Customer Reviews

Sanskrit Reader : Text and Vocabulary

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I'm studying sanskrit using this marvellous reader and think it's the best sanskrit reader available. After having worked through Perry's Sanskrit Primer, one should be able to take up Lanman's Reader the way its author designed it in the preface, i.e. starting with the easy Nala Story of the Mahabharata. Then follow the more difficult Hitopadesha and the Kathasaritsagara. The last two parts (Manava Dharmashastra and the Veda) are the most difficult ones. However notes, vocabulary carefully graded progression of the texts make it a highly enjoyable device for learning more about the language but also about the fascinating realm of ancient indian literature and culture. I highly recommend this book!

These printers used an ancient edition of Lanman's text that was released prior to his completion of the translation notes, so the book only contains Part 1 and Part 2. Other editions, such as the Motilal printing, contain Part 3, which consists of useful translation notes. I ordered this book for a class and found out later that I needed to order one with Part 3 included. There is no reason anyone would reprint Lanman's reader without using an edition that includes his notes except cheapness, but ordering an edition with all three parts costs about the same, so I think someone would order this edition only out of ignorance. Furthermore, the low quality copy of this printing causes the devanagari script to be very difficult to read. Ordering this was a total waste of money and I have now had to order the Motilal printing to replace it. My advice is to avoid this printing/edition of Lanman's text at all costs.