Syllabus of Sanskrit - University of Peradeniya

Department of Classical Languages | University of Peradeniya 

UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA 

INTERNAL SYLLABI (2001 onwards) 

SANSKRIT 

SKT 101 - INTRODUCTION TO SANSKRIT LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE – I 

 

 

Sanskrit Language: 

A basic knowledge of Sanskrit Grammar on the following topics: 

i. Alphabet (based on the saṃjñā Chapter of the Sārasvata) 

ii. Sandhi (Svara, Vyañjana, Visarga) 

iii. Conjugation 1: (Present System - Laṭ, Laṅ, Loṭ, Liṅ) 

Remaining Verb-forms of Past Tense Perfect (Liṭ) Aorist (Luṅ) 

Conditional (Lṛṅ) 

Sanskrit Literature 

i. A brief Introduction to various aspects of Vedic and Classical Sanskrit 

Literature. 

ii. Textual Study With special emphasis on (a) identifying the elementary 

forms of literary Sanskrit language and (b) the basic problems of 

interpretation. 

Prescribed Texts: 

i. Candrāpīḍacarita - 1 - 20 pages 

ii. Ṛtusaṃhāra - 3 rd Sarga. 

SKT 102 - INTRODUCTION TO SANSKRIT LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE - II 

 

Sanskrit Language 

A basic knowledge of Sanskrit Grammar on the following topics: 

i. Conjugation II (Future system (Luṭ, Lṛṭ) Benedictive (Āśir Liṅ) 

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ii. Passive voice 

iii. Derivative Verbs (Causative, Intensive,Desiderative) 

iv. Infinitives 

v. Indeclinables 

Sanskrit Literature 

Textual Study with special emphasis on (a) identifying the elementary forms of 

literary Sanskrit language and (b) the basic problems of interpretation. 


i. Pañcatantra (Labdhapraṇāśa) - 1 - 5 stories 

ii. Nītiśataka 

- 1 - 50 verses 

SKT 201 - SANSKRIT POETICAL LITERATURE I 

This course is a brief survey of the tradition of Sanskrit Metrical composition (kāvya) 

from the Vedic age to the middle ages. It lays emphasis on the main poetical works and 

their writers, their form and style and the Socio-Cultural background in which these traditions 

were born and handed down. 


Buddhacarita - 3 rd Chapter 

Kumārasambhava - 4 th Sarga 

Meghadūta (Pūrvamegha) - 01 - 30 Verses 

Gītagovinda - 1.4 

SKT 202 - 

SANSKRIT PROSE LITERATURE I 

The aim of the Course is to examine the history of Sanskrit prose composition from 

the Vedic period onward. It will pay attention to the study of both religious and poetical 

prose. The texts will be evaluated from religious, literary and aesthetic points of view. Both 

Brahmanic and Vedic texts will be used. 

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Selected passages of Yajurveda, Brāhmaṇas, Āraṇyakas and Upaniṣads which 

are quoted in Böthlink's Sanskrit Christomathie 

Vedaśāstrasaṃgraha 

and Sāhityaratnakoṣa: 

Daśakumāracarita (Uttarapīṭhikā) - 7 th Ucchvāsa 

Kādambarī (Kathāmukha) - 01 - 10 pages 

Harṣacarita (Kale's edition) - 02 -12 pages 

SKT 203 - 

SANSKRIT GRAMMAR AND UNSPECIFIED TEXTS 

This course introduces students to the principles of word formation, sentences and 

structures of grammar through study of passages selected from known literary works. 


 

Sārasvatavyākaraṇam (Nāmakāṇḍa) 

wdOqksl ixialD; jHdlrKh - ta' ta' uelafvdk,aâ 

ixialD; YslaIlh m%:u iy oaú;Sh mqia;l - tï' tÉ' t*a' chiQßh 

SKT 204 - 

DIDACTIC (GNOMIC) LITERATURE IN SANSKRIT 

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the vast repository of didactic 

literature in Sanskrit. Sections from classical didactic literature will be analyzed and their 

social, ethical and religious significance will be emphasized. 


