

B-A-HONS in Sanskrit at University of Delhi


Delhi, Delhi
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About the Specialization
What is Sanskrit at University of Delhi Delhi?
This B.A. (Hons.) Sanskrit program at University of Delhi focuses on a comprehensive study of classical Indian knowledge systems through the medium of Sanskrit. It delves into literature, grammar, philosophy, linguistics, and cultural heritage, emphasizing critical analysis and traditional scholarship. The program nurtures an understanding of India''''s intellectual legacy, relevant for careers in academia, research, and cultural preservation within the Indian context.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for fresh graduates from 10+2, particularly those with a keen interest in humanities, classical languages, and Indian heritage. It suits individuals aspiring to pursue higher studies in Indology, philosophy, linguistics, or those looking to contribute to cultural research. Students with a background in Sanskrit at the school level will find this program a natural progression, offering deep intellectual engagement.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates can expect diverse career paths in India, including academic positions, research roles in institutions like IGNCA or Sahitya Akademi, museology, archiving, and cultural journalism. Entry-level salaries typically range from INR 3-5 LPA, growing significantly with experience in research and teaching. The strong foundation provides a pathway to M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees, leading to university professorships and specialized research.

Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Master Core Grammar & Literature- (Semester 1-2)
Actively engage with Sanskrit grammar rules (Pāṇini, Kārakas) and foundational literary texts (Epics, Purāṇas). Utilize online resources or traditional commentaries for deeper understanding. This builds a strong base crucial for advanced studies and accurate interpretation of texts, essential for any Sanskrit-related career.
Tools & Resources
Sanskrit Bharati modules, Laghu Siddhanta Kaumudi commentaries, Online Sanskrit dictionaries
Career Connection
Strong grammatical and literary foundation is essential for advanced research, academic writing, and teaching roles in Sanskrit.
Develop Critical Reading Skills- (Semester 1-2)
Practice detailed reading and analysis of original Sanskrit texts from the start. Join departmental reading groups or create peer study circles to discuss interpretations and nuances. Engaging with primary sources from diverse genres enhances comprehension and analytical thinking, vital for research and academic pursuits.
Tools & Resources
Departmental reading circles, Online access to digitized manuscripts, Commentaries by traditional scholars
Career Connection
Sharpens analytical and interpretative skills, valuable for research, textual criticism, and scholarly publications.
Engage with Traditional Learning- (Semester 1-2)
Explore traditional Gurukula-style learning methods through workshops or short courses offered by institutions like Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan or local Pathashalas. Understanding the traditional pedagogical approach provides a deeper cultural context and enhances appreciation for the subject beyond mere academic study.
Tools & Resources
Workshops by traditional Sanskrit academies, Lectures by eminent ''''Pandits''''
Career Connection
Provides unique cultural insight and a holistic understanding of Sanskrit, opening avenues in cultural preservation and traditional education.
Intermediate Stage
Explore Interdisciplinary Connections- (Semester 3-5)
Actively seek out Generic Electives that complement Sanskrit studies, such as Ancient Indian History, Philosophy, or Linguistics from other departments. This broadens perspective and prepares students for interdisciplinary research, enhancing career versatility in diverse academic fields and research projects.
Tools & Resources
University course catalogs, Cross-departmental seminars
Career Connection
Develops a versatile profile, making graduates suitable for interdisciplinary research projects and broader academic roles.
Participate in Research Workshops & Seminars- (Semester 3-5)
Attend national/international seminars and conferences on Indology, Sanskrit linguistics, or philosophy. Present short papers or join research projects with faculty members. This provides early exposure to academic research, vital for pursuing M.A./M.Phil./Ph.D. and a career in academia.
Tools & Resources
UGC-sponsored seminars, Departmental research initiatives, Research grants for student projects
Career Connection
Builds research acumen, presentation skills, and an academic network, crucial for higher studies and research careers.
Hone Translation & Interpretation Skills- (Semester 3-5)
Undertake translation projects from Sanskrit to English/Hindi and vice versa. Utilize online dictionaries and grammar tools, and seek feedback from professors. Proficiency in translation is a highly sought-after skill in cultural organizations, publishing, and research institutions in India and abroad.
