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Introduction to वचनम् in Sanskrit



In Sanskrit grammar, वचनम् (vachanam) means number. It indicates how many persons, objects, or things are being referred to in a sentence.

Sanskrit has a very special and systematic number system with three types of vachana:
  1. एकवचनम् Singular
  2. द्विवचनम् Dual
  3. बहुवचनम् Plural
1. एकवचनम् (Ekavachanam) Singular
Used when referring to one person or thing.
Examples:
  • बालकः one boy
  • पुस्तकम् one book
  • नदी one river
Sentences
  • बालकः पठति। The boy reads
  • बालिका गायति The girl sings
  • पर्णं पतति। The leaf falls
2. द्विवचनम् (Dvivachanam) Dual
Used when referring to exactly two persons or things. This is one of the unique features of Sanskrit.
Examples:
  • बालकौ Two boys
  • पुस्तके Two books
  • नद्यौ Two rivers
Sentences:
  • बालकौ पठतः। The two boys read
  • बालिके गायतः। The two girls sing
  • पर्णे पततः। The two leaves fall
3. बहुवचनम् (Bahuvachanam) Plural
Used when referring to more than two persons or things.
Examples:
  • बालकाः Many boys
  • पुस्तकानि Many books
  • नद्यः Many rivers
Sentences
  • बालकाः पठन्ति। The boys read
  • बालिकाः गायन्ति। The girls sing
  • पर्णानि पतन्ति। The leaves fall
Here is a table of some common words in all 3 genders and in all 3 vachanas

एकवचनम् द्विवचनम् बहुवचनम्
बालकः one boyबालकौ two boysबालकाः many boys
भक्तः one devoteeभक्तौ two devoteesभक्ताः many devotees
पुत्रः one sonपुत्रौ two sonsपुत्राः many sons
बालिका one girlबालिके two girlsबालिकाः many girls
नदी one riverनद्यौ two riversनद्यः many rivers
लता one creeperलते two creepersलताः many creepers
फलम् one fruitफले two fruitsफलानि many fruits
पर्णम् one leafपर्णे two leavesपर्णानि many leaves
पुस्तकम् one bookपुस्तके two booksपुस्तकानि many books

Vachana in Different Word Types
Vachana appears in:
In Sanskrit, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and verbs must agree in vachana. Here are some examples

एकवचनम् द्विवचनम् बहुवचनम्
बालकः पठति बालकौ पठतः बालकाः पठन्ति
बालिका गायति बालिके गायतः बालिकाः गायन्ति
पर्णं पतति। पर्णे पततः पर्णानि पतन्ति

Vachana is one of the foundational concepts of Sanskrit grammar. Every noun and verb changes according to whether the meaning is singular, dual, or plural. Understanding vachana helps you form correct sentences and understand Sanskrit grammar more clearly.

Click here to study the next chapter on Pronouns