Sandhi (Selected) MCQs Quiz | Class 10

Understanding Sandhi: A Comprehensive Guide

Sandhi (सन्धिः) in Sanskrit grammar refers to the euphonic combination of two adjacent letters (वर्ण), especially at the junction of words. When two words come together, the last letter of the first word and the first letter of the second word may undergo a change to facilitate easier pronunciation and maintain melodic flow. This process is crucial for understanding and constructing correct Sanskrit sentences.

Key Types of Sandhi

Sandhi is broadly classified into three main types based on the nature of the letters involved:

• Svara Sandhi (स्वरसन्धिः): Union of two vowels.
• Vyanjana Sandhi (व्यञ्जनसन्धिः): Union of a consonant with a vowel or another consonant.
• Visarga Sandhi (विसर्गसन्धिः): Union involving a Visarga (ः) with a vowel or a consonant.

Vyanjana Sandhi (व्यञ्जनसन्धिः) – Consonant Conjunction

Vyanjana Sandhi occurs when a consonant is followed by a vowel or another consonant. Here we focus on specific rules prescribed for Class 10.

1. Conversion of Vargīya 1st Letter to 3rd (जश्त्व सन्धिः – Jaśtva Sandhi)

When a vargīya (belonging to a varga or class) first letter (क्, च्, ट्, त्, प्) is followed by a vowel or any soft consonant (3rd, 4th, 5th letter of any varga, or य्, र्, ल्, व्, ह्), the first letter changes to its own varga’s third letter (ग्, ज्, ड्, द्, ब्).

Rule: क्/च्/ट्/त्/प् + स्वर/मृदुव्यञ्जन = ग्/ज्/ड्/द्/ब्

Examples:

• जगत् + ईशः = जगदीशः (त् changes to द्)
• षट् + आननः = षडाननः (ट् changes to ड्)
• वाक् + ईशः = वागीशः (क् changes to ग्)

2. Conversion of Vargīya 1st Letter to 5th (अनुनासिक सन्धिः – Anunāsika Sandhi)

When a vargīya first letter (क्, च्, ट्, त्, प्) is followed by a nasal consonant (ङ्, ञ्, ण्, न्, म्), the first letter changes to its own varga’s fifth (nasal) letter (ङ्, ञ्, ण्, न्, म्).

Rule: क्/च्/ट्/त्/प् + अनुनासिकव्यञ्जन (ङ्, ञ्, ण्, न्, म्) = ङ्/ञ्/ण्/न्/म्

Examples:

• वाक् + मयम् = वाङ्मयम् (क् changes to ङ्)
• सत् + मार्गः = सन्मार्गः (त् changes to न्)
• षट् + मासः = षण्मासः (ट् changes to ण्)

Visarga Sandhi (विसर्गसन्धिः) – Visarga Conjunction

Visarga (ः) is a voiceless aspirate, generally occurring at the end of a word. It undergoes various changes when followed by certain vowels or consonants.

1. Utva Sandhi (उत्त्व सन्धिः)

This occurs in two main cases:

• a) Visarga (ः) preceded by ‘अ’ and followed by ‘अ’: The visarga and the preceding ‘अ’ together change to ‘ओ’, and the following ‘अ’ changes to avagraha (ऽ).

Rule: अः + अ = ओऽ

Example: सः + अयम् = सोऽयम्

• b) Visarga (ः) preceded by ‘अ’ and followed by a soft consonant (3rd, 4th, 5th letter of any varga, or य्, र्, ल्, व्, ह्): The visarga and the preceding ‘अ’ together change to ‘ओ’.

Rule: अः + मृदुव्यञ्जन = ओ

Example: मनः + हरः = मनोहरः

2. Ratva Sandhi (रेफ सन्धिः / रुत्व सन्धिः)

If a visarga (ः) is preceded by ‘अ’ or ‘आ’ and followed by a vowel or a soft consonant, the visarga changes to ‘र्’ (रेफ).

Rule: अ/आ + ः + स्वर/मृदुव्यञ्जन = अ/आ + र् + स्वर/मृदुव्यञञ्जन

Examples:

• निः + धनः = निर्धनः
• दुः + आत्मा = दुरात्मा (र् + आ = रा)
• कविः + अयम् = कविरयम्

3. Visarga Lopa (विसर्गलोप सन्धिः) – Deletion of Visarga

The visarga may be dropped in certain situations:

• a) Visarga preceded by ‘आ’ and followed by any vowel or soft consonant: The visarga is dropped.

Rule: आः + स्वर/मृदुव्यञ्जन = आ + स्वर/मृदुव्यञ्जन

Example: देवाः + आगच्छन्ति = देवा आगच्छन्ति

• b) Visarga preceded by ‘एषः’ or ‘सः’ and followed by any vowel (except ‘अ’) or any consonant: The visarga is dropped.

Rule: एषः/सः + स्वर (अ-व्यतिरिक्त)/व्यञ्जन = एष/स + स्वर/व्यञ्जन

Examples: सः + एषः = स एषः, एषः + गच्छति = एष गच्छति

4. Visarga Replaced by स्/श्/ष् (सत्व सन्धिः – Satva Sandhi)

When visarga (ः) is followed by certain sibilants or their corresponding class letters, it changes to स्, श्, or ष्.

• a) Visarga to ‘स्’: If visarga is followed by च्, छ्, or श्, it changes to श्. (This is actually śatva, not satva directly. The rule is ः + च्/छ् = श्, ः + त्/थ् = स्). Let’s refine based on typical Class 10:
• i. Visarga to ‘स्’ (त्/थ्): If visarga is followed by त् or थ्, it changes to स्.

Rule: ः + त्/थ् = स्

Example: नमः + ते = नमस्ते

• ii. Visarga to ‘स्’ (क्/ख्/प्/फ् – some cases): If visarga is followed by क्, ख्, प्, or फ्, it often changes to स्.

Rule: ः + क्/ख्/प्/फ् = स् (When the visarga is not preceded by ‘अ’ or ‘आ’, or in certain other contexts)

Example: नमः + कारः = नमस्कारः

• iii. Visarga to ‘श्’ (च्/छ्/श्): If visarga is followed by च्, छ्, or श्, it changes to श्.

Rule: ः + च्/छ्/श् = श्

Example: रामः + शेते = रामश्शेते

• iv. Visarga to ‘ष्’ (ट्/ठ्/ष्): If visarga is followed by ट्, ठ्, or ष्, it changes to ष्.

Rule: ः + ट्/ठ्/ष् = ष्

Example: धनुः + टङ्कारः = धनुष्टङ्कारः

Quick Revision Table

Practice Questions

Here are 5 additional practice questions to reinforce your understanding:

1. उत् + ज्वलः इत्यस्य सन्धिं कुरुत।
2. अहम् + गच्छामि अस्य सन्धिपदं किम्?
3. यथा + इष्टम् इत्यत्र कः सन्धिः?
4. देवः + उवाच इत्यस्य सन्धिपदं किम्?
5. तद् + लयः अस्य सन्धिः कः?

Solving these will further solidify your grasp of the Sandhi rules discussed.