AN

INTRODUCTION TO THE GRAMMAR

OF THE

SANSKRIT LANGUAGE,

FOR THE USE OF

EARLY STUDENTS.

BY

H. H. WILSON, M. A. F.R.S. &c. &c.

BODEN PROFESSOR OF SANSKRIT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.

SECOND EDITION.

LONDON,

PUBLISHED BY J. MADDEN AND CO.,

LEADENHALL STREET.

1847.

PREFACE.

THE design of the present Grammar of the Sanskrit Language has been suggested by the experience which I have now had in teaching the language, and by the want which I have repeatedly felt of some such elementary work as that which I have here attempted to compile.

Of the Sanskrit Grammars published in Calcutta, the works of Mr. Colebrooke, Dr. Carey, and Mr. Forster are too voluminous and difficult for beginners. The Grammar of Mr. Yates is better adapted to such a class of students, but it is not readily procurable in this country. The Grammar of Professor Bopp, being composed in German and in Latin, is not universally acceptable to English students: and the only Grammar within their reach, therefore, has been that of Sir C. Wilkins. This work, however admirable in many respects, is exceptionable in some parts of its arrangement, and is inconvenient in use from its extent; it is also growing scarce. A new Grammar, therefore, on a somewhat different plan, had become necessary; and as I found no one disposed to engage in its preparation, I have thought it incumbent upon me to undertake the task.

The structure of a highly elaborated form of speech, such as is Sanskrit, abounding with grammatical inflexions, cannot be explained with that brevity of which more simply constituted languages permit: much cannot be described in a very few phrases. The present work has exceeded the limits which I originally contemplated; but