Tools & Resources
Spoken Sanskrit Dictionary, Apte''''s Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Online translation tools with expert verification
Career Connection
Opens opportunities in translation services, content creation, cultural documentation, and language instruction.
Advanced Stage
Specialized Elective Focus- (Semester 6-8)
Carefully choose Discipline Specific Electives (DSEs) to build expertise in a particular area like Vedic Studies, Manuscriptology, Sanskrit Computational Linguistics, or specific philosophical schools. This specialization makes graduates highly competitive for focused research grants and specialized academic positions.
Tools & Resources
DSE course descriptions, Faculty consultations for career alignment
Career Connection
Creates a niche expertise, highly valued for specialized research, curatorial roles, and advanced academic positions.
Prepare for NET/JRF Examinations- (Semester 6-8)
Begin rigorous preparation for the UGC NET/JRF examination, which is essential for lectureship and research fellowships in India. Utilize previous year papers, specialized coaching, and in-depth study of the entire syllabus. A good NET/JRF score opens doors to university teaching and funded research.
Tools & Resources
UGC NET/JRF previous year papers, Online coaching platforms (e.g., Unacademy, Byju''''s for Humanities), Sanskrit academic journals
Career Connection
Directly paves the way for university teaching positions, research fellowships, and academic career progression in India.
Undertake Original Research for Dissertation- (Semester 7-8)
Dedicate significant effort to the Research Paper and Dissertation, selecting a unique topic and engaging deeply with primary sources. Seek regular mentorship from faculty and aim for publication in peer-reviewed journals. A strong dissertation acts as a portfolio piece, showcasing advanced research capability for higher studies and professional research roles.
Tools & Resources
University library resources, JSTOR, Shodhganga for Indian theses, Faculty advisors
Career Connection
Demonstrates independent research and critical thinking, crucial for Ph.D. admissions, research roles, and scholarly contributions.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- No eligibility criteria specified
Duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
Credits: 148 Credits
Assessment: Internal: 30%, External: 70%
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSC-1 | Sanskrit Literature: Epic and Purana | Core | 4 | Mahābhārata (selected portions), Rāmāyaṇa (selected portions), Purāṇa (selected portions), Narrative techniques in Epics, Ethical values in Sanskrit Epics |
| DSC-2 | Sanskrit Linguistics | Core | 4 | Introduction to Linguistics, Branches of Linguistics, Phonetics (Vowels, Consonants), Morphology (Word formation), Semantics (Meaning theory) |
| DSC-3 | Sanskrit Grammar: Kārakaprakaraṇa | Core | 4 | Introduction to Pāṇiniya Vyākaraṇa, Kārakas and Vibhaktis, Samāsa Prakaraṇa, Saṃdhi rules, Taddhita and Kṛt forms |
| GE-1 | Generic Elective Course (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 | |
| AEC | Ability Enhancement Course (Student''''s Choice) | Ability Enhancement | 2 | |
| VAC | Value Added Course (Student''''s Choice) | Value Added | 2 |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSC-4 | Sanskrit Literature: Prose and Poetry | Core | 4 | Bāṇabhaṭṭa''''s Kādambarī (selected portions), Daṇḍin''''s Daśakumāracarita (selected portions), Classical Sanskrit Poetry, Subhāṣitas, Poetic devices |
| DSC-5 | Sanskrit Grammar: Kṛdanta and Taddhita | Core | 4 | Kṛdanta Prakaraṇa, Taddhita Prakaraṇa, Primary Derivatives, Secondary Derivatives, Usage of suffixes |
| DSC-6 | History of Sanskrit Literature | Core | 4 | Vedic Literature, Classical Sanskrit Literature, Buddhist and Jain Sanskrit Literature, Scientific Literature in Sanskrit, Major Sanskrit Authors and Works |
| GE-2 | Generic Elective Course (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 | |
| AEC | Ability Enhancement Course (Student''''s Choice) | Ability Enhancement | 2 | |
