Much has been said in praise of a language that saw near extinction not too away in the past. “The language of Samskrit is of a wonderful structure, more perfect than Greek, more copious than Latin and more exquisitely refined than either.”, said Sir William Jones. And Wilhelm von Humboldt wrote, “Samskrit is the unsurpassed zenith in the whole development of languages yet known to us.”
That it is a language of great beauty, precision, and expressiveness, with a rich literary and spiritual tradition, is universally acknowledged. And that it has played an important role in the development of many other languages and has had a profound influence on the development of human civilization, is also widely accepted. But what compels me to learn and speak this most ancient language of the world, is its elegance, sophistication and clarity that no other language can ever match.The word “Sanskrit” itself means refined, graceful and perfect.
It is this language that I would love to learn, read, speak, write and converse in.
There are several reasons why ‘Sanskrit’ is acknowledged as the greatest language.
First, Sanskrit has a highly complex and nuanced grammar, with numerous declensions and conjugations. This allows for a great deal of precision and expressiveness in communication. Unlike English, Sanskrit has a highly inflected grammatical structure, which contributes to a great conciseness of the language. An idea that can be expressed in Sanskrit in one word, may often need four or six or even more words to express in English. The language also has a rich vocabulary, endless synonyms and nuanced distinctions between words. This allows for a great deal of precision and expressiveness in communication and creative writing.
Second, Sanskrit has a rich literary tradition, with a vast corpus of texts spanning many different genres, including poetry, drama, and philosophy. These texts, many of which date back several thousand years, are considered to be some of the most profound and beautiful works of literature in the world. They provide a wealth of knowledge and insight into the human experience and the nature of reality.
Third, Sanskrit has played an important role in the spiritual and religious traditions of the Indian subcontinent. It is the language of the Vedas, the ancient texts that form the basis of Hinduism, and it is still used in religious ceremonies and rituals to this day. Additionally, many of the key texts of Buddhism, Jainism and other Indian religions are written in Sanskrit.
Fourth, Sanskrit is a very scientific language, its grammar and structure are very scientific. The language is well-suited for mathematical and logical reasoning, which is why it has been used for centuries to write scientific and philosophical texts.
Fifth, Sanskrit is spoken exactly as it is written. If spoken correctly, its transcription is error free. It is for this reason that it was considered the most appropriate language for computer sciences.
Sixth, Sanskrit has played a critical role in the development of many other languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujrati, Bengali, and many other languages of the Indian subcontinent, as well as many languages of Southeast Asia. It has also had a profound influence on the development of the languages of Europe, particularly through its role in the development of classical Latin and Greek.
But the reason I would like to understand and speak Sanskrit is that it would enable me to access the limitless literary and philosophical treasure acquired and refined over millennia, to learn and assimilate the knowledge, wisdom and experienced realities of the greatest geniuses, without a dependence on the reproductions and commentaries in other languages.
Spiritually inclined as I am, curious and intrigued as I am by the questions that relate to the reason and purpose of human existence and the distilled perceptions as to how humans need to conduct themselves in this world, Sanskrit, to me, offers a perfect medium.
The legacy that Sanskrit has left us, is not just India’s legacy alone. It is a legacy left for all humans. Not to conquer one another, but to conquer oneself, not to destroy but to build, not to hate but to love, not to isolate oneself but to integrate every one into a global society and to achieve the maximum welfare of the maximum numbers. LokAs samastAs-sukhino bhavantu ( Let the whole humanity be in bliss).
Mere understanding is not enough, it still inflicts a serious inadequacy. Speaking is crucial. Because the energy and power of the spoken word has seen the pinnacle in Sanskrit language. It has a very strong oral tradition for ages, it was passed from one generation to another through spoken word. It has realised the power of sound and incorporated that power in the compositions.
Without the ability to speak Sanskrit, an enormous source of energy of the spoken word by-passes me. I would not want to be deprived of this priceless privilege. I would wish to experience at least a fraction of the same.
scribo ad LX 