३ लकाराः । Lakaras

To help सहपाठीs possibly avoid this needless confusion, I am sharing snippets from Neelesh Bodas Varya’s wonderful lecture on Lakaras:https://t.co/QrQqpkAqEh

I strongly recommend listening to the entire lecture multiple times!

But for those who want to sample it, here goes…

— प्वालः । pvaal (@pvaal2) May 28, 2019

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। pic.twitter.com/nC0wLLL6xh

— प्वालः । pvaal (@pvaal2) May 28, 2019

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 pic.twitter.com/vnIyVpjypB

— प्वालः । pvaal (@pvaal2) May 28, 2019

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 pic.twitter.com/rXSH1hqUrV

— प्वालः । pvaal (@pvaal2) May 28, 2019

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. pic.twitter.com/l8EQV857ev

— प्वालः । pvaal (@pvaal2) May 28, 2019

To conclude कालवाचकाः, here is a list that captures all the different types of ‘tense’ based लकाराः। pic.twitter.com/StxZKKjFEH

— प्वालः । pvaal (@pvaal2) May 28, 2019

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 pic.twitter.com/2F8g9DaRyc

— प्वालः । pvaal (@pvaal2) May 28, 2019

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। pic.twitter.com/92e5urKK7u

— प्वालः । pvaal (@pvaal2) May 28, 2019

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 ॥ pic.twitter.com/6ZfjumoxJW

— प्वालः । pvaal (@pvaal2) May 28, 2019