| VAC | Value Added Course (Student''''s Choice) | Value Added | 2 |
Semester 3
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSC-7 | Sanskrit Drama | Core | 4 | Kālidāsa''''s Abhijñānaśākuntalam (selected portions), Bhāsa''''s Svapnavāsavadattam (selected portions), Mudrārākṣasam (selected portions), Daśarūpaka (Introduction), Elements of Sanskrit Drama |
| DSC-8 | Indian Philosophy (Classical Schools) | Core | 4 | Introduction to Indian Philosophy, Sāṃkhya Darśana, Yoga Darśana, Nyāya Darśana, Vaiśeṣika Darśana |
| DSC-9 | Vedic Literature and Culture | Core | 4 | Introduction to Vedas, Ṛgveda (selected Hymns), Yajurveda, Sāmaveda, Atharvaveda, Vedic Culture and Society |
| GE-3 | Generic Elective Course (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 | |
| SEC | Skill Enhancement Course (Student''''s Choice) | Skill Enhancement | 2 |
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSC-10 | Sanskrit Poetics | Core | 4 | Introduction to Sanskrit Poetics, Rasa theory, Alaṃkāras, Dhvani theory, Vṛttis and Guṇas |
| DSC-11 | Dharmaśāstra and Arthaśāstra | Core | 4 | Manusmṛti (selected portions), Yājñavalkyasmṛti (selected portions), Kautilya''''s Arthaśāstra (selected portions), Concept of Dharma, Statecraft and Governance |
| DSC-12 | Indian Philosophy (Heterodox Schools) | Core | 4 | Cārvāka Darśana, Bauddha Darśana, Jaina Darśana, Advaita Vedānta, Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta |
| GE-4 | Generic Elective Course (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 | |
| SEC | Skill Enhancement Course (Student''''s Choice) | Skill Enhancement | 2 |
Semester 5
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSC-13 | Sanskrit Prose and Poetic Works (Advanced) | Core | 4 | Banabhatta''''s Harṣacarita (selected portions), Śrīharṣa''''s Naiṣadhīyacaritam (selected portions), Magha''''s Śiśupālavadham (selected portions), Bharavi''''s Kirātārjunīyam (selected portions), Classical Sanskrit Prose styles |
| DSC-14 | Sanskrit Grammar and Composition | Core | 4 | Advanced Sanskrit Grammar, Translation from English to Sanskrit, Sanskrit Essay Writing, Poetic Composition, Prosody and Metrics |
| DSE-1 | Discipline Specific Elective (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 | |
| DSE-2 | Discipline Specific Elective (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 |
Semester 6
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSC-15 | Sanskrit Drama and Dramaturgy (Advanced) | Core | 4 | Advanced study of Sanskrit Dramas, Nāṭyaśāstra (selected chapters), Types of Sanskrit Plays, Acting and Stagecraft, Rasa-Dhvani in Drama |
| DSC-16 | Epigraphy and Paleography | Core | 4 | Introduction to Indian Epigraphy, Major Inscriptions (Ashokan Edicts, Gupta Inscriptions), Paleography of Brāhmī and Kharoṣṭhī scripts, Historical significance of Inscriptions |
| DSE-3 | Discipline Specific Elective (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 | |
| DSE-4 | Discipline Specific Elective (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 |
Semester 7
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSE-5 | Discipline Specific Elective (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 | |
| DSE-6 | Discipline Specific Elective (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 | |
| R | Research Paper | Research | 6 | Research Methodology, Literature Review, Data Collection, Analysis, Thesis Writing |
| GE-5 | Generic Elective Course (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 | |
| VAC | Value Added Course (Student''''s Choice) | Value Added | 2 |
Semester 8
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSE-7 | Discipline Specific Elective (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 | |
| DSE-8 | Discipline Specific Elective (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 | |
| R | Dissertation/Project | Project | 6 | Independent Research, Project Design, Data Interpretation, Report Writing, Presentation |
| GE-6 | Generic Elective Course (Student''''s Choice) | Elective | 4 | |
| VAC | Value Added Course (Student''''s Choice) | Value Added | 2 |




