IntroBengali ptII IntroBengaliReader

An Introduction to Bengali, Part II:
Introductory Bengali Reader

by
Somdev Bhattacharji

illustrations by
Edward C. Dimock, Jr.

The University of Chicago
1988

An Introduction to Bengali, Part II
ii

Seventh revision, autumn 2000
iii

This reader, which was first produced 27 years ago in mimeograph form, is being
"republished" with the help of a generous grant from the Consortium for Language
Teaching and Learning. The author, Somdev Bhattacharji, has amended his text in a
number of places. With the addition of delightful illustrations by Edward C. Dimock, Jr.,
this most useful teaching tool becomes an even more enjoyable textbook from which to
teach. I am grateful to Emily Bloch and to Gwendolyn Layne, who retyped the reader
onto floppy disks. My thanks also go to Apple and to all the Apple-compatible
products that made this desk-top publishing project possible.

Clinton B. Seely
The University of Chicago December, 1988

iv

The Introductory Bengali Reader represents a thorough revision of the work
first produced by this writer in September, 1959. The revision has been made on the
basis of two years of classroom work and incorporates suggestions and criticisms of
several scholars who read the previous edition.

There are several excellent graded Bengali readers for the native speakers of
Bengali, but the problem of a non-native speaker, in particular that of a foreigner learning
the language, is very different; for him these readers are not quite adequate.

The Introductory Bengali Reader differs in emphasis and approach from the
others. Like the grammar,
1
which has been designed to accompany this reader, it is
aimed at a compromise between purely structural and purely cultural approaches. It is
primarily based on the following premises: (i) the reading material of a foreign language
text, even the most elementary book, must not only be graded but also meaningful and
interesting; (ii) the material should give the student a greater appreciation of the life,
ways of thinking, culture, and history of the people whose language he is reading; (iii) the
material should be so graded and so presented that the student feels that he is learning the
language with ease and pleasure rather than struggling through it; (iv) since the
relationship between Bengali orthography and pronunciation is not always directly
obvious, the student should be given, wherever possible, general rules as a guide to
pronunciation; (v) when the student completes the reading of this material, he should feel
ready to read the works of the eminent authors incorporated in A Bengali Prose Reader
for Second-Year Students, edited by Edward C. Dimock, Jr. and this writer.

I am grateful to Dr. Edward C. Dimock, Jr., Mr. Suhas Chatterjee, Mr. Samir
Ghosh, Miss Naomi Loefer, Mrs. Nira Chatterjee, and Mrs. Arati John of the University
of Chicago, all of whom read the material in some form and gave valuable criticism and
comments. Dr. Edward C. Dimock, Jr. and Mrs. Arati John wrote several notes for this
volume for which I am very thankful. Mr. Ronald B. Inden, Mrs. Nira Chatterjee, Mrs.
Arati John, and Mrs. Julia Martin have given time and effort to this volume. Mr. Inden's
help and competence in preparing the glossary is gratefully appreciated. My thanks go
also to the Ford Foundation and to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare of
the United States Government for material assistance in the development of Bengali
language teaching materials at this University. However, it goes without saying that
neither of these agencies is responsible for any of the materials presented herein, nor for
the manner of their presentation.

Somdev Bhattacharji
The University of Chicago December, 1961

1
Edward C. Dimock, Jr., Somdev Bhattacharji, and Suhas Chatterjee, An Introduction to Bengali,
Part I (Honolulu: East-West Center Press, [1964]; reprint ed., New Delhi: Manohar, 1976).
v

