Language/Sanskrit/Vocabulary/Feelings-and-Emotions
Hi Sanskrit learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about feelings and emotions in Sanskrit. Expressing our emotions is an important part of communication and human interaction. Sanskrit is a rich language that has a wide range of vocabulary to describe various emotions.
Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language, has a rich and nuanced vocabulary to express feelings and emotions. This language has been the medium of various classical texts such as the Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, and Ramayana, where emotions have played a crucial role in shaping the narratives. In this lesson, we will explore the Sanskrit vocabulary for emotions and feelings, along with their cultural significance in ancient Indian texts.
Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Geography & Animal.
Basic emotions[edit | edit source]
Let's begin with some basic emotions we all experience:
Happiness (सुखम् / sukham)
Sadness (दुःखम् / duḥkham)
Anger (क्रोधः / krodhaḥ)
Fear (भयम् / bhayam)
Love (प्रेम / prema)
Disgust (जुगुप्सा / jugupsā)
Surprise (विस्मयः / vismayaḥ)
| Sanskrit | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| हर्षः (harṣaḥ) | /hərʂəħ/ | Joy |
| संतोषः (saṃtoṣaḥ) | /sənt̪os̪əħ/ | Contentment |
| द्वेषः (dveṣaḥ) | /d̪veʂəħ/ | Hatred |
| अरुचिः (aruciḥ) | /əruʧɪħ/ | Dislike |
| दुःखः (duḥkhaḥ) | /d̪uhkʰəħ/ | Sorrow |
| आशा (āśā) | /aːʃaː/ | Hope |
Examples[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: मम हर्षः अत्यन्त उत्कृष्टः है। (Mama harṣaḥ atyanta utkr̥ṣţhaḥ hai) (I am extremely happy.)
- Person 2: वह अपने संतोष से बहुत खुश है। (Vaha apne saṃtoṣa se bahut khuśa hai) (He is very happy with his contentment.)
Complex emotions[edit | edit source]
Sanskrit has a plethora of words to describe complex emotions that we may find difficult to express in other languages. Here are a few examples:
Jealousy (ईर्ष्या / īrṣyā)
Pride (मदः / madaḥ)
Shame (लज्जा / lajjā)
Compassion (कारुण्यम् / kāruṇyam)
| Sanskrit | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| उत्सुकता (utsukatā) | /ut͡sukətaː/ | Eagerness |
| आलस्यम् (ālasyam) | /aːləsjəm/ | Laziness |
| सोमाश्रयः (somāśrayaḥ) | /somaːʂrəjəħ/ | Melancholy |
| उद्वेगः (udvegaḥ) | /ud̪veɡəħ/ | Anxiety |
| आत्मविवेकः (ātmavivekaḥ) | /aːt̪maviwekaħ/ | Self-realization |
| भयम् (bhayam) | /bʱəjam/ | Fear |
| अभिप्रायः (abhiprāyaḥ) | /əbʱipraːjəħ/ | Opinion |
| शोकः (śokaḥ) | /ʃokəħ/ | Grief |
| प्रमादः (pramādaḥ) | /prəmaːd̪əħ/ | Carelessness |
Examples[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: मेरी उत्सुकता अपने नए घर को सजाने में है। (Merī utsukatā apne naye ghar ko sajāne mẽ hai) (My eagerness is to decorate my new house.)
- Person 2: मैं यहां बैठे आलस्य से थक गया। (Main yahām baithe ālasya se thak gayā) (I am tired of sitting here lazily.)
Emotional Expressions in Sanskrit Literature[edit | edit source]
The Natyashastra[edit | edit source]
Rasa theory (रस / rasa)
The nine rasas (नवरस / navarasa)
The Bhagavad Gita[edit | edit source]
Detachment from emotions (संयस्य / saṃyasya)
Equanimity (समत्वम् / samatvam)
The Ramayana[edit | edit source]
The concept of dharma (धर्म / dharma)
Emotions in relationships (स्नेहः / snehaḥ)
Emotional Intelligence and Meditation in Ancient Indian Texts[edit | edit source]
Cultivating emotional intelligence (भावना / bhāvanā)
Meditation techniques for emotional well-being (ध्यानम् / dhyānam)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we have explored the vocabulary for feelings and emotions in Sanskrit, their cultural significance in ancient Indian texts, and the relationship between emotional intelligence and meditation. As we can see, the Sanskrit language has a rich and varied vocabulary for expressing human emotions. Studying these emotions and their representations in classical texts can provide us with valuable insights into the human experience and help us better understand the cultural context of ancient India.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
To improve your Sanskrit Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Sanskrit - Dictionary
- https://sanskrit.inria.fr/COURSE/Lessons/
- https://yvesbourquin.ch/sanskrit/
- https://www.lexilogos.com/sanskrit_dictionnaire.htm
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- The Seasons
- Plants
- Days of the week
- Months of the year
- Count to 10
- Colors
- Drinks
- Health
- Animals
- Express Surprise