Sanskrit Vyakarana GK Questions for Competitive Exams

Sanskrit Vyakarana GK: Top 100 Questions for UGC-NET & TGT/PGT

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Grammatical Tradition & Canonical Authors (Q1–Q15)

1. Who constitute the revered "Munitraya" (Three Sages) of Sanskrit grammar?

Answer: Panini (पाणिनि), Katyayana/Vararuchi (कात्यायन/वररुचि), and Patanjali (पतञ्जलि).

2. What is the formal technical title of Panini’s grammatical system?

Answer: Shabdanushasanam (शब्दानुशासनम्).

3. How many Adhyayas (chapters) and Padas (quarters) make up Panini’s Ashtadhyayi?

Answer: 8 Adhyayas and 32 Padas (4 Padas per Adhyaya).

4. What is the approximate total number of Sutras in the Ashtadhyayi?

Answer: Approximately 3,983 Sutras (~4,000).

5. What is the very first Sutra of Panini’s Ashtadhyayi?

Answer: वृद्धिरादैच् (Vriddhiradaich – 1.1.1).

6. What is the very last Sutra of Panini’s Ashtadhyayi?

Answer: अ अ (A a – 8.4.68).

7. Which major portion of the Ashtadhyayi is known as Sapadasaptadhyayi?

Answer: The first seven chapters and the first quarter of the eighth chapter (7 chapters + 1 Pada; 1.1.1 to 8.1.74).

8. Which portion of the Ashtadhyayi is designated as the Tripadi?

Answer: The final three quarters of the eighth chapter (8.2, 8.3, and 8.4). Its rules are asiddha (theoretically non-existent/inoperative) to the preceding Sapadasaptadhyayi.

9. Who authored the critical annotations and supplementary rules (Varttikas) on the Ashtadhyayi?

Answer: Katyayana (also identified as Vararuchi).

10. Who composed the celebrated commentary Mahabhashya (महाभाष्यम्)?

Answer: Sage Patanjali.

11. Who co-authored the Kashikavritti (काशिकावृत्ति), the 7th-century running commentary on the Ashtadhyayi?

Answer: Acharya Vamana and Acharya Jayaditya.

12. Who restructured the Ashtadhyayi into a topic-wise pedagogical manual in the Siddhanta Kaumudi?

Answer: Bhattoji Dikshita (भट्टोजिदीक्षित).

13. Who composed the foundational primer Laghusiddhanta Kaumudi (लघुसिद्धान्तकौमुदी)?

Answer: Acharya Varadaraja (disciple of Bhattoji Dikshita).

14. Who propounded the Sphota theory of language in the linguistic-philosophical treatise Vakyapadiya?

Answer: Bhartrihari (भर्तृहरि).

15. Who compiled the authoritative work on grammatical meta-rules, the Paribhashendushekhara?

Answer: Nagesha Bhatta (नागेशभट्ट).

Maheshvara Sutras & Pratyaharas (Q16–Q25)

16. How many aphorisms comprise the Maheshvara Sutras (Shiva Sutras)?

Answer: 14 Sutras (चतुर्दश सूत्राणि).

17. Which marker consonant (इत्-संज्ञा) occurs twice at the end of different Maheshvara Sutras?

Answer: The consonant 'ण्' (appearing in Sutra 1: अइउण् and Sutra 6: लण्).

18. Which consonant phoneme is read twice in the inventory of the 14 Maheshvara Sutras?

Answer: The letter 'ह्' (in Sutra 5: हयवरट् and Sutra 14: हल्).

19. Which Sutra defines the technical procedure for forming an abbreviative code (Pratyahara)?

Answer: आदिरन्त्येन सहेता (Adirantyena saheta – 1.1.71).

20. How many standard Pratyaharas are enumerated in the Laghusiddhanta Kaumudi?

Answer: 42 Pratyaharas (43 when including 'रँ', or 44 including 'चय्' in extended traditions).

21. Which Pratyahara encompasses all the vowels of the Sanskrit language?

Answer: अच् (Ach: अ, इ, उ, ऋ, ऌ, ए, ओ, ऐ, औ).

22. Which Pratyahara represents all the consonant sounds of Sanskrit?

Answer: हल् (Hal).

23. Which comprehensive Pratyahara includes every vowel and consonant in the Sanskrit phonetic system?

Answer: अल् (Al).

