04-16-2007, 09:07 AM
Vedic Sanskrit vs Classical Sanskrit
I am very confused. How different is Vedic Sanskrit from Classical Sanskrit? What makes it different? Can Panini rules be applied to Vedic Sanskrit?
I have been reading all kinds of theories on it. Some say it an early and older form of Sanskrit, which later evolved into the more sophisticated classical Sanskrit. While, some say its just a different type of Sanskrit, with it's own unique grammar, but existed alongside Classical Sanskrit.
Whatever be the case, it's clear to me that most scholars do not fully understand Vedic Sanskrit. While the translations I have read of texts written in Classical Sanskrit seem to agree with one another, those written in Vedic sanskrit have various translations, where the meaning of the text is considerably changed(compare Griffith, to Dayanada, Aurbindo to Devichand --- worlds apart)
Why is this? Is it because nobody really understands Vedic Sanskrit and everybody is just guessing at the meaning? Are there special rules required to construct Vedic sentences, do the words carry different meanings?
I am very confused. How different is Vedic Sanskrit from Classical Sanskrit? What makes it different? Can Panini rules be applied to Vedic Sanskrit?
I have been reading all kinds of theories on it. Some say it an early and older form of Sanskrit, which later evolved into the more sophisticated classical Sanskrit. While, some say its just a different type of Sanskrit, with it's own unique grammar, but existed alongside Classical Sanskrit.
Whatever be the case, it's clear to me that most scholars do not fully understand Vedic Sanskrit. While the translations I have read of texts written in Classical Sanskrit seem to agree with one another, those written in Vedic sanskrit have various translations, where the meaning of the text is considerably changed(compare Griffith, to Dayanada, Aurbindo to Devichand --- worlds apart)
Why is this? Is it because nobody really understands Vedic Sanskrit and everybody is just guessing at the meaning? Are there special rules required to construct Vedic sentences, do the words carry different meanings?