(Even if you don’t understand, Samskritam, you can read through and understand the logic)
Take a look at this verse from Valmiki Ramayanam
इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवो रामो नाम जनैश्श्रुत:
नियतात्मा महावीर्यो द्युतिमान्धृतिमान् वशी
When you first look at this verse, it appears incomprehensible with long words. Fortunately, there is a well-defined step by step process which will split the words apart and help us comprehend the meaning. The actual process followed by Samskritam students has more steps, but I am compressing it just to demonstrate the effectiveness of the process. What makes the verse look intimidating initially is the use of concepts like sandhi and samasa, which joins words to form compound words. This process reverses it, like running a film in reverse.
1. पदच्छेदः or splitting of the words.
This is the step where you break up joined words into their individual parts. In Chemistry, when you are given NaCl, you know that it is made up of Na and Cl. In Samskritam, words are joined using sandhi rules and in this process, you reverse that. To do this, you need to know the sandhi rules, but follow along and you will get it.
इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवः रामः नाम जनैः श्रुतः
नियतात्मा महावीर्यः द्युतिमान् धृतिमान् वशी
In the verse it was इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवो रामो, but now it has become इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवः रामः by reversing a visarga sandhi. Similar changes have been applied in other places as well.
2. आकाङ्क्षा or inquiry
In this process, you first find the verb in the sentence. Then you keep on asking questions till you cover all the words in the verse.
The verb in this verse is श्रुतः which means was known or was famous. You note it down
श्रुतः
The next question would be, among whom?
Q: कैः श्रुतः
A: जनैः श्रुतः (he was known among the people)
Next question would be: what was known or famous among the people?
Q: जनैः किं श्रुतः जनैः
A: रामः नाम जनैः श्रुतः (the one by the name of Rama was known among the people)
Next question would be, what kind of person was this Rama, who was known among the people?
Q: जनैः कीदृश रामः नाम श्रुतः
A: जनैः इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवः रामः नाम श्रुतः (the one born in Ikshvaku dynasty was the Rama known among people)
next question is: again, what kind of person was this Rama, who was known among the people?
answer: जनैः इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवः नियतात्मा रामः नाम श्रुतः (the one born in Ikshvaku dynasty and one who has control of his aatma was the Rama known among people)
You keep on asking the above question again and again and finally you get this
इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवः नियतात्मा महावीर्यः द्युतिमान् धृतिमान् वशी रामः नाम जनैः श्रुतः
Finally, we have poetry converted to prose by this process.
The final step is to find alternate words to the ones above so that the sentence can be simpler in meaning. It will be then in your own words.
| Word in Verse | Different Word in Samskritam | Meaning |
| इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवः | इक्ष्वाकु-कुले प्रसूत: | Born in Ikshvaku dynasty |
| नियतात्मा | स्ववश: आत्मा | self controlled |
| महावीर्यः | महाशूरः | very powerful |
| द्युतिमान् | कान्तियुक्त: | radiant |
| धृतिमान् | स्थिरचेतसः | resolute |
| वशी | जितेन्द्रियः | one who has conquered sense organs |
| रामः नाम | रामः इति नाम | by the name ‘Rama’ |
| जनैः | नरैः | by common men |
| श्रुतः | ज्ञातः | known |
Now you can write in your own words the following sentence
इक्ष्वाकु-कुले प्रसूत: स्ववश: आत्मा महाशूरः कान्तियुक्त: स्थिरचेतसः जितेन्द्रियः रामः इति नाम नरैः ज्ञातः
There is one descended in the line of lksvaku and known by men by the name of Rama. He has fully controlled his mind, very powerful, radiant and resolute has brought his senses under control.
Simple, isn’t it?