24. Which Pratyahara denotes the semivowels (Antastha / अन्तस्थ)?

Answer: यण् (Yan: य्, व्, र्, ल्).

25. Which Pratyahara represents the sibilants and aspirate (Ushman / ऊष्मन्)?

Answer: शल् (Shal: श्, ष्, स्, ह्).

Technical Definitions (Samjna) & Meta-Rules (Paribhasha) (Q26–Q45)

26. What technical term is applied to substitutes that completely replace an existing base/affix?

Answer: आदेश (Adesha; considered an enemy/invader: शत्रुवदादेशः).

27. Which Sutra defines the technical term 'वृद्धि' (Vriddhi)?

Answer: वृद्धिरादैच् (Vriddhiradaich – 1.1.1), designating आ, ऐ, and औ.

28. Which Sutra defines the technical term 'गुण' (Guna)?

Answer: अदेङ् गुणः (Adeng gunah – 1.1.2), designating short अ, ए, and ओ.

29. Which Sutra assigns the designation 'प्रातिपदिकम्' (Pratipadika) to meaningful non-verbal roots lacking affixes?

Answer: अर्थवदधातुरप्रत्ययः प्रातिपदिकम् (Arthavad-adhatur-apratyayah pratipadikam – 1.2.45).

30. Which Sutra defines the technical term 'संयोग' (Samyoga / conjunct consonants)?

Answer: हलोऽनन्तराः संयोगः (Halo'nantarah samyogah – 1.1.7).

31. Which Sutra defines a 'पद' (Pada / inflected word)?

Answer: सुप्तिङन्तं पदम् (Suptingantam padam – 1.4.14).

32. What technical term is applied to dual vowels ending in ई, ऊ, or ए that undergo no Sandhi?

Answer: प्रगृह्य (Pragrihya), governed by ईदूदेद् द्विवचनं प्रगृह्यम् (1.1.11).

33. What is the technical name for the final vowel of a base along with any consonant following it?

Answer: टि (Ti), defined by अचोऽन्त्यादि टि (1.1.64).

34. What is the penultimate sound of a morphological base called in Paninian grammar?

Answer: उपधा (Upadha), defined by अलोऽन्त्यात् पूर्व उपधा (1.1.65).

35. Which Sutra defines sounds sharing identical places of articulation and internal effort as homorganic?

Answer: तुल्यास्यप्रयत्नं सवर्णम् (Tulyasyaprayatnam savarnam – 1.1.9).

36. What technical name is assigned to feminine nominal bases ending in long ई and ऊ (e.g., नदी, वधू)?

Answer: नदी (Nadi), defined by यू स्त्र्याख्यौ नदी (1.4.3).

37. Which designation is given to non-feminine bases ending in short इ and उ (except 'सखि')?

Answer: घि (Ghi), governed by शेषो घ्यसखि (1.4.7).

38. What is an operational marker phoneme that is dropped during morphological derivations called?

Answer: इत् (It-samjna), elided by तस्य लोपः (1.3.9).

39. How does Panini formally define 'लोप' (Lopa / elision)?

Answer: अदर्शनं लोपः (Adarshanam lopah – 1.1.60; the disappearance or non-perception of a sound).

40. Which Sutra defines 'संहिता' (Samhita / close phonetic proximity)?

Answer: परः संनिकर्षः संहिता (Parah sannikarshah samhita – 1.1.109).

41. What designation is given to nominal bases preceding vowel or 'य'-initial strong case affixes?

Answer: भ (Bha-samjna), defined by यचि भम् (1.4.18).

42. Which Sutra classifies nominal/verbal endings as 'प्रत्यय' (Affixes)?

Answer: प्रत्ययः (Pratyayah – 3.1.1).

43. How many case endings (Sup) are designated as Sarvanamasthana in non-neuter stems?

Answer: The first five case endings: सु, औ, जस्, अम्, औट् (Sudanupumsakasya – 1.1.43).

44. Which Paribhasha dictates which rule applies when two rules of equal force conflict?

Answer: विप्रतिषेधे परं कार्यम् (Vipratishedhe param karyam – 1.4.2; the subsequent rule in order prevails).

