How to Prepare for Sanskrit Subject in UGC NET Exam

UGC NET Exam Overview

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has been entrusted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) with the task of conducting UGC-NET Exam, which is a Test to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for ‘Assistant Professor’ as well as ‘Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor’ in Indian Universities and Colleges.

The UGC-NET Exam is being conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode w.e.f. December 2018 onwards.

Awarding of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and/ or Eligibility for Assistant Professorship depends on the aggregate performance of the candidate in Paper-I and Paper-II of UGC-NET. The candidates qualifying only for Assistant Professorship are not eligible to be considered for the award of JRF. Candidates who qualify the eligibility test for Assistant Professorship are governed by the rules and regulations of the concerned Universities/Colleges/State Governments, as the case may be for recruitment of Assistant Professor.

UGC-NET is conducted twice every year (June & December). Due to the outbreak of COVID- 19 pandemic in 2020 & 2021, the cycles of UGC NET were merged and conducted together.

In order to regularize the UGC-NET examination cycle, the National Testing Agency (NTA), with the concurrence of UGC is conducting UGC NET December 2022 in the month of February & March 2023 in 83 subjects, at selected cities across the country.

Going a step further and to regularise the exam cycle, the NTA has released exam dates for the later half of the year and the exam will be held from 13th to 22nd June 2023.

As NTA gears up to conduct the exam in a proper manner, students also need to prepare themselves for the exam in a dedicated manner. For students who are preparing for UGC Net with sanskrit as a subject, here are a few pointers to guide you in the right direction.

Our JRF team is the best in the business and almost all of them have already been selected as JRF. So, in your preparation journey we will be the best guide for you and our experienced team will prove to be a vital cog in your preparation journey.

How to prepare for UGC NET Sanskrit Paper II

Go through the syllabus to gauge your strengths and weaknesses

Unit - I Vedic-Literature

(a) General Introduction of Vedic Literature:

Main theories regarding the Vedās: Maxmüller; A.Weber; Jacobi; Balgangadhar Tilak;

• M.Winternitz; Indian traditional views.
• Saṁhitā Literature
• Dialogue Hymns: Pururavā-Urvaśī; Yama-yamī; Saramā-Paṇi ;Viśvāmitra-Nadī
• Brāhamaṇa-Literature
• Āraṇyaka Literature
• Vedāṅgas: Śikșā; Kalpa; Vyākaraṇa; Nirukta; Chandas; Jyotișa

Unit - II (b) Specific Study of Vedic Literature:

Study of the following hymns:

• Ŗgveda : Agni (1.1); Varuṇa (1.25); Sūrya (1.125); Indra (2.12); Uṣas (3.61);
• Parjanya (5.83); Kitava (10.34); Jñāna (10.71); Puruṣa (10.90); Hiraṇyagarbha
• (10.121); Vāk (10.125); Nāsadīya (10.129);
• Śuklayajurveda :Śivasaṁkalpa , Chapter-34 (1-6)
• Prajāpati-Chapter-23 (1-5)
• Atharvaveda :Rāṣṭrābhivardhanam (1.29); Kāla (10.53); Prithivī (12.1)
• Brāhmaṇa Literature
• Subject-matter; Vidhi and its types; Agnihotra; Agniṣṭoma; Darśapūrṇamāsa ;
• Yajña; Pañcamahāyajña; Akhyāna (Śunahśepa ,Vāṅmanas)
• Upaniṣad Literature:
• Subject-matter and main concepts with special reference to the following
• Upaniṣads ;
• Īśa; Kaṭha; Kena; Bṛhadārṇyaka ;Taittirīya; Śvetāśvatara
• Vedic Grammar; Nirukta and Vedic interpretation
• Ṛkprātiśākhya : Definitions of Samānākṣara ; Sandhyakṣara; Aghoṣa; Soṣman;
• Svarabhakti ; Yama ; Rakta; Saṁyoga; Pragṛhya ; Riphita
• Nirukta (Chapters-I & 2)
• Four-fold division of Padas-Concept of Nāma; Concept of Ākhyāta; Meaning of
• Upasargas; Categories of Nipātas.
• Purposes of the study of Nirukta
• Principles of Etymology
• The etymology of the following words:
• Āchārya; Vīra; Harada; Go; Samudra; Vṛtra; Āditya; Uṣas; Megha; Vāk; Udak;
• Nadī; Aśva; Agni; Jātavedas; Vaiśvānara; Nighaṇtu
• Nirukta (Chapter-7; Daivatakāṇḍa)
• Vedic Accent- Udātta, Anudātta and Svarita

