Origin and Meaning of SaMskrta

tackleberry · 04-02-2008, 01:01 AM

How does Sam+Krta become SaMskrta? I understand due to sandhi, m becomes M if consonants follow it, but I am not aware of other rules by which it becomes samskrta. And what's the meaning? Taken literally, it'd mean very little. Sam=together, krta=done. How to come to a reasonable meaning with these words?

shankara108 · 04-02-2008, 05:23 AM

You are correct, samskrta is to be analysed as containing the prefix sam + past perfect participle krta- from root kr 'to do, to make'.
Probably you are confused by the presence of the -s-.
In modern linguistics, this is called an s-mobile (or mobile-s). It appears only under certain conditions (Cf. samskara-). No fully acceptible explanation has been found for them, but they are a clear feature of Indo-European roots. Other examples include the roots: *teg- 'to cover' beside *steg- (e.g. greek tegos 'roof' and stegu 'cover'. Also sanskrit sthagayati 'he causes to veil').
*pek 'to see' - e.g. skt. pashyati 'he sees' beside *spek, like skt. spash - 'to spy'.

A specialisation in Sanskrit has occured with the combination of sam + kr. It means 'polished' etc.
Of course, in the Sanskrit texts themselves, the most common name for the language is devavani, devabhasya etc meaning 'language of the gods'.
Hope this helps,
Best
Shankar.

Shivaduta · 04-02-2008, 12:54 PM

Shivaduta · 04-02-2008, 12:57 PM

(Commune = together) (Cation = to do/done) = communication

language makes communication possible

you have yourself given the answer within your question itself...

xvi000a · 04-05-2008, 12:15 AM

In modern linguistics, this is called an s-mobile (or mobile-s). It appears only under certain conditions (Cf. samskara-). No fully acceptible explanation has been found for them, but they are a clear feature of Indo-European roots. Other examples include the roots: *teg- 'to cover' beside *steg- (e.g. greek tegos 'roof' and stegu 'cover'. Also sanskrit sthagayati 'he causes to veil').
*pek 'to see' - e.g. skt. pashyati 'he sees' beside *spek, like skt. spash - 'to spy'.
----------
s-mobile is so old that it can even be traced in restored Sino-tibetan. Its original usage may be optional intensive prefix & later became causative prefix in some cases. More exam.s in Greek & Latin:
hyper/hypo - super/sub (- upari/upa)

chaitrakrishna · 04-26-2008, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shivaduta

(Commune = together) (Cation = to do/done) = communication

language makes communication possible

you have yourself given the answer within your question itself...

thats the best explanation ever!!!