45. Which Sutra dictates that substitutes (Adesha) apply one-to-one when lists have equal numbers?

Answer: यथासंख्यमनुदेशः समानाम् (Yathasankhyamanudeshah samanam – 1.3.10).

Phonology & Sandhi (Q46–Q60)

46. Which Sutra governs Yan-sandhi (इ, उ, ऋ, ऌ replaced by य्, व्, र्, ल् before vowels)?

Answer: इको यणचि (Iko yanachi – 6.1.77).

47. Which Sutra governs Ayadi-sandhi (ए, ओ, ऐ, औ becoming अय्, अव्, आय्, आव्)?

Answer: एचोऽयवायावः (Echo'yavayavah – 6.1.78).

48. Which Sutra prescribes the lengthening of identical vowels (Savarna Dirgha)?

Answer: अकः सवर्णे दीर्घः (Akah savarne dirghah – 6.1.101).

49. Which Sutra performs Guna substitution when short or long अ is followed by an Ach vowel?

Answer: आद्गुणः (Aadgunah – 6.1.87).

50. Which Sutra produces Vriddhi Sandhi (e.g., अ/आ + ए/ऐ/ओ/औ)?

Answer: वृद्धिरेचि (Vriddhirechi – 6.1.88).

51. Which Sutra prescribes Purvarupa-sandhi when word-final ए or ओ is followed by short 'अ'?

Answer: एङः पदान्तादति (Engah padantadati – 6.1.109; e.g., हरे + अव = हरेऽव).

52. Which Sutra causes Pararupa-sandhi when an 'अ'-ending prefix precedes verbs beginning with ए or ओ?

Answer: एङ् पररूपम् (Eng pararupam – 6.1.94; e.g., प्र + एजते = प्रेजते).

53. Which rule transforms dental sibilants and dentals into palatals (Schutva Sandhi)?

Answer: स्तोः श्चुना श्चुः (Stoh schuna schuh – 8.4.40; e.g., सत् + चित् = सच्चित्).

54. Which rule transforms dentals into retroflexes (Shtutva Sandhi)?

Answer: ष्टुना ष्टुः (Shtuna shtuh – 8.4.41; e.g., रामस् + टीकते = रामष्टीकते).

55. Which Sutra converts non-nasal stops to third-varga consonants (Jashtva) at word ends?

Answer: झलां जशोऽन्ते (Jhalam jasho'nte – 8.2.39; e.g., वाक् + ईशः = वागीशः).

56. Which Sutra converts consonants into voiceless first-varga sounds (Chatva) before Khar sounds?

Answer: खरि च (Khari cha – 8.4.55; e.g., सद् + कारः = सत्कारः).

57. Which Sutra converts Pada-final 'म्' into an Anusvara (ं) before any consonant?

Answer: मोऽनुस्वारः (Mo'nusvarah – 8.3.23; e.g., हरिम् + वन्दे = हरिं वन्दे).

58. Which Sutra governs the change of dental 'न्' into retroflex 'ण्' within a single word?

Answer: रषाभ्यां नो णः समानपदे (Rashabhyam no nah samanapade – 8.4.1).

59. Which Sutra changes Pada-final 'स्' and the word 'सजुष्' into 'रुँ' (Rutva)?

Answer: ससजुषो रुः (Sasajusho ruh – 8.2.66).

60. Which Sutra changes 'रुँ' to vowel 'उ' (producing Guna 'ओ') between two unlengthened short 'अ's?

Answer: अतो रोरप्लुतादप्लुते (Ato roraplutadaplute – 6.1.113; e.g., शिवस् + अर्च्यः = शिवोऽर्च्यः).

Karakas, Vibhakti & Syntax (Q61–Q75)

61. How many structural Karakas (case relations) are recognized in Paninian syntax?

Answer: Six — Karta (कर्ता), Karma (कर्म), Karana (करण), Sampradana (सम्प्रदान), Apadana (अपादान), and Adhikarana (अधिकरण).

62. Why is Sambandha (षष्ठी विभक्ति / Genitive) omitted from the list of Karakas?

Answer: It does not possess a direct semantic linkage with the action denoted by the verb (Kriyanvayi-abhavat).

63. Which Sutra defines the autonomous agent (Karta) in a sentence?

Answer: स्वतन्त्रः कर्ता (Svatantrah karta – 1.4.54).

