A Complete Reference for Prefixes (Upasarga) | Learn Sanskrit

Prefixes (Upasarga)

The following article contains brief about Prefixes in Sanskrit which is explained with the help of examples even can be used for class 9/10 or school and or college level studies.

The उपसर्ग-s (prefixes) are frequently used in Sanskrit language
They bring about changes in the meaning of the basic roots

उपसर्गेण धात्वर्थो बलादन्यत्र नीयते |
प्रहार – आहार – संहार – विहार – परिहारवत् ||

प्रहार, आहार, संहार, विहार, परिहार - derived from root हृ = to snatch away
प्र + हृ = to strike
आ + हृ = to eat
सम् + हृ = to kill
वि + हृ = to walk with pleasure/ to wander
परि + हृ = to ward off

Prefixes - 22 in number

प्र = more, forward	आ = to form, backwards
परा = down, backward	नि = in, more
अप = away, opposite	अधि = above
सम् = together, very much	अपि = also, to cover
अनु = behind	सु = good
अव = down	अभि = towards
निस् = out, far away	प्रति = towards, against
निर् = out	परि = around
दुस् = bad	उप = near, to
दुर् = difficult	उद् = up
वि = contrary, particular	अति = beyond

Examples –

गम् -> गच्छति (to go) -> आ + गम् = आगच्छति (to come)

-> अनु + गम् = अनुगच्छति (to follow)

-> निर् + गम् = निर्गच्छति (to go out)

-> उद् + गम् = उद्गच्छति (to go upward)

-> दुर् + गम् = दुर्गच्छति (to lead difficult path)

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Functions of the उपसर्ग-s

धात्वर्थं बाधते कश्चित् कश्चित्तमनुवर्तते |
तमेव विशिनष्टयन्यः उपसर्गगतिस्त्रिधा ||

धात्वर्थं बाधते कश्चित् – some change the meaning of the root
कश्चित्तमनुवर्तते – some follow the original meaning
तमेव विशिनष्टयन्यः – some reinforce/highlight/enhance meaning of the root

1.When certain उपसर्ग-s are added to certain roots, we get exactly the opposite meaning

गम् (गच्छति) = to go	आ + गम् (आगच्छति) = to come back
स्मृ (स्मरति) = to remember	वि + स्मृ (विस्मरति) = to forget
जि (जयति) = to win	परा + जि (पराजयते) = to lose

2.The meaning of the roots is enhanced due to the उपसर्ग-s

धाव् (धावति) = to run	प्र + धाव् (प्रधावति) = to run fast
वह् (वहति) = to flow	प्र + वह् (प्रवहति) = to flow fast
राज् (राजते) = to shine	वि + राज् (विराजते) = to shine better
ज्ञा (जानाति) = to know	वि + ज्ञा (विजानाति) = to know better

3.Some roots change their पद-s because of the उपसर्ग-s (if the root is originally PP, due to addition of certain उपसर्ग it becomes AP and vice versa)

स्था – तिष्ठति (PP)	सम्, अव, प्र, वि + स्था - संतिष्ठते, अवतिष्ठते, प्रतिष्ठते, वितिष्ठते (AP)
गम् – गच्छति (PP)	सम् + गम् - सङ्गच्छते (AP)
जि – जयति (PP)	वि, परा + जि - विजयते, पराजयते (AP)
रम् - रमते (AP)	वि, आ, परि - विरमति, आरमति, विरमति (PP)