Sanskrit Sahitya Parichay (संस्कृत साहित्य परिचय) PDF: NCERT’s history of Sanskrit literature for Classes 11 and 12, written in Hindi. Its 12 chapters run from the origin of the language and the Vedas to modern Sanskrit writing, women poets and the technical shastras, so it is the book to read for questions on authors, works and genres.
Download full book PDF Contents and preface PDF
Sanskrit Sahitya Parichay Chapter-wise PDF
| Chapter | Title and what it covers | |
|---|---|---|
| अध्याय 1 | संस्कृत भाषा—उद्भव एवं विकास (Origin and Development of Sanskrit Language) This lesson traces the history of Sanskrit from Vedic times to Panini’s grammar, citing texts like Ramayana and Mahabharata. | |
| अध्याय 2 | वैदिक साहित्य (Vedic Literature) This lesson outlines the four Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads like Katha and Brihadaranyaka, and Vedangas including Nirukta and Vyakarana. | |
| अध्याय 3 | रामायण, महाभारत एवं पुराण (Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas) This lesson details Valmiki’s Ramayana, Vyasa’s Mahabharata containing the Bhagavad Gita, and eighteen Puranas describing cosmic creation and royal genealogies. | |
| अध्याय 4 | महाकाव्य (Epic Poetry) This lesson surveys classical Mahakavyas including Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsha and Kumarasambhava, Ashvaghosha’s Buddhacharita, Bharavi’s Kiratarjuniya, Magha’s Shishupalavadha, and Sriharsha’s Naishadhiyacharita. | |
| अध्याय 5 | ऐतिहासिक महाकाव्य (Historical Epics) This lesson explores historical kavyas such as Banabhatta’s Harshacharita, Vakpatiraja’s Gaudavaho, Bilhana’s Vikramankadevacharita, and Kalhana’s Rajatarangini about Kashmir kings. | |
| अध्याय 6 | काव्य की अन्य विधाएँ (Other Genres of Poetry) This lesson presents minor poetic forms including Kalidasa’s Meghaduta and Ritusamhara, Bhartrihari’s Shatakatraya, Jayadeva’s Gita-Govinda, and various didactic stotra poems. | |
| अध्याय 7 | गद्यकाव्य एवं चम्पूकाव्य (Prose Literature and Champu Poetry) This lesson covers prose works like Dandin’s Dashakumaracharita, Subandhu’s Vasavadatta, Banabhatta’s Kadambari, and Champukavyas such as Trivikramabhatta’s Nalachampu and Bhoja’s Champuramayana. | |
| अध्याय 8 | कथा साहित्य (Fable and Narrative Literature) This lesson discusses Sanskrit fable collections including Vishnu Sharma’s Panchatantra, Narayan Pandit’s Hitopadesha, Gunadhya’s Brihatkatha, Somadeva’s Kathasaritsagara, and Shukasaptati. | |
| अध्याय 9 | नाट्य-साहित्य (Dramatic Literature) This lesson examines Sanskrit drama following Bharata’s Natyashastra, analyzing Bhasa’s plays, Kalidasa’s Abhijnanashakuntala, Shudraka’s Mrcchakatika, Vishakhadatta’s Mudrarakshasa, and Bhavabhuti’s Uttararamacharita. | |
| अध्याय 10 | आधुनिक संस्कृत साहित्य (Modern Sanskrit Literature) This lesson describes modern Sanskrit literature, highlighting newspapers, journals like Gandivam and Bharti, and contemporary creative genres written across various Indian states. | |
| अध्याय 11 | संस्कृत कवयित्रियाँ (Sanskrit Female Poets) This lesson highlights female Sanskrit authors from Vedic Rishikas like Apala and Gargi to classical figures like Vijjaka and modern writers like Pandita Kshama Row. | |
| अध्याय 12 | शास्त्रीय साहित्य (Scientific and Technical Literature) This lesson surveys technical treatises including Panini’s Ashtadhyayi, Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Charaka Samhita, Aryabhata’s Aryabhatiya, and Bharata’s Natyashastra. |
The Class 12 Sanskrit textbooks are Bhaswati and Shashwati, on the NCERT Class 12 books page. Sanskrit books for every class are on the NCERT Sanskrit books page.