Unit - III(c) Darśana:

General Introduction of major schools of Darśana with special reference to the following:

• Pramāṇamīmānsā; Tattvamīmānsā; Ācāramīmānsā (Cārvāka, Jaina,
• Bauddha) Nyāya, Sāṁkhya, Yoga, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, mīmānsā

Unit - IV (d) Darśana Literature: Special Study:

• Īśvarakṛṣna: Sāṁkhyakārikā - Satkāryavāda, Puruṣasvarūpa, Prakṛtisvarūpa,

Sṛștikrama, Pratyaysarga, Kaivalya.

• Sadānanda :Vedāntasāra - Anubandha-catuṣṭaya, Ajñāna, Adhyāropa-Apavāda,

Lingaśarīrotpatti, Pañcīkaraṇa, Vivarta, Jīvanmukti

• Annambhaṭṭa, Tarkasaṁgraha / Keśavamiśra; Tarkabhāṣā :Padārtha; Kāraṇa;
• Pramāṇa; (Pratyakṣa; Anumāna; Upamāna; Śabda), Prāmāṇyavāda, Prameya .

Laugākṣibhāskara ;Arthasaṁgraha.

• Patañjali ;Yogasūtra - (Vyāsabhāṣya) : Cittabhūmi, Cittavṛttis ; Concept of Īśvara;

Yogāṅgas; Samādhi ; Kaivalya

• Bādarāyaṇa ;Brahmasūtra 1.1 (Śānkarabhāṣya)
• Viśvanāthapañcānana ;Nyāyasidhāntamuktāvalī (AnumānaKhaṇḍa)
• Sarvadarśana-Saṁgraha ; Jainism ; Buddhism

Unit - V (e) Grammar and Linguistics:

General Introduction of the following grammarians:

• Pāṇini ,Kātyāyana , Patañjali , Bhartṛhari , Vāmanajayāditya ,

Bhaṭṭojidīkṣita ,Nāgeśabhaṭṭa , Kaiyyaṭa , Jainendra , Śākaṭāyana ,

Hemacandrasūri ,Sārasvatavyākaraṇakāra.

• PāṇinīyaŚikṣā.
• Linguistics: Definition of Language, Genealogical and Morphological classification of Languages, Speech Mechanism and classification of sounds: Stops, Fricatives, Semi-Vowels, and vowels (with special reference to Sanskrit

sounds).

• Phonetic Laws (Grimm, Grassman, Verner).
• Directions of semantic change and reasons for change.
• Definition of Vākya and its types
• General introduction to the Indo-European family of Languages
• Difference between Vedic Sanskrit and Classical Sanskrit
• Difference between Bhāșā and Vāk
• Difference between language and dialect

Unit - VI (f) Specific Study of Grammar

• Definition :Saṁhitā, SaṁyogaGuṇa, Vṛddhi, Prātipadika, Nadī , Ghi, Upadhā,
• Apṛkta, Gati, Pada, Vibhāṣā ,Savarṇa, Ṭi, Pragṛhya, Sarvanāmasthāna, Bha ,
• Sarvanāma, Niṣthā.
• Sandhi - Ac sandhi, Hal sandhi, Visarga sandhi (according to

laghusiddhāntakaumudī)

• Subanta – Ajanta - Rāma , Sarva (in all genders) , Viśvapā, Hari , Tri (in all

genders) , Sakhi , Sudhī , Guru , Pitṛ , Gau , Ramā , Mati , Nadī , Dhenu , Mātṛ , Jñāna , Vāri , Madhu .