Hitopadeśa (Sandhi) - 10 kathās 

Subhāṣitaratnākara (Durjananindā) - 01 - 50 Verses 

SKT 205 - 

SANSKRIT POETICAL LITERATURE II 

The aim of the course is to study the history of Sanskrit metrical composition from the 

middle ages to date. It lays emphasis on the main poetical works and their writers, their form 

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and style, and the socio-cultural background in which this tradition was handed down. SKT 

201 will be a prerequisite. 


Selected passages from Mahābhārata given in Mahābhārata Pāthāvalī ed. By 

M.H.F.Jayasuriya 

Rāmāyaṇa (Sundarakāṇḍa) - 13 -14 chapters 

Vairāgyaśataka - 01 - 25 Verses 

Siśupālavadha (1 st Sarga) - 01 - 30 Verses 

SKT 206 - 

SANSKRIT PROSE LITERATURE II 

The aim of the course is to examine the history of prose composition from the 

classical period to date. Emphasis will be on the language used in official and day-to-day 

activities. Texts will be evaluated from literary and aesthetic points of view. SKT 203 will be a 

prerequisite. 


Kathāsaritsāgara - 23 rd Adhyāya, Fourth Lambaka, Third Taraṅga 

Girnār Rock Inscription of Rudradāman 

Jetavanārāma Inscription 

A modern Sanskrit Fiction also will be included 

SKT 207 - 

SANSKRIT GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION 

This course offers a comparative study of the Vedic and Classical grammar of 

Sanskrit. After an initial study of these grammars separately, texts in vedic and classical 

prose will be compared to highlight the main differences in the two grammatical systems. 


Vedic Grammar for Students - A. A. Macdonell 

The Sanskrit Language - T. Burrow 

An introductory knowledge of Yāska , Pāṇini, Pātañjalī and other olden 

grammarians 

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SKT 208 - 

SANSKRIT LITERATURE AS SOURCES OF HISTORY 

The primary aim of this course is to introduce the historical traditions of India, which 

varied from mythical and legendary material to social and political material. Information 

pertaining to different eras of India, in their historical perspective, will be taken up for 

analyses. 


Mandasore stone Inscription of Kuamāragupta - 01 - 15 Verses 

Aihole Stone Inscription of Pulakeśin II - 01 - 15 Verses 

Rājataraṅgaṇī (1 st Taranga) - 100 - 150 Verses 

SKT 301 

- SANSKRIT DRAMA I 

The aim of this course is to study the history of Sanskrit Drama from its very 

beginning up to the time of Bhāsa and to analyze Sanskrit plays form the Indian rhetoricians' 

point of view. 


Svapnavāsavadattā of Bhāsa - 1 - 5 Acts 

Pratijñāyaugandharāyaṇa of Bhāsa - 1 - 5 Acts 

SKT 302 

- POETICS AND LITERARY CRITICISM 

This course intends to study the views on poetry, poetic composition and criticism 

expressed by the Indian rhetoricians and of literary works and authors who were influenced 

by those views. 


Kāvyādarśa of Daṇḍin - 1 st and 2 nd chapters 

Dhavanyāloka of Ānandawardhana - 1 st and 2 nd Udyotas 

Kāvyālaṅkārasūtra of Vāmana - 1 st and 3 rd Adhikaraṇa 

Sāhityadarpaṇa of Viśvanātha - 3 rd chapter. 

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SKT 303 

- VEDIC LITERATURE I 

The purpose of this course is to study the language and the literature of the Vedic 

Period and the culture depicted in it with special reference to Ṛgveda. 


I.1 Agni 

I.154 Viṣṇu 

II.12 Indra 

III.33 Viśvāmitra nadī saṃvāda 

IV.51 Uṣā 

V.85 Varuṇa 

VII.48 Viśvedevā 

VII.63 Viśvedevā 

VII.103 Maṇḍūka 

X.14 Yama 

X.34 Akṣāḥ 

X.90 Puruṣa 

X.121 Hiraṇyagarbha 

X.129 Nāsadīya 

SKT 304 - BUDDHIST LITERATURE IN HYBRID SANSKRIT 

The course aims at identifying the distinctive features of the language (a mixture of 

Sanskrit and Prakrit) used in Buddhist Sanskrit Literature. It also lays emphasis on concepts 

and ideas presented by Mahayana thinkers. 


Mahāvastu (Buddhist Sanskrit Texts) - pp. 295 - 305. 

edited by Dr. S. Bageht, 1970. Mithila Institute, Darbanga. 

