A Sanskrit Primer

Rating:
Summary: Unsurpassed since 1885
Review: For any serious student of Sanskrit Perry's Sanskrit Primer is indispensable. Admittedly, the language is a bit dated, and you have to be willing to learn the argot of classical philology, but the effort is well worth it. Perry dissects the language and reveals all its glorious complexity. Moreover, it was written to accompany Whitney's grammar and is an excellent preparation for Lanman's reader. More "modern" approaches to Sanskrit (e.g. Teach Yourself Sanskrit) miss there mark by dumbing down the grammar of the language, something you'll regret as you go along. Perry's is the real deal.

Rating:
Summary: Difficult and archaic
Review: While it is true that there is a shortage of introductory Sanskrit textbooks, one could possibly do better than Perry's book. The language is archaic and the explanations often unclear. Frequently, his attempts to help the student become instead a handicap. The exercises are useful, though, and sometimes amusing (as when, in one lesson, you learn words such as kill, poison, beat, hit, maim....). My suggestion would be to use the first few chapters of the Teach Yourself Sanskrit book and then to go straight into Nala (the Lanman Sanskrit Reader is useful) with Whitney's Sanskrit Grammar as aid.