CSC 2026-04-20
Chinmaya Sanskrtam Class
Lesson 3: अहम् च त्वम् • Asmad & Yuṣmad
अहम् च त्वम्
Understanding the First Person (I) and Second Person (You).
अस्मद् (Asmad)
The First Person (Uttama Puruṣa)
Refers to the speaker. This pronoun is **gender-neutral**. Boys, girls, men, and women all use the same words to refer to themselves.
युष्मद् (Yuṣmad)
The Second Person (Madhyama Puruṣa)
Refers to the listener. Used when addressing someone else. This is also **gender-neutral**, so you use it for anyone you are speaking to.
1. अस्मद् प्रयोगाः (Asmad)
Ekavacanam (Singular)
अहम्
Aham (I)
Dvivacanam (Dual)
आवाम्
Āvām (We two)
Bahuvacanam (Plural)
वयम्
Vayam (We all)
2. युष्मद् प्रयोगाः (Yuṣmad)
Ekavacanam (Singular)
त्वम्
Tvam (You)
Dvivacanam (Dual)
युवाम्
Yuvām (You two)
Bahuvacanam (Plural)
यूयम्
Yūyam (You all)
The “Action Tail” (Pratyaya)
In Sanskrtam, the verb suffix (pratyaya) acts like a GPS. It tells you exactly who is performing the action. If you use the word for “I”, the verb must end with the “I-tail”.
💡 Grammar Secret:
Pronouns and Verbs are a team. They must always “match” in number and person. This is called Subject-Verb Agreement.
Uttama Puruṣa (First Person)
When talking about yourself or your group, use these endings:
Madhyama Puruṣa (Second Person)
When addressing someone else, use these endings:
The Suffix Master Chart
| Pronoun | Number | Suffix | Example |
|---|
The 3×3 Verb Matrix
The complete conjugation map for present tense (Laṭ-lakāra).
| Person / Number | Ekavacanam (1) | Dvivacanam (2) | Bahuvacanam (3+) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Prathama Puruṣa (3rd Person) |
पठति | पठतः | पठन्ति |
|
Madhyama Puruṣa (2nd Person) |
पठसि | पठथः | पठथ |
|
Uttama Puruṣa (1st Person) |
पठामि | पठावः | पठामः |
Focus
The “Other” (He/She/It)
Focus
The “You” (Listener)
Focus
The “Self” (Speaker)
Conversation Examples
Dialogue 1
शिक्षकः: त्वं किं करोषि?
छात्रः: अहं पठामि।
Dialogue 2
रामः: युवां कुत्र गच्छथः?
आवाम्: आवां मन्दिरं गच्छावः।
Dialogue 3
माता: यूयं किं खादथ?
पुत्राः: वयं आम्रफलं खादामः।
Dialogue 4
सखा: त्वं लिखसि किम्?
अहम्: आम्, अहं गृहपाठं लिखामि।
Bhagavad Gita Wisdom
Lord Krishna as “Aham” (10.20)
अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः।
अहम् (Aham): “I, O Gudakesha, am the Self seated in the hearts of all beings.”
Arjuna addressing Krishna as “Tvam” (11.18)
त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यम्।
त्वम् (Tvam): “You are the Imperishable, the Supreme Being to be known.”
Quiz Phase 1: Meanings
Select the correct English translation.
Quiz Phase 2: Agreements
Match the correct suffix to the pronoun.
Quiz Phase 3: Dialogue
Complete the response.
Writing: Action Endings
Type the missing suffix (e.g., मि, सि, थः).
Writing: Pronouns
Type the correct pronoun (अहम्, वयम्, त्वम्, etc.).
The Ultimate Challenge
Param-Uttamam!
You have mastered the language of the Self and the Other.