This concerns you and not me. I hope you will read it. You are about to launch
on another adventure, perhaps a rather difficult one, namely learning to read and write
Bengali script. Once you have learned Bengali script, you will find a new world has
opened before you. You will have easy access to Bengali literature, which is as
considerable as your own and distinctly different. You will gain a better understanding
of Bengali, the Bengali people, and their culture. I have a few suggestions to make: (i)
familiarize yourself well with the script. Practice following the indicated strokes again
and again until you can identify individual symbols readily. This will enhance your
reading speed and help you to better understand the language; (ii) pay particular attention
to the geometric symmetry and geometric similarities of the various symbols (section
0.5); (iii) go through the first five lessons of An Introduction to Bengali, Part I before
you start lesson 1 of this Introductory Reader. If you can maintain this initial lead of
five lessons in An Introduction to Bengali, Part I for every lesson of this reader, you
will find yourself in a very comfortable position; you will already be familiar with 70-
95% of the vocabulary, idioms, syntax, and grammatical material. You will find that this
Introductory Bengali Reader tends to follow An Introduction to Bengali, Part I at a
distance of approximately five lessons; (iv) when reading each lesson try to read each
individual sentence as a spoken sentence with proper breath groups, correct intonation
and pronunciation. This will help you to grasp the sense of the material more easily; (v)
at the first reading, do not look up the words you do not know and do not translate into
English. In each sentence, concentrate first on discovering the subject and the verb, and
then go on to look for objects, modifiers, etc. Try to find out what the lesson is about in
general. Often a word appearing for the first time will disclose its meaning through its
context. Then reread the selection, this time consulting the supplementary vocabulary
whenever you cannot determine the meaning of a word from its use in the sentence. By
the end of the second reading, you will have understood the complete meaning of the
selection. Now go over it again. You should know that no one ever reads a language by
translating it. One reads the language easily and fluently only by reading it in the original
and by understanding it without transferring it into a second language; (vi) before
beginning a new lesson, again go through the previous lesson. The vocabulary of one
lesson often reappears in the next, and it is helpful to be thoroughly familiar with it.

To facilitate faster reading and to further your convenience, orthography,
vocabulary, syntax, and grammatical material have all been graded in this reader. Words
of high frequency use have been often repeated in both the same and following lessons.

This reader is divided into four parts, three appendices and a glossary at the end.
Parts I, II, and III include an introduction with several following lessons. A review
lesson is also included in Part I. Each lesson consists of vocabulary and pronunciation
drill, exercises, supplementary vocabulary, and notes. Since the relationship between
Bengali orthography and pronunciation is not always directly obvious, general rules as
guides to pronunciation are given wherever possible. These general rules are usually
included with the notes and are presented at the beginning of each section.
vi

Part I:

Introduction to Bengali Orthography
Lessons 1-15 (review lesson follows lesson 3)

Part II:

Introduction to Conjunct Consonants
Lessons 16-25 (complexity of conjuncts increases gradually)

Part III:

Introduction to Written Forms: Calit, Likhita Calit, and
Sadhu-bhasa Bengali (scale diagram included)
Lessons 26-29 (written in both Likhita Calit-bhasa and Sadhu-bhasa)

Part IV:

Biographical and Cultural Notes
Appendix A: Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers
Appendix B: Months, Seasons, Days, etc., of the Bengali Calendar
Appendix C: Common Abbreviations and Their English Equivalents

Glossary:
vii

Abbreviations Used

C - consonant
CB - calit bhasa (colloquial Bengali)
fam. - familiar form
hon. - honorific form
imp. - imperative
LCB - likhita calit bhasa (literary colloquial Bengali)
O - orthography
ord. - ordinary form
P - phonology
PAP - past active participle
pres. - present tense
SB - sadhu bhasa (pedantic Bengali)
V - vowel
An Introduction to Bengali, Part II Orthography

1

Part I. Int roduct i on t o Bengal i Ort hography Part I. Int roduct i on t o Bengal i Ort hography

0. The Bengali script is a member of that family of scripts in which most of the
languages of India are written, the family called Devanagari. Like other members of the
family, however, Bengali has certain modifications and peculiarities of its own. The
Bengali script is in no sense phonemic, despite statements which might be heard to the
contrary. There is, in fact, a wide gap between the phonemic system of Bengali and the
orthographic one. In a great many cases, there are orthographic symbols which are
residual from the Devanagari of Sanskrit and which have no phonic value of their own in
Bengali. For example, there is a phonemic distinction in Sanskrit between the dental and
the retroflex nasals, which is recognized in Sanskrit orthography. Though the
orthographic distinction is preserved in Bengali, both nasals are pronounced as dental
except under certain predictable conditions. There are many situations of this kind.