• Halanta - Lih ,Viśvavāh , Catur (in all genders) , Idam, Kim, Tad (in all genders), Rājan , Maghavan , Pathin , Vidvas , Asmad , Yuṣmad .
• Samāsa - Avyayībhāva , Tatpuruṣa , Bahuvrīhi , Dvandva (according to
• laghusiddhāntakaumudī)
• Taddhita - Apatyārthaka and Matvarthīya (According to Siddāntakaumudī ),
• Tiṅanta - Bhū , Edh , Ad , Us, Hu , Div , Ṣuñ , Tud , Tan, Kṛ , Rudh , Krīñ, Cur .
• Prayayānta - Nijant, Sannanta ,Yańanta , Yańluganta , Nāmdhātu.
• Kṛdanta - Tavya / Tavyat ,Anīyar , Yat , Ṇyat , Kyap , Śatṛ , Śānac , Ktvā , Kta ,
• Ktavatu, Tumon, Ṇamul.
• Strīpratyaya - According to Laghusiddhāntakaumudī.
• Kāraka Prakarana - According to Siddāntakaumudī .
• Parasmaipada and ĀtmanepadaVidhāna - According to Siddāntakaumudī .
• Mahābhāșya (Paspaśāhnika)- Definition of Śabda, Relation between Śabda and
• Artha, Purposes of the study of grammar, Definition of Vyākaraṇa, Result of the proper use of the word, Method of grammar.
• Vākyapadīyam (Brahmakāṇḍa) - Nature of Sphoṭa, Nature of Śabda-Brahma,
• Powers of Śabda-Brahma, Relation between Sphoṭa and Dhvani, Relation

between Śabda and Artha, Types of Dhvani, Levels of Language.

Unit - VII Sanskrit Literature, Poetics and Prosody

 (a) General Introduction of following

• Bhāsa, Aśvaghośa ,kālidāsa, Śūdraka, Viśākhadatta, Bhāravi, Māgha, Harṣa,
• Bāṇabhaṭṭa, Daṇḍin, Bhavabhūti, Bhaṭṭanārāyaṇa, Bhilhaṇa, Shrῑharṣa, Ambikādatta
• vyāsa, PanditāKṣamārao, V. Raghavan, Shri Dhar Bhaskar Varnekar
• Schools of Sanskrit Poetics – Rasa, Alaṅkāra, Rīti, Dhwani, Vakrokti, Aucitya,

Western Poetics – Aristotle, Longinus, Croche

Unit - VIII (b) Specific Study of the Following

• Poetry: Buddhacaritam (First Canto), Raghuvaṁśam (First Canto), Kirātārjunīyam

(First Canto), Śiśupālavadham (First Canto), Naiṣadhīyacaritam (First Canto)

• Drama: Svapnavāsavadattām, Abhijñānaśākuntalam, Mṛcchakaṭikam,

Uttararāmacaritam, Mudrārākṣasam, Uttararāmacaritam, Ratnāvalī

• Prose: Daśakumāracaritam( viiiUcchvāsa), Harṣacaritam ( V Ucchvāsa),

Kādambarī (Śukanāsopadeśa)

