समासः
Samaasa is a compound word. Sanskrit has this unique ability to combine words in a way such that they carry the meaning of sentences. Long compounded words are rare in Ramayanam, but are quite replete in prose-works, with words at times running the length of a few pages!
In scholarly Sanskrit, economy of syllables is always sought after. There is a joke (not completely related, but relevant here) that if a person composing a Sutra is able to cut down a syllable without compromising the meaning, he is as happy as though a boy were born to him. It is the endeavour of writers to convey what they want with the minimum use of syllables as possible. Any work written that way is deemed quite scholarly.
The "sentence" explaining to the compound is called as the "vigraha vaakya" (break-down of a compound word in the form of a sentence).
The following are the types of Samaasas encountered in Sanskrit:
- तत्पुरुष
- बहुव्रीहि
- कर्मधारय
- द्वन्द्व
- द्विगु
- अव्ययीभाव
Samaasa also at times gives rise to ambiguity about the actual intent of the author, these issues will be discussed later.
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