0.1. Bengali is written from left to right. Sanskrit Devanagari characters are written
below the line; in Bengali, there is a remnant of this in the horizontal bars which occur
above most of the Bengali characters. In modern Bengali printed texts, these bars are
usually joined to make a horizontal line extending across the top of the word; in written
Bengali, the characters are usually formed separately, though the bar on an individual
letter, or the absence of it, is significant. There are no capital letters in written or printed
Bengali.

0.2. The Bengali alphabet contains 47 separate characters, plus several subscripts and
superscript modifying symbols. There are also some conjunct characters, which will be
considered at a later time. There are 35 consonantal symbols which occur in simple
form. There are 10 vowel symbols (counting the so-called "r-vowel" and "1-vowel"--see
below, sections 0.3.3 and 0.3.4.), each of which occurs separately and in combined form
with a consonant. There are also 2 diphthong symbols.

0.3. The following is a list of Bengali vowels, arranged according to the traditional order:

Initial form Post-consonantal form Pronunciation

]/o
A a
i i
I i
u u
U u
& ri

2

e e
e o o

0.3.1. The two diphthongs are:

E oi
e O ou

0.3.2. It is to be noted that the pronunciation of the symbols and , and of the symbols
and , is the same. The two sets of vowels are traditionally called "short i" and "long
i," and "short u" and "long u." In modern Bengali, however, there is no distinction, either
quantitative or qualitative, between them.

0.3.3. It is to be noted that the so-called "r-vowel" , which is phonetically ri in modern
Bengali, is included here because it is traditional so to include it. In modern Bengali the
symbol in no sense represents a vowel, but a consonant-vowel sequence.

0.3.4. There is also traditionally an "l-vowel," 9; unlike the "r-vowel," even the symbol
of the "l-vowel" does not occur in modern Bengali, except in the alphabet. Therefore it is
not included above.

0.3.5. If one compares the phonemic system of Bengali with the orthographic system, it
will be seen that there is a vowel phoneme @, for which there is no symbol. The vowel
(post-consonantally e ) sometimes has the value of @. There is no hard and fast rule
by which to determine these different values. Individual cases will have to be learned as
they are met.

0.4. The following is a list of Bengali consonants, arranged according to the traditional
order (section numbers refer to An Introduction to Bengali, Part I):

Symbol Pronunciation Remarks

k k] Unaspirated; the sound does not
occur in English initially or between
vowels; occurs in English after 's,' as
in 'skin.' (Section 4.1.4, 4.3.1)

K kh] Aspirated, as in English 'k.' (4.2.1)

g g] As in English. (4.2.2)

3

G gh] Does not occur in English. (4.1.4.2,
4.4.1)

X X] As the final velar nasal in
English 'sing' (siX). (4.2.3)

c c] Does not occur in most English
idiolects. (4.1.4., 4.3.2)

C ch] Strongly aspirated. (4.2.4)

j j] As in English. (4.2.5)

J jh] Does not occur in English. (4.1.4.,
4.4.2)

\ \] Occurs usually in conjunction with
other consonants; ndependent
occurrence is extremely rare; no
phonemic equivalent.

