लकाराः । Lakaras। ‘VERB’ usages in Samskritam

For a beginner, Lakaras can be utterly confusing. Ask me!

Unless you are a lucky beginner, you go through months of ‘लकार’ confusion till it all slowly clears up. Then you wonder-‘what was that all about’?

But it needn’t be so..
To help सहपाठीs possibly avoid this needless confusion, I am sharing snippets from Neelesh Bodas Varya’s wonderful lecture on Lakaras:



I strongly recommend listening to the entire lecture multiple times!

But for those who want to sample it, here goes...
Verb usage in Samskritam come under what is known as Lakara Prayoga. There are 10 Lakaras-each used to convey a different ‘Tense” (काल) or a “Sentiment’ (भाव)

काल - Present, Future (2 types), Past (3 types)
भाव - Order, Request, Wish

Each लकारः represents a type of verb usage
WHY are they called लकाराः ?

Since all these names start with ‘L’ (लकार) - they are called Lakara - obviously a naming convention !

Lat, Lit, Lut, Lrt, Lot, Let & Lang, Ling, Lung, Lrng LAKARAs

लट् । लिट् । लुट् । लृट् । लोट् । लेट् & लङ् । लिङ् । लुङ् । लृङ् लकाराः।
What are the 2 different classes of Lakaras ?

कालवाचकाः - Time based operations (tense)

भाववाचकाः - ‘Sentiment’ based operations
The first लकारः is लट् लकारः which is nothing but PRESENT TENSE

पठति, लिखति, वन्दते => लट् लकार

The second set of लकाराः is for representing FUTURE TENSE - लृट् & लुट्

e.g: पठिष्यति, वन्दिष्यते = लृट्

In Samskritam you have 2 types of future tense represented by लृट् & लुट्
What are the features of these 2 लकाराः ?

लृट् = सामान्य or अद्यतन भविष्यत्काल् (‘Today’s future’ - till Midnight tonight)

लुट् = अनद्यतन भविष्यत्काल् (‘Future beyond Today’ - from next day onwards)

btw: Samskritam is a very precise language ! 👍🏼
What is the difference between these 2 लकाराः ?

And how do you differentiate between them?

NOTE: due to historical factors & initiatives like सरलसंस्कृतम्, some of these लकाराः may not be in popular use or taught today

However, they are found copiously in all classic texts
Some examples of लृट् future tense and लुट् future tense usage
The next set of 3 लकाराः are for the PAST TENSE

लङ् । लुङ् । लिट्

अनद्यतनभूतकालः । सामान्यभूतकालः । परोक्षभूतकालः

लङ् is the commonly used ‘past tense’ -> अपठत्, अगच्छत्, अवन्दत

The other two लिट् & लुङ् are frequently seen in texts like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas etc.
What are the forms of the familiar लङ् लकारः ?

What are some examples of the relatively unfamiliar (for the beginners) लुङ् & लिट् लकाराः ?
To conclude कालवाचकाः, here is a list that captures all the different types of ‘tense’ based लकाराः।
The next लकार is to represent what is called क्रियातिपत्तिः

‘IF X would’ve happened, THEN Y would have been true’ type of sentence construction VERB form

(in a lighter vein, the coulda, woulda, shoulda Lakara 😁)
The last one in this set is the लेट् लकारः, which is seen / used ONLY in the Vedic context

लेट् is NOT applicable for regular लौकिक Samskritam usage
The next set of लकाराः are what are called भाववाचकाः।

They are used to indicate actions such as a request, a wish, permission etc

The first one is the familiar लोट् लकारः

लोट् : पठतु, लिखतु, वन्दताम्
The next भाववाचक लकारः is the लिङ् लकारः which is subdivided into two types

लिङ् - विधिलिङ् (vidhi ling) & आशीर्लिङ् (aashir ling)

Here is the description of विधिलिङ् लकारः which is almost similar to लोट् लकारः।
There is a subtle difference between विधि-लिङ् (vidhi) & आशीर्-लिङ् (aashir)

आशीर् actually represents अप्राप्यस्य इच्छा

आशीर्-लिङ् is commonly mistaken for आशीर्वादः (blessing) usage which actually ought to be लोट् \\ विधि

The difference in विधि and आशीर् usage 👇🏼
To wrap it all up, here is a list of पठ् धातुः with all लकारः forms

Also, there is a commonly used mnemonic to help you remember the different Lakaras !

लट् वर्तमाने लेट् वेदे भूते लुङ् लङ् लिटस्तथा ।

विध्याशिषौ लिङ्लोटौ लुट् लृट् लृङ् च भविष्यतः ॥
Here is a complete listing of the Lakaras for 2 dhatus in all their glory!

वद् धातुः - to speak (वद धातुः, परस्मैपदी, वद/व्यक्तायां वाचि)

वदतु संस्कृतम् । जयतु संस्कृतम् । जयतु भारतम् ।

वन्द् धातुः - to bow (वदि धातुः, आत्मनेपदी, वदि/अभिवादने स्तुत्याम्)

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Here is a complete listing of the Lakaras for 2 dhatus in all their glory!वद् धातुः - to speak (वद धातुः, परस्मैपदी, वद/व्यक्तायां वाचि)वदतु संस्कृतम् । जयतु संस्कृतम् । जयतु भारतम् ।वन्द् धातुः - to bow (वदि धातुः, आत्मनेपदी, वदि/अभिवादने स्तुत्याम्)
Here is a complete listing of the Lakaras for 2 dhatus in all their glory!वद् धातुः - to speak (वद धातुः, परस्मैपदी, वद/व्यक्तायां वाचि)वदतु संस्कृतम् । जयतु संस्कृतम् । जयतु भारतम् ।वन्द् धातुः - to bow (वदि धातुः, आत्मनेपदी, वदि/अभिवादने स्तुत्याम्)
* वन्द - to greet / salute 🙏🏽
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