1 Research Scholar, Department of Samhita And Sanskrit, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India - 221005.
2 Professor, Department of Samhita And Sanskrit, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India - 221005.
Received: 20th Feb, 2026 | Revised: 4th Mar, 2026 | Accepted: 25th Mar, 2026 | Available Online: 10th Apr, 2026
In the modern era, mankind is increasingly focused on extending lifespan and achieving optimal health. To this end, Ayurveda was established by the great sages of ancient period, with the Charaka Samhita standing as the foundational and foremost treatise on the subject. As the text is composed in Sanskrit, it exhibits a profound influence of grammatical structures, particularly various suffixes (pratyayas). These suffixes range in complexity; the appearance of intricate forms often leads to confusion among students. While the application and memorisation of standard verbal roots present their own challenges, the difficulty is compounded when dealing with derivative roots such as the sannadi pratyayas (suffixes). This research paper provides a comprehensive analysis of words and verbal forms derived from the san suffix as they appear in the Charaka Samhita. The study categorises these forms based on their usage: inherent meaning (svartha): analyses examples such as 'bibhatsatām' and 'cikitsāmaḥ'. Desiderative meaning (icchārtha): examines forms like bubhutseta and śuśrūṣāmahe. The paper further distinguishes between sādhya forms, such as cikitsati, and sādhana, such as cikitsakaḥ, bubhukṣitaḥ, cikitsite, cikitsan, mumūrṣum, cikīrṣuḥ, vijihīrṣavaḥ, cikīrṣatā, and pipāsā. In addition to linguistic analysis, the paper discusses the theoretical definitions of svartha, sādhya, and sādhana, as well as the determination of their contextual meanings. A vital contribution of this research paper is the detailed explanation of the word formation process (śabdasiddhi) according to Paninian grammatical rules, serving as a practical guide for those unfamiliar with the complexities of Sanskrit morphology.
Keywords: San Pratyaya, Pratyaya, Aṣṭādhyāyī, Charaka Samhita, Vaiyākaraṇasiddhāntakaumudī.
How to cite this article: Tiwari N, Paliwal M. An Analytical Study Of The 'San Pratyaya' In The Charaka Samhita. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(29s):49-58. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.29s.7
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.