Lalitavistara - 18 th chapter (Nairañjanaparivarta) 

Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra - 3 rd chapter (Aupamyaparivarta) 

SKT 305 

- SANSKRIT DRAMA II 

This is a continuation of SKT 301 which is a pre-requisite. The purpose of this 

course is to study the history of Sanskrit Drama from the age of Kālidāsa onwards and to 

study the dramatical texts belonging to this period. 


Abhijñānaśākuntala of Kālidāsa - I, II, III, IV Acts 

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Ratnāvalī of Sri Harsa-Deva - I, II Acts 

Uttararāmacarita of Bhavabhūti - I, II, III Acts 


SKT 306 

- BUDDHIST LITERATURE IN CLASSICAL SANSKRIT 

This course is a continuation of SKT 304, being a study of Buddhist Literature in 

Classical Sanskrit and a general understanding of the content therein. SKT 304 will be a 

pre-requisite. 


Jātakamālā of Āryaśūra - Śaśa Jātaka 

Saundarananda of Aśvaghoṣa - 8 th Sarga 

Śatapañcāśataka of Mātṛcheṭa - 6 – 7 chapters 

Mūlamādhyamikakārikā - 24 th chapter 

SKT 307 

- VEDIC LITERATURE II 

This is a continuation of SKT 303 being a study of the language and literature of 

Vedic Period with special reference to the later Vedas, Brāhmaṇas and Purāṇas. SKT 303 

will be a pre-requisite. 


Atharvaveda - I.17, IV.16, IV.25, V.22. 

Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa - 1.8.1. (1 – 10) 

Aitareya Brāhmaṇa - 7.13 ( Śunaḥśepha 29 – 34) 

Viṣṇu Purāṇa - Purūravas Urvasi Upākhyānam 

Vāyu Purāṇa - Janakāśvamedhe Yājñavalkyapratiṣṭhā 

SKT 308 

- HISTORY OF SANSKRIT LITERATURE 

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This course offers a study of the origin, growth, expansion and decline of the Sanskrit 

Literature laying emphasis on consideration of extinct and extant literary forms and kinds. 

SKT 309 - ELEMENTARY SANSKRIT I 

Those who are offering the Special degree in Sanskrit will not be permitted to follow 

this course, as it has been specially designed to meet the requirements of those who do not 

have a basic knowledge of Sanskrit. 

Topics 

 

 

 

The alphabet 

Referring the Sanskrit Dictionary for unknown words 

Verbs and their conjugation 

i. Present tense, Imperfect tense, Perfect tense, Future tense, 

Imperative mood, Potential mood, Gerunds (Absolutives) and 

Infinitives. 

 

Nouns and their cases (Declension) 

i. Consonant Nouns ending in t\ g\ r\ 

ii. Masculine Nouns ending in c O p C cf] 

iii. Neutral Nouns ending in c O p 

iv. Feminine Nouns ending in cf O O{ p C 

v. Pronouns c:db\ o'idb\ Obd\ 

 

Sandhi (External Sandhi) 

Vowels, consonants and Visarga 

A study of the language with respect to the above grammatical points 

will be made through easy selections from texts such as Bālādarśa, Prathamādarśa, 

Abhinavapāthāvalī, Pañcatantra, Hitopadeśa and Candrāpīḍacarita. 

SKT 310 - 

ELEMANTARY SANSKRIT II 

This course is a continuation of SKT 309. Those who are offering the Special 

degree in Sanskrit will not be permitted to follow this course, as it has been specially 

designed to meet the requirements of those who do not have a basic knowledge of Sanskrit. 

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Topics 

Grammar 

i. Taddhita 

ii. Participles 

iii. Causals 

iv. Compounds 

v. Passive Voice 

Textual Studies 

A study of the language will be made through sections selected from texts such as 

Pañcatantra, Hitopadeśa, Candrāpīḍacarita, Rājataraṅgaṇī, Nāṭyaśāstra, Kāvyādarśa, 

Dhvanyāloka, Inscriptions, Dramas, Epics, Lyrics, Purāṇas, Prose poems and Buddhist 

Sanskrit texts. 

SKT 401 

- VEDĀNGA LITERATURE 

The aim of this course is to provide a general introduction on origin, growth 

and the content of Vedāṅga Literature. 

