (Interrogative. e.g., भवान् कुतः आगच्छति? – Where do you come from?)
- उच्चैः (uchchataiḥ): Loudly, high. (e.g., सः उच्चैः वदति। – He speaks loudly.)
रीतिवाचक अव्ययानि (Manner Adverbs)
- शनैः (śanaiḥ): Slowly. (e.g., गजः शनैः शनैः गच्छति। – The elephant goes slowly.)
- सहसा (sahasā): Suddenly, immediately, rashly. (e.g., सहसा न विदधीत क्रियाम्। – One should not act rashly.)
- वृथा (vṛthā): In vain, uselessly, for no reason. (e.g., वृथा मा वद। – Don’t speak in vain.)
समुच्चयबोधक / अन्य अव्ययानि (Conjunctions / Other Avyayas)
- च (ca): And. (Always placed after the word it connects. e.g., रामः च श्यामः च। – Rama and Shyam.)
- अपि (api): Also, even, too. (Can also form interrogative sentences. e.g., त्वम् अपि आगच्छसि। – You also come. / त्वम् अपि आगच्छसि? – Do you also come?)
- यदि… तर्हि… (yadi… tarhi…): If… then… (Correlative pair, conditional. e.g., यदि त्वं पठसि, तर्हि सफलः भविष्यसि। – If you study, then you will be successful.)
Quick Revision Checklist:
- Avyayas are indeclinable words.
- They never change form.
- Often function as adverbs, conjunctions, or particles.
- Remember correlative pairs like यदा-तदा, यावत्-तावत्, यदि-तर्हि.
- Practice using कालवाचक (time), स्थानवाचक (place), and रीतिवाचक (manner) avyayas.
Practice Questions (Without Answers):
- एतेषु अव्ययपदं किम्? (अ) बालकः (ब) पठति (स) च (द) सुन्दरम्
- “Tomorrow” इत्यर्थे अव्ययपदं किम्? (अ) अद्य (ब) ह्यः (स) श्वः (द) कदा
- “If you read, then you will pass.” अस्य संस्कृत-अनुवादे कः अव्यय-युग्मः प्रयुक्तः? (अ) यदा-तदा (ब) यावत्-तावत् (स) यदि-तर्हि (द) अत्र-तत्र
- अधोलिखितेषु ‘वर्तमानकाले’ इत्यर्थे अव्ययपदं किम्? (अ) इदानीम् (ब) ह्यः (स) कदा (द) कुतः
- “Don’t speak in vain.” अस्य संस्कृत-अनुवादे ‘in vain’ इत्यर्थे कः अव्ययः प्रयुक्तः? (अ) सहसा (ब) वृथा (स) शनैः (द) उच्चैः