64. Which Sutra defines the direct object (Karma) as what the agent most desires to attain?

Answer: कर्तुरीप्सिततमं कर्म (Karturipsitatamam karma – 1.4.49).

65. Which Sutra defines the instrument (Karana) as the most effective auxiliary means?

Answer: साधकतमं करणम् (Sadhakatamam karanam – 1.4.42).

66. Which Sutra defines the recipient (Sampradana) whom the agent satisfies through giving?

Answer: कर्मणा यमभिप्रेति स सम्प्रदानम् (Karmana yamabhipreti sa sampradanam – 1.4.32).

67. Which Sutra defines the fixed point of departure/separation (Apadana)?

Answer: ध्रुवमपायेऽपादानम् (Dhruvamapaye'padanam – 1.4.24).

68. Which Sutra defines the spatial, temporal, or conceptual substratum (Adhikarana)?

Answer: आधारोऽधिकरणम् (Adharo'dhikaranam – 1.4.45).

69. Which Sutra assigns Prathama Vibhakti (Nominative case)?

Answer: प्रातिपदिकार्थलिङ्गपरिमाणवचनमात्रे प्रथमा (Pratipadika-artha-linga-parimana-vachanamatre prathama – 2.3.46).

70. Which Sutra assigns Dvitiya Vibhakti to an expressed direct object?

Answer: कर्मणि द्वितीया (Karmani dvitiya – 2.3.2).

71. Which Sutra prescribes Tritiya Vibhakti in conjunction with words meaning 'together' (Saha, Sakam, etc.)?

Answer: सहयुक्तेऽप्रधाने (Sahayukte'pradhane – 2.3.19).

72. Which Sutra prescribes Tritiya Vibhakti for a bodily limb that indicates a physical defect?

Answer: येनाङ्गविकारः (Yenangavakarah – 2.3.20; e.g., अक्ष्णा काणः).

73. Which Sutra assigns Chaturthi Vibhakti to the person who is pleased in verbs of liking (Ruch)?

Answer: रुच्यर्थानां प्रीयमाणः (Ruchyarthanam priyamanah – 1.4.35; e.g., बालकाय मोदकं रोचते).

74. Which Sutra assigns Chaturthi Vibhakti in connection with Namah, Svasti, Svaha, and Vashat?

Answer: नमःस्वस्तिस्वाहास्वधाऽलंवषड्योगाच्च (Namah-svasti-svaha-svadha-alam-vashad-yogachcha – 2.3.16).

75. Which Sutra prescribes Panchami Vibhakti for the source of fear or protection from danger?

Answer: भीत्रार्थानां भयहेतुः (Bhitrarthanam bhayahetuh – 1.4.25; e.g., चोराद् बिभेति).

Compounds (Samasa) (Q76–Q86)

76. What is the canonical aphoristic definition of a compound (Samasa)?

Answer: समसनं समासः (Samsanam samasah) or एकपदीभावः समासः (integration of multiple words into a single semantic unit).

77. Which overarching governing Sutra (Adhikara-sutra) delimits the scope of compounds?

Answer: प्राक्कडारात् समासः (Prakkadarat samasah – 2.1.3).

78. How many primary classes of compounds are expounded in the Laghusiddhanta Kaumudi?

Answer: Five (Panchavidhah Samasah): Kevala (केवल), Avyayibhava (अव्ययीभाव), Tatpurusha (तत्पुरुष), Bahuvrihi (बहुव्रीहि), and Dvandva (द्वन्द्व).

79. Which compound class is characterized by the semantic dominance of its first constituent (Purvapada)?

Answer: अव्ययीभावः (Avyayibhava; e.g., उपकृष्णम्, यथाशक्ति).

80. Which compound class is characterized by the semantic dominance of its second constituent (Uttarapada)?

Answer: तत्पुरुषः (Tatpurusha; e.g., राजपुरुषः).

81. What is an appositional Tatpurusha compound whose members share the same grammatical case called?

Answer: समानाधिकरण तत्पुरुषः / कर्मधारयः (Karmadharaya), defined by तत्पुरुषः समानाधिकरणः कर्मधारयः (1.2.42).

82. What is a Karmadharaya compound whose first constituent is a numeral called?

Answer: द्विगुः (Dvigu), defined by संख्यापूर्वी द्विगुः (2.1.52; e.g., त्रिभुवनम्, पञ्चवटी).