• CampūKāvya - Nala Campū (I Ucchvāsa)
• Sāhityadarpaṇaḥ: Definition of Kāvya, Refutation of other definitions of Kāvya, Śabdaśakti - Saṅketagraha; Abhidhā; Lakṣanā; Vyanjanā, Kāvyabheda (Chapter Fourth), Śravyakāvya (prose poetry and mix)
• Kāvyaprakaśa – Kāvyalakṣhṇa, Kāvyaprayojana, Kāvyahetu, Kāvyabheda, Śabdaśakti, Abhihitānvayavāda, Anvitābhidhānvayavāda, concept of Rasa, discussion of Rasasūtra, Rasadoṣa, Kāvyaguṇa, Vyanjanāvriti (Fifth Chapter)
• Alaṁkāras – Vakrokti; Anuprāsa, Yamaka, Śleṣa, Upamā, Rūpaka, Utprekṣā, Samāsokti, Apahnuti, Nidarśanā, Arthāntaranyāsa, Dṛṣṭānta, Vibhāvanā, Viśeṣokti,

Svabhāvokti, Virodhābhāsa, Saṅkara, Sansṛṣṭi

• Dhvanyāloka (I Udyota)
• Vakroktijīvitam (I Unmeṣa)
• Bharata – Nāṭyaśāstram (First and Sixth Chapter)
• Daśarūpakam (First and Third Prakāśa)
• Chanda – Āryā, Anuṣṭup, Indravajrā, Upendravajrā, Vasantatilakā, Upajāti, Vaṁśastha, Drutavilambita, Śālinī, Mālinī, Śikharṇī, Mandākrāntā, Hariṇī, Śārdūlavikrῑḍita, Sragdharā

Unit - IX Purāṇetihāsa, Dharmaśāstra and Epigraphy

(a) General introduction of the followings:

• Rāmāyaṇa – Subject matter, age, society in the Rāmāyaṇa, Rāmāyaṇa as a source of later Sanskrit works and literal value of the Rāmāyaṇa, legends in the Rāmāyaṇa
• Mahābhārata – Subject matter, age, society in the Mahābhārata, Mahābhārata as a source of later Sanskrit works and literal value of the Mahābhārata, legends in the Mahābhārata
• Purāṇa – Definition of Purāṇa, mahaPurāṇa and UpaPurāṇas, Purāṇic cosmology and Purāṇic legends
• General introduction of main Smṛitis.
• General introduction KauṭilīyaArthaśāstra
• Paleography – History of the decipherment of Brāhmī script, Theories of the origin of Brāhmī Script
• Inscriptions - General introduction

Unit - X (b) Specific Study of the Following

• Kauṭilīyaarthaśātra (First – Vinayadikarika)
• Manusmṛti (I, II and VII Adhyāyas)
• Yājñavalkyasmṛti (Vyavahārādhyaya only)
• Paleography and Inscriptions –
• Brahmi Script of Mauryan and Gupta periods
• Inscription of Ashoka – Major Rock Edicts, Major Pillar Edicts
• Post – Mauryan inscriptions –
• Sāranātha Buddhist Image Inscription of Kaniṣka’s regal – year, 3, Girnār Rock Inscription of Rudradāman,
• Hāthīgumphā inscription of Khāravela
• Gupta and Post-Gupta inscriptions –
• Allahabad Pillar Inscriptions of Samudragupta, Mandasor Pillar Inscription of Yasodharman, Banāskherā Copper Plate Inscription of Harṣa,
• Aihole Stone Inscription of Pulakeśīn II

A few tips

• Start your preparation for UGC NET sanskrit by understanding the exam pattern and the syllabus for the UGC NET Sanskrit exam. This will help you know what to expect on the day of the exam and will also help you plan your study schedule.
• Make a study plan for your UGC NET sanskrit preparation and stick to it. Try to devote a certain amount of time each day to studying for the exam, and cover all the essential topics in the syllabus.
• Use study materials such as books, notes, and online resources to help you prepare for the exam. Make sure to use materials that are relevant and up-to-date.
• Practice as many mock tests as possible to help you get used to the exam format and to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
• Take care of your physical and mental health. Make sure to get enough sleep, exercise, and eat well during the exam preparation. This will help you stay focused and energized.
• Don't panic or get stressed out. Instead, try to stay calm and focused on your studies. Remember that hard work and dedication can go a long way in helping you succeed in the exam.

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