Introduction to Sanskrit, Part 2

The author uses interesting verses from chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita to provide the basis for bettering one's understanding of Sanskrit vocabulary and grammar. This would seem to be a good choice, as many authors consider chapter 2 to be a sort of introduction to the rest of the Bhagavad Gita. I find it useful to go online and hear each verse chanted. After I hear a verse, I then memorize it. It is also useful to read the analysis of each verse online. An improvement of volume 2 over volume 1 is the presence of a general index in the back of the book. This index covered volume 1 as well as volume 2. The general index also uses English grammatical terms such as "imperative" rather than the Sanskrit terms employed in the separate grammatical index. The only concern that I might express is that the author uses a different Devanagari font than that used in volume 1. I should note, however, that the version of the letters with a different font is shown on p.71 of volume 1.

It's the best primer in Sanskrit I believe, for its detailed and step-by-step lessons inside. Also the seller in India delivered my goods in a really fast speed, thank you!

Easy to follow, continues in the great tradition of the first volume. The devanagari script is large and easy to read, all grammar is taken from Bhagavad-Gita verses, there are plenty of exercises for practice. In short, a perfect tutorial that keeps your interest and continues to inspire.

Part 1 was the best book I could find to learn Sanskrit on my own.

Came on time. I’m still going through part 1. So far so good.

I have several other books on Sanskrt but they tend to be confusing ambiguous and overwhelming even for me and I speak several languages. This book is clear and straight forward as can be. It doesn't have any audio companion to aid in learning pronunciation but I haven't found any that do. Help in pronunciation can be found at a great Sanskrt web site however www.learnsanskrit.org. The web site pretty much follows this book very closely.

Tom is a wonderful teacher, both in the classroom and in print.

I consider Part I a five star book, but don't be surprised if you have more trouble with this one, as it has not been written as carefully for those still shaky on the learning path. Lessons are so long and unwieldy that by the time I get to the end of one I cannot remember the beginning. And that means the exercises, which are challenging, don't work for me as a method to drill and consolidate. The grammatical explanations are simple, perhaps even occasionally lacking in adequate explanation, but they are presented at such a pace and in such a way that consolidation is not there. The vocabulary in part one is gentle and easy to assimilate, but insufficient for a really confident wide-ranging grasp of basic sanskrit. Then part two suddenly jumps into abstract nouns, verbs and concepts, and abstract in sanskrit is abstract indeed. The fault for this lies in the choice of the baghavad gita as the primary and only source. Although this is a wonderful piece of literature, the sanskrit is not simple. It consists mainly of philosophical conceptualisation and discussion expressed in abstract words. It is too much of a jump to go from part one to this. On the positive side the grammatical tables at the end of the book are a great summary, reference and learning tool.

Ce livre est à conseiller. Evidemment il faut avoir "étudié" le premier volume pour profiter pleinement des explications données. C'est un livre qui convient très bien pour "auto- didactes". A conseiller pour personnes voulant apprendre le Sanskrit à leur ritme . Et ceci en se "plongeant" dans les textes millénaires de la Bhagavad Gita. Une expérience unique!

Probably best book for leaning Sanskrit through English. Plus point of this book is that it contents original Sanskrit text in Devanagari along with its English translation. Author also seems to be very well versed with Sanskrit sources/culture.

Fast delivery, very nice! The best book to learn sanskrt.

Zweifellos die beste Einführung in diese schwierige Sprache. Während Part 1 Egenes in einem sehr gemütlichen Tempo vorangeht, zieht's hier richtig los. Band 1 sind überwiegend Drill-Übungen zu den Substantiv-Formen. Wenn man selbst-motiviert ist, die Schriftzeichen vielleicht schon auswendig kann und in der Lage ist, ein Dutzend Tabellen auswendigzulernen, dann könnte man Band 1 sparen und gleich mit Band 2 anfangen. Das Vokabular und auch die Grammatik-Tabellen von Band 1 sind hier nämlich freundlicherweise mitabgedruckt. Ich fand die Drill-Übungen von Band 1 zu langweilig. Band 2 ist richtig gut und man liest (und versteht!!!) ein paar Verse der Gita. Allerhöchste Empfehlung !!!

Ottimo, un corso con spiegazioni chiare e semplici! Anche se in lingua inglese, è di facile lettura!