T T] The tongue is curled to touch the
back of the alveolar ridge: farther
back than in English. (4.1.4.3, 4.3.3)

Th] ditto (4.4.3)

D D] ditto (4.4.3)

Dh] ditto (4.4.3)

N N]/n] Originally a retroflex nasal, this is
now pronounced as a dental, unless
conjoined with another retroflex
consonant. (4.4.7)


4

t t] The tongue touches just behind the
upper teeth; farther forward than in
English. (4.1.4.3, 4.3.4)

th] ditto (4.4.4.1)

d d] ditto (4.4.4.1)

dh] ditto (4.4.4.1)

n n] ditto (4.4.7)

p p] Unaspirated bilabial voiceless stop--
does not occur in English. (4.3.5)

P ph] As in English. (4.2.6)

b b] As in English. (4.2.7)

B bh] Bilabial voiced stop--does not occur
in English. (4.4.6)

m m] Bilabial nasal--as in English. (4.2.8)

Y/y j]/ Originally a semi-vowel, this symbol
has come to represent several
different sounds: j] when it occurs
in initial position, in cluster with
most consonants, and between some
vowels. y [y]] in its final position
has the value in pronunciation of e;
except (i) when preceded by a high
vowel, it has the value in
pronunciation of o; (ii) when
succeeded by a vowel, it has the
value in pronunciation of the

5

succeeding vowel. Individual cases
will be examined as they occur. See
also "Additional symbols."

r r] Dental flap. Does not occur in
American English. As the first
member of a word medial consonant
cluster, the flap has the symbol aa
(called reph), which is written above
the second member of the cluster; as
the second member of a consonant
cluster, the flap as the symbol a aaa aa
called r]-phola), which is written
below the other consonant. (4.4.3.2)

l l] Dental lateral as in English. (4.2.9)

Z s] Palatal sibilant. (4.2.10) As in
English 'shoe.'

S s] ditto

s s]/S] Originally in Bengali, as in Sanskrit,
these threesymbols (standing for
palatal, retroflex, and dental
respectively) represented three
different sounds. In modern Bengali
they are pronounced exactly alike,
except when they occur in certain
consonant clusters. When the
retroflex spirant occurs in cluster
with a retroflex stop, T for example,
the spirant is retroflexed. When the
dental spirant occurs in the cluster
with dentals, t for example, it is
dental. (4.2.10.1)


6

h h] Voiceless glottal spirant (4.2.22)

0.4.1. Additional symbols:

There is a subscript dot which, when it occurs beneath the symbols for retroflexed voiced
stops ( R /R]/ and /Rh]/), indicates a retroflex flap (4.4.3.2, 4.4.5.1). When it occurs
beneath the symbol y, it indicates that the symbol represents the semi-vowel rather than
the palatal stop.

Symbol Name Remarks

M onuss]r Anusvara--an alternate
symbol for the velar nasal X

~ c]ndro-bindu "Moon-dot." This symbol
when placed over a vowel
nasalizes that vowel.

H bis]rggo Visarga. This symbol
originally indicated strong
aspiration. (i) In modern
Bengali this symbol indicates
a doubling of the following
consonant. (ii) After
monosyllabic words, this
symbol indicates a strong
aspiration. (iii) At the final
position of a multi-syllabic
word it has no phonological
value.

kh]NDo t] "Broken t." This symbol
indicates the dental t with
the absence of following
vowel.

` h]sonto This symbol when placed
below a consonant indicates
an absence of the following
vowel.


7

j]phola (i) This symbol when
occurring after an initial
consonant gives following /]/
or /a/ or /e/ the value of /@/.
(ii) Following a non-initial
consonant it symbolizes
doubling of that consonant
and, (ii-a) if the preceding
syllable contains the inherent
], that vowel is raised to o,
and, (ii-b) if the vowel
following the j]phola is the
inherent ], it is also raised to
o. (iii) As a final element
with a conjunct (i.e., as the
3rd or 4th member of a
consonant conjunct) this
symbol has no phonological
value.

| biram/ Virama/da~ri. This
da~Ri symbol indicates a period,
full stop.