Topics 

A brief survey of the six Vedāṅgas: Śikṣā (Phonetics), Kalpa (Rituals), Nirukti 

(Etymology), Chandas (Prosody), Jyotis (Astronomy), Vyākaraṇa (Grammar) 

Education system of the Vedic period and 

Textual study 

i. a study of selections from Varāhamihira's text on Jyotis - 1 st chapter 

ii. Manusmṛti - 7. 1 - 50 stanzas 

iii. Vṛttaratnākara - 1, 2 chapters 

SKT 402 

- PHILOSOPHICAL LITERATURE IN SANSKRIT 

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The objective of this course is to provide a general introduction on the 

philosophical and logical literature in Sanskrit. 

Topics 

Philosophical ideas and concepts in the Vedas, Brāhmaṇas and Buddhist Sanskrit 

works 

Textual study 

i. Sāṃkhyakārikā of Īśvarakṛṣṇa - 1 st chapter (1-25 stanzas) 

ii. Pātañjalīyogasūtra - 1 st chapter 

iii. Vedāntasāra of Sadānanda - 1 st chapter 

SKT 403 

- HISTORY OF SANSKRIT LANGUAGE 

The objective of this course is to study the History of Sanskrit Language. 

Topics 

Indo European period 

Indo-Iranian Period 

Principles of general phonological change 

Sanskrit phonological system and its Indo-European origins 

Morphological affinity of Indo-European and Sanskrit Languages 

Comparative study of Vedic and Classical forms in Sanskrit Language 

Epic Sanskrit 

Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit 

Non-Aryan influences on Sanskrit 

Sanskrit as a spoken language - its position as a medium of mass communication 

Nighanḍus, Koṣas, Dictionaries, Encyclopaedias of Sanskrit Language. 

SKT 498 

- DISSERTATION I 

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The students who are specializing in Sanskrit will be required to write a 

dissertation on a subject selected by the student and approved by the Department, which 

shall in any case fall wholly or partly within one or more of the fields of Sanskrit Study. 

SKT 405 

- VEDIC CULTURE 

The objective of this course is to study the various aspects of Vedic culture. 

Topics 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sources of Vedic culture 

Geographical spread of the Vedic India 

Ethnic diversification of India as reflected in the Vedic texts 

Political systems and Institutions in the Vedic age 

legal Institutions, social system 

Emergence of towns and cities 

Economy and trade 

Religions and cults and rituals and rites. 

SKT 406 

- SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL LITERATURE IN SANSKRIT. 

This course will introduce students to the scientific and Technological 

literature in Sanskrit such as Mathematics, Politics, Āyurveda, Astrology, Astronomy and 

Kāmaśāstra. 

Topics 

 

 

 

Tradition of Śāstras in Sanskrit Literature 

Branches of science and Technology in the Vedic and Later Sanskrit Literature 

A short survey on the Sanskrit works related to each major branch of science and 

Technology 

 

Textual study 

i. Kāmaśāstra - 4 th chapter 

ii. Arthaśāstra - 6 th chapter 

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iii. Suśruta saṃhitā - 

iv. Caraka saṃhitā - 

SKT 407 

- SANSKRIT LITERATURE IN SRI LANKA 

The objective of this course is to study the Sanskrit Literature in Sri Lanka. 

Topics 

Introduction of Sanskrit to Sri Lanka - Myth and History 

Sri Lankan authors and their Sanskrit texts 

State, educational and cultural activities of Sri Lanka as depicted in Sri Lankan 

Sanskrit texts 

Contributions made by Sanskrit traditions to Sri Lankan culture with regard to the 

Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism 

Literary traditions such as Mahākāvya tradition and mixed Sinhala, Medicine, 

Astrology and Artistic influence 

Textual study 

i. Jānakīharaṇa - 3 rd canto (30 - 60 verses) 

8 th canto (1-20 verses) 

ii. Sanskrit Inscriptions in Sri Lanka 

Tiriyāya inscription 

Trikāyastava inscription 

SKT 499 

- DISSERTATION II 

The students who are specializing in Sanskrit will be required to write a 

dissertation on a subject selected by the student and approved by the Department, which 

shall in any case fall wholly or partly within one or more of the fields of Sanskrit Study. 

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Syllabus of Sanskrit - University of Peradeniya

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