83. Which compound class is characterized by the semantic dominance of an outside/external referent (Anyapada)?

Answer: बहुव्रीहिः (Bahuvrihi; e.g., पीताम्बरः हरिः).

84. Which compound class is characterized by the equal semantic dominance of all constituent members?

Answer: द्वन्द्वः (Dvandva; e.g., रामलक्ष्मणौ).

85. What is a Dvandva compound in which only a single dual or plural word survives out of two or more called?

Answer: एकशेष द्वन्द्वः (Ekashesha Dvandva; e.g., पितरौ = माता च पिता च).

86. Which Sutra causes the elision of internal case endings (Sup) within a compound base?

Answer: सुपो धातुप्रातिपदिकयोः (Supo dhatu-pratipadakayoh – 2.4.71).

Verbal Morphology, Affixes & Derivations (Q87–Q93)

87. How many Lakaras (tense and mood categories) exist in Paninian grammar?

Answer: 10 Lakaras (लट्, लिट्, लुट्, लृट्, लेट्, लोट्, लङ्, लिङ्, लुङ्, and लृङ्).

88. Which Lakara is found exclusively in Vedic literature and is obsolete in Classical Sanskrit?

Answer: लेट् लकार (Let Lakara – Subjunctive mood).

89. Into how many conjugational classes (Ganas) are verbal roots arranged in the Dhatupatha?

Answer: 10 Ganas (गण).

90. Which is the first and most populous conjugational root class in the Dhatupatha?

Answer: भ्वादिगण (Bhwadi Gana), commencing with the verbal root भू (सत्तार्थे).

91. What is the exact count of nominal (Sup) and finite verbal (Ting) inflectional affixes?

Answer: 21 Sup affixes (7 cases × 3 numbers) and 18 Ting affixes (9 Parasmaipada + 9 Atmanepada).

92. What technical term denotes primary affixes added directly to verbal roots to form nominals?

Answer: कृत् प्रत्ययाः (Krit affixes; e.g., तव्यत्, अनीयर्, क्त, क्तवतु, शतृ, शानच्).

93. What technical term denotes secondary affixes attached to nominal stems (Pratipadikam)?

Answer: तद्धित प्रत्ययाः (Taddhita affixes; e.g., अण्, मतुप्, तल्, त्व).

Phonetics, Comparative Philology & Historical Linguistics (Q94–Q100)

94. What are the two foundational categories of articulatory effort (Prayatna) in Sanskrit phonology?

Answer: आभ्यन्तर प्रयत्न (Internal effort — 5 varieties) and बाह्य प्रयत्न (External effort — 11 varieties).

95. What are the 5 varieties of internal articulatory effort (Abhyantara Prayatna)?

Answer: Spirishta (स्पृष्ट), Ishaat-sprishta (ईषत्स्पृष्ट), Ishaad-vivrita (ईषद्विवृत), Vivrita (विवृत), and Samvrita (संवृत).

96. Which consonants are classified as Mahaprana (aspirated) in Sanskrit phonetics?

Answer: The second and fourth consonants of each stop class (Varga) plus the sibilants and 'ह' (Shal Pratyahara: ख, छ, ठ, थ, फ, घ, झ, ढ, ध, भ, श, ष, स, ह).

97. To which family and sub-branch does Sanskrit belong in genealogical language classification?

Answer: The Indo-European language family (Indo-Iranian branch; Indo-Aryan sub-branch).

98. Which pioneer philologist delivered the famous 1786 address establishing the structural kinship between Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin?

Answer: Sir William Jones (to the Asiatic Society of Bengal).

99. Which comparative linguistic law explains the de-aspiration of an initial aspirate consonant when followed by another aspirate in Sanskrit reduplication (e.g., bha-bhūva → ba-bhūva)?

Answer: Grassmann's Law (ग्रासमैन का नियम).

100. What is the phonetic term for the predictable assimilation process that turns dental sounds into retroflexes after /r/ or /ṣ/?

Answer: Nati (नति / मूर्धन्यीकरण — including णत्व विधान and षत्व विधान).

Master Sanskrit grammar with 100 high-yield Vyakarana GK questions with answers. Covers Panini, Ashtadhyayi, Sandhi, Karaka, and Samasa for NET, CTET, and TET.