0.4.2. Consonants are traditionally considered to have an "inherent" vowel ], or, as it is
sometimes put, each consonant symbol represents a syllable, consonant + ]. This is
another way of saying that the vowel ], when it occurs after consonant, is not written.
For example:

Symbol Pronunciation
k k] but
kA ka
ik ki
kI ki
ku ku
kU ku
k& kri
ek ke
Ek koi
eko ko
ekO kou

8

0.4.2.1. It might help you to understand the orthographic relationships between Bengali
vowels and consonants if you think graphically of the vowel as "orbiting" around the
consonant symbol. In Roman script, the vowel follows the consonant, but in Bengali it
can follow or precede, be above or below. Still, the vowel-consonant cluster should be
thought of as a unit.

An Introduction to Bengali, Part II Lesson 1

9

Lesson
1
1

I. Vocabulary and Pronunciation drill:

Orthography Phonology Meaning

1. V = V

e this

o that; and

oi that (emphatic)

2. V V = V V

ei this (emphatic)

oi that (emphatic)

3. VC = VC

j aj today

T aT eight

m am mango

r ar and

T uT camel

10

k @k one; a; an; same; single

r er of this; of it; his; her; (genitive)

r or of that; of it; his; her; (genitive)

4. VC = VCo

t ]to so much; so many; such; so
(adjective and adverb)

t @to this much; this many; such; so (adj.
and adv.)

5. CC = C]C

kam k]m less; little

gaR fort

GaT water pot

Gar room; house

jal water

Tam` Tom (western name)

daZ ten

paa path; way; distance

Pal fruit; result


11

bab` Bob (western name)

mat opinion; views

ra chariot; car

ras juice

sab all

6. CC = C]Co

kat k]to how much; how many (quantitative
adj.);
Gan thick; dense; deep (adjective)

mat like; similar (post-position)

baR large; big; elder; eldest; tall; great;
very (adjective)

7. CC = CoC

jan jon person; personal suffix; man;
individual

an wealth; money; riches

ban forest

man heart; mind


12

8. Ci = Coi
Cu = Cou

ba boi book

ba bou wife; bride

9. Ce = C]e

Cay ch]e six

nay nine (noun and adjective); "is not"--
negative of the verb hay

hay is; become (verb)

II. Read the following in Bengali and translate into English:

kat ba? t ba| kat Pal? t Pal|
r Gar| r Gar| Gar| Gar|

pa| pa| sab GaT| baR GaT|
k nay| Cay nay| nay nay| daZ nay|

T baR nay| ban Gan nay|
T baRa, T baR naya|

bab` baR nay| Tam` baR hay|
bab` baR nay, Tam` baR|

13

t jal nay| t Pal nay| kt baR GaT?
t Gan ras| kt baR gaR? t baR nay|

Tam` r mat nay, bab` r mat hay|
ras Gan nay| t pa kam nay|

nayjan kam nay, kajan km| ka jan nay, daZajan|
Cayajan nay, Tjan| daZ Gar nay, nay Gar|


14

man baRa| an baRa| man r an k nay|
nay r k daZ| T r k daZ naya|

T r Caya daZa naya| sab Pal ba Ra nay|
ma baRa nay, ma baRa|

sab gaR baR nay, gaR baR|
ra baR nay, ra baR|

sab ban Gan nay, ban Gan|
r man baR nay, r man baR|

III. Notes: As has been pointed out in the Introductory section, there are certain
discrepancies between Bengali orthography and phonology. These discrepancies are so
complex that it would be extremely difficult to attempt to describe them all in one place.
Therefore, we shall meet them one by one, as they come up naturally in our lesson
sequence, and offer drills upon them at that time.

