Class 6, 7Easy📚 vocabularyNCERT · CBSE
Sanskrit Animals — Vocabulary
पशु-पक्षी — शब्दावली
Animals and Birds in Sanskrit · Stories from NCERT · Class 6-7
Key Points to Remember
- ▸Aśva (horse) ↔ Latin equus ↔ Greek hippos — all from PIE *h1eḱwos
- ▸Śvān (dog) ↔ Latin canis ↔ Greek kyōn — "canine" comes from Sanskrit's cousin-root
- ▸Kāka (crow) is onomatopoeic — named from its call; same idea in English "caw"
- ▸Haṃsa (swan) = symbol of the pure soul (paramātman) in Upanishads
Vocabulary List
Animal vocabulary is essential for reading Pañcatantra stories in NCERT. Sanskrit has poetic names for animals based on their qualities.
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning | Root / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| सिंह | siṃha (m.) | lion | √han (to strike) — the striker; reversed: han → saha → siṃha |
| व्याघ्र | vyāghra (m.) | tiger | vi (apart) + √han — the separating striker |
| गज | gaja (m.) | elephant | √gaj — to go (elephants go majestically) |
| अश्व | aśva (m.) | horse | cognate with Latin equus, Greek hippos via PIE *h1eḱwos |
| गाव् / धेनु | gāu / dhenu (f.) | cow | go (cow/earth) — cognate with English "cow," Latin bos |
| मृग | mṛga (m.) | deer / wild animal in general | √mṛg — to seek; the animal that is sought (hunted) |
| वानर | vānara (m.) | monkey | vana (forest) + ra — forest-dweller; also possibly vā (to go) + nara (man) |
| शार्दूल | śārdūla (m.) | tiger (poetic), a noble/fierce animal | used in the metre name "Śārdūlavikrīḍita" (tiger's play) |
| काक | kāka (m.) | crow | onomatopoeia — from the "kā-kā" call; appears in Hitopadesha stories |
| हंस | haṃsa (m.) | swan, goose | √han (to go swiftly) — the swift goer; symbol of the paramātman |
| कोकिल | kokila (m.) | cuckoo (Indian koel) | named for its call; symbol of spring and good speech |
| मत्स्य | matsya (m.) | fish | mat (drunk) + sya — the "drunk" swimmer? Or from Dravidian min |
| श्वान् | śvān (m.) | dog | cognate with Latin canis, Greek kyōn — all from PIE *ḱwon |
| मर्कट | markaṭa (m.) | monkey (smaller species) | used in stories; marka = one who grabs/seizes |
Exercises (2)
Exercise 1: Match the Column
Match animal to its Sanskrit name
1. Lion
Show answer
सिंह (siṃha)
2. Elephant
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गज (gaja)
3. Horse
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अश्व (aśva)
4. Crow
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काक (kāka)
5. Swan
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हंस (haṃsa)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Animal in context
1. "Haṃsa" (swan/goose) is a symbol of:
A. strengthB. the paramātman / pure soulC. wealthD. devotion
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the paramātman / pure soul
2. Which Sanskrit animal name is cognate with English "equestrian"?
A. gajaB. aśvaC. siṃhaD. mṛga
Show answer
aśva
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