Page 4 - Appreciating Sanskrit

SANSKRIT

THE LANGUAGE OF INDIA’S SOUL

Sanskrit in its original form was the first and the

earliest vibration, pure and transparent. It was a

close and true transcription of the earliest experience

of the Supreme. It was the most direct sound-

formation of the manifesting Godhead. In its purity

and flexibility, in its wealth and depth of meaning and

in its adaptability and application, this was close to

the goddess of Speech herself.

***

In ancient times Sanskrit was simply known by the

name भणषण (bhāşa), a word which means language.

The root sound of भणषण is भणष्(bhaş), which means to

speak, later on it acquired the name Sanskrit. The

actual name for Sanskrit is संस्केम ् (sanskritam).
ृ

The root sound सम ् (sam) means totality, sum,

completeness, togetherness, integrity, perfectness.

The other word केम ् (kritam) means sculpted or
ृ

created. Thus, संस्केम ् (sanskritam) essentially
ृ

means “sculpted to perfection”.