Understanding Samaas: Types and Examples

• Samaas is a process where two or more words combine, forming a new, concise word.
• This process involves removing विभक्ति (case endings) between words.
• A compound consists of at least two terms: the first term is called 'पूर्वपद' (first word) and the second ‘उत्तरपद’ (second word).
• The word formed through compounding is called समस्तपद (compound word).

Types of Samaas

• There are primarily six types of compounds:
  • Avyayibhav Samas
  • Tatpurush Samas
  • Karmadharaya Samas
  • Dvigu Samas
  • Dwandwa Samas
  • Bahuvrihi Samas

Avyayibhav Samas

• An Avyayibhav Samas is where the first term (पूर्वपद) is an indeclinable (अव्यय) and is dominant.
• The entire compound acts as an indeclinable.
  • Examples:
    • यथाशक्ति – according to strength
    • प्रतिदिन – every day
    • आजन्म – from birth
    • यथासंभव – as possible
    • आमरण – until death

Tatpurush Samas

• A Tatpurush Samas is where the second term (उत्तरपद) is dominant, and the विभक्ति of the first term is dropped.
• Types of Tatpurush Samas:
  • Karm Tatpurush: 'को' विभक्ति is dropped.
    • Examples:
      • ग्रामगत – gone to the village
      • स्वर्गप्राप्त – attained heaven
  • Karan Tatpurush: 'से', 'के द्वारा' विभक्ति is dropped.
    • Examples:
      • हस्तलिखित – written by hand
      • तुलसीकृत – composed by Tulsi
  • Sampradaan Tatpurush: 'के लिए' विभक्ति is dropped.
    • Examples:
      • विद्यालय – abode for knowledge
      • देशभक्ति – devotion for the country
  • Apadaan Tatpurush: 'से' (sense of separation) विभक्ति is dropped.
    • Examples:
      • ऋणमुक्त – freed from debt
      • जन्मांध – blind from birth
  • Sambandh Tatpurush: 'का', 'की', 'के' विभक्ति is dropped.
    • Examples:
      • राजपुत्र – son of the king
      • गंगाजल – water of the Ganges
  • Adhikaran Tatpurush: 'में', 'पर' विभक्ति is dropped.
    • Examples:
      • आपबीती – happened to oneself
      • नगरवास – residing in the city

Karmadharaya Samas

• A Karmadharaya Samas is where the first term is an adjective (विशेषण) or उपमान (simile), and the second term is a noun (विशेष्य) or उपमेय (object of comparison).
• There is a relationship of adjective-noun or simile-object of comparison between the two terms.
  • Examples:
    • नीलकमल – the lotus that is blue
    • चंद्रमुख – face like the moon
    • पीतांबर – the garment that is yellow
    • महात्मा – the soul that is great

Dvigu Samas

• A Dvigu Samas is where the first term is a numerical adjective and denotes a group.
  • Examples:
    • त्रिकोण – a group of three angles
    • पंचवटी – a group of five banyan trees
    • नवरात्र – a group of nine nights
    • शताब्दी – a group of one hundred years

Dwandwa Samas

• A Dwandwa Samas is where both terms are dominant, and the conjunctions like 'और', 'या', 'अथवा' are dropped.
  • Examples:
    • माता-पिता – mother and father
    • भाई-बहन – brother and sister
    • सुख-दुख – happiness and sorrow
    • राम-लक्ष्मण – Ram and Laxman

Bahuvrihi Samas

• A Bahuvrihi Samas is where neither term is dominant, and the entire compound acts as an adjective for another term.
• Here, the entire compound becomes specific to a particular meaning.
  • Examples:
    • लंबोदर – the one with a large belly (Ganesh)
    • नीलकंठ – the one with a blue throat (Shiv)
    • पीतांबर – the one with yellow garments (Vishnu)
    • दशानन – the one with ten faces (Ravan)

Examples of Samaas in sentences

• They do yoga every morning (Avyayibhav Samas: pratidin).
• The prince went to the forest for hunting (Tatpurush Samas: rajputra).
• Everyone was enchanted seeing the moon-faced heroine (Karmadharaya Samas: chandramukh).
• Ram spent some time in Panchavati (Dvigu Samas: Panchavati).
• One should respect parents (Dwandwa Samas: mata-pita).
• Worship Lord Shiva, the blue-throated one (Bahuvrihi Samas: neelkanth).

Samaas and other compound words

• Samaas and Sandhi are both processes for shortening words, but there are differences.
• Sandhi involves combining letters, while Samaas involves combining words.
• Sandhi involves changes in letters ( विकार ), while Samaas involves dropping विभक्ति.
• In Samaas, two or more words combine to form a new word, while in Sandhi, two letters combine to form a new letter.