This reader is designed to serve as an introduction to the subject for the students and to provide knowledge of Sanskrit to the teachers of high schools, academies and colleges. The work helps to correct some of the false notions which are prevalent respecting the relations of Sanskrit to other languages of the Indo-European family. It also keeps saving the literature from undue depreciation and from exaggerated praise. The author has made selections from various Sanskrit writings keeping two aims in mind: firstly to provide abundant material for thorough drill in the language of classical period; and secondly, to furnish a brief introduction to the works of the Vedic period, Mantra, Brahmana and Sutra best suited for beginners.

Originally published in 1912. INTRODUCTION: It is chiefly at the beginning that the difficulties of Sanskrit present themselves. The variety of forms, the strange alphabet, the peculiarities of word and sentence combination, - all these simultaneously confront the student at the very outset. Accordingly, the plan followed with my classes, and for which provision is here made, is to distribute these difficulties over the first few weeks of the course. The common paradigms of nouns and verbs should first be learned. These are given by the grammar in transliteration. The reading of the first four pages of the Nala in Roman letters should then be taken up.......This early works is a comprehensive and informative look at the subject with much of the information still useful and practical today. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high q