अमरकोषःClass 9 Sanskrit Amod Chapter 12 Notes – Maharashtra Board

Summary: अमरकोषः

Sanskrit is a rich language: one word can have many synonyms and sometimes one word has many meanings. To help learners, the scholar अमरसिंहः arranged synonyms in verse — the अमरकोषः. Learning it by heart builds vocabulary and command over words.

In the library the students see a big cupboard full of dictionaries. The teacher explains that a कोषः is a collection: as a bank (वित्तकोषः) collects money, a language-dictionary (भाषाकोषः) collects words.

Collecting words is needed for mastery of speaking and writing and for knowledge of many subjects. The library has cultural, biographical, encyclopaedic and सुभाषित dictionaries; the अमरकोष is special among them.

It is named after its author Amarasimha. In old times students entering the gurukula first memorised it, and the custom continues. Being in verse, it can be sung and learnt as easily as सुभाषित; it gives many synonyms for a word and sometimes many meanings of one word, so it grows vocabulary, memory and pure pronunciation.

It has about 1500 verses in three sections, so it is also called त्रिकाण्डकोषः; it is also known as नामलिङ्गानुशासनम् because it states the gender of each noun along with its synonyms. With it, students can read Sanskrit poems and plays easily.

Key points to remember

• कोषः = a collection; भाषाकोषः collects words, वित्तकोषः collects money
• Author: अमरसिंहः — hence the name अमरकोषः
• Written in verse (पद्यमयः), so it can be sung and memorised
• Gives synonyms (समानार्थकशब्दाः) and sometimes many meanings of one word
• About 1500 (उपसार्धसहस्रम्) श्लोकाः
• Three काण्डानि → also called त्रिकाण्डकोषः
• Also called नामलिङ्गानुशासनम् — it also tells the gender (लिङ्गम्) of nouns
• Gurukula students learnt it by heart at the start of study
• Benefits: vocabulary, memory, retention, correct pronunciation

अमरकोषः – Notes

1. What is a कोषः?

• Nayana notices a huge separate cupboard with many kinds of dictionaries. The teacher says these are needed to study every śāstra.
• A कोषः is a सङ्ग्रहः (collection). Just as we store money in a bank (वित्तकोषः), a language dictionary stores words.
• Why we need it: to gain command over a language in speech and writing, and to gain knowledge of many subjects, we must collect a wealth of words (शब्दसम्पत्तिः).
• Kinds in the library: संस्कृतिकोषः (culture), चरित्रकोषः (biographies), विश्वकोषः (encyclopaedia), सुभाषितकोषः (wise sayings).

2. About the अमरकोषः

• It is a collection of Sanskrit words; its author is the scholar अमरसिंहः, so it is called अमरकोषः.
• In gurukulas, students learnt it by heart at the very start of their studies; this practice still continues.
• It is in verse and meant to be sung — memorising it is as easy as memorising सुभाषित. About 1500 verses, three sections (काण्डानि).
• Other names: त्रिकाण्डकोषः (three sections) and नामलिङ्गानुशासनम् (it also lays down the gender of each noun, which makes understanding and using the language easier).
• A traditional verse of praise says this pure work of the poet Amarasimha will last as long as the moon and stars.

3. Benefits of learning it by heart

• Many synonyms for one word, and sometimes many meanings for one word — so our stock of words grows.
• Memory (स्मरणशक्तिः) and retention (धारणाशक्तिः) both increase.
• Pronunciation becomes pure (उच्चारणं शुद्धं भवति).
• We can read Sanskrit poems and plays without effort (विनायासम्).

4. Sample lines from the book's अमरकोष list (p. 95)

• राजा — राजा, राट्, पार्थिवः, क्ष्माभृत्, नृपः, भूपः, महीक्षित्.
• बुद्धिः — बुद्धिः, मनीषा, धिषणा, धीः, प्रज्ञा, शेमुषी, मतिः.
• मेघः — अभ्रम्, मेघः, वारिवाहः, तडित्वान्, वारिदः, अम्बुभृत्; नभः — नभः, अन्तरिक्षम्, गगनम्, अनन्तम्, सुरवर्त्म, खम्.
• पुत्रः — आत्मजः, तनयः, सूनुः, सुतः, पुत्रः; मानवाः — मनुष्याः, मानुषाः, मर्त्याः, मनुजाः, मानवाः, नराः.
• Tip: learn one line a day; split the line into separate words (विग्रहः) as the book does.

Facts about the अमरकोषः

Key terms

अमरकोषः – Flashcards

Read the question, answer it in your head, then tap the card to check. 20 cards.

अमरकोषः – MCQ Quiz

15 questions. Tap an option — you will see at once if it is right and why.

How to study अमरकोषः

⏱ About 30 minutes

1. Read (10 min)
   Read the conversation and fill the 'facts' table from memory.
2. Learn lines (10 min)
   Learn two अमरकोष lines from the book's list and split them into words.
3. Practice (10 min)
   Answer 'Try it yourself', take the quiz and play the 🎮 Play game.