1. In section 0.4.2., it was mentioned that the orthographic symbol for ] exists only in
word-initial position; when the sound occurs following a consonant, it is not represented
orthographically in Bengali, or, to put it another way, its orthographic representation is
zero (0). Thus the orthographic consonant sequence Gar could be represented in
transcription as gh0r, and pronounced gh]r. Every consonant symbol without a written
vowel sign following is theoretically representative of consonant plus ]. In some cases,
the absence of a pronounced ] is indicated by the diacritical sign written below the
consonant. Thus T = T], T` = T; Tm = T]m], Tm` = T]m, etc. In actual practice,
however, this sign (called hs [h]sonto]--see section 0.4.1.) is often omitted,
especially when the consonant symbol is word-final. With few exceptions (such as b
[b]] "you [fam.] bear" and h [h]] "you [fam.] are"), word-final ] does not occur. The
relationship can be simply stated by the formula:

Orthography Phonology

CC (Gar) C]C (gh]r)


15

2. There are cases, however, in which a final vowel, though not orthographically
represented, is pronounced. It could be said, in traditional terms, that the "inherent ]," in
word-final position, is pronounced o. Examples:

CC C]Co

kat k]to

baR b]Ro

Gan gh]no

Phonologically and orthographically, there is no way to determine when there is a final
vowel and when there is not. Such determination must be made from syntactic and other
signs within the sentence. For example, identical orthographic representations might
represent different parts of speech:

mat [m]t] "opinion" (noun)
mat [m]to] "like" (post-position)

Thus their pronunciation can be determined from their environment.

3. The orthographic symbol represents either e or @, and there is no way to determine
in a given situation which of the phonemes it should be. Examples:

r [er] "of it"
k [@k] "one"

Thus, such situations will have to be met as they arise, and spellings of particular words
memorized.

4. It is a general phonological rule in Bengali that when a word has the shape CVCV or
CVV and the first vowel is ] and the second vowel is i or u, the first vowel becomes o.
(See An Introduction to Bengali, Part I, Lesson II, grammar notes). Thus:

ba is not b]i, but boi
ba is not b]u, but bou

5. ya in word-final position has the value e, thus:

haya is h]e
16

Lesson
2
2



1. VCC = VCoC

par other; another; opposite

sal real; original; genuine

Kan @khon now

par on; top; upon; above

2. CCC = C]CoC

kaKan when

kata k some; a few

kalam pen

Kabar news; information

garam hot; heat

taKan then; at that time; at that moment

nakal artificial; copy
17

baCar year

bayas b]es, age
b]eos
baraP snow; ice

YaKan when

rakam kind; variety

Zahar/sahar city; town

samay s]moe, time
som]e
saral simple

sahaj easy


Kan garam| Kan Zahar baR garam| Zahar
t garam nay| r Zahar ba R nay| sab Zahar baR nay|
r sab Zahar gara m nay|

Tam` saral| bb saral nay| bb Kan baR| r man
saral nay, r man saral| r baya s daZ baCar| r bayas nay
baCar nay| k baCar samay kama nay|

18
r ba r r kalam| ba sahaj, ba sahaj
nay| kata k ba sahaj; r ka tak ba sahaj nay| ka tak ba
nakal| ka tak Kabar sal| sab Kabar sal nay|
Kabar sal| r sab ba naka l nay|

III. Note: It is a general phonological rule in Bengali that when a word has the
orthographic shape VCC and CCC, it has the phonological shape VCoC and C]CoC.
Thus:
Kan @khon
kaKan k]khon

19

Lesson
3
3

Vowel (a), when not the first letter in a word, is written as an "a-kar"
( A ) after the consonant and pronounced after it.



1. Ca = Ca

KA you (fam.) eat, pres. imperative

gA (noun) body; (verb stem) sing; you
(fam.) sing, pres. imperative

cA (noun) tea; (verb stem) want; you
(fam.) want, pres. imperative

tA (pronoun) that

nA no; not; or (in colloquial Bengali)

pA (noun) foot; leg; (verb stem) get; you
(fam.) receive, pres. imperative

bA or

mA mother


20
2. CaC = CaC

kAk crow

kAj work; deed; action

kA wood

kAn ear

kAl (noun) time; period; season; (adverb)
yesterday; tomorrow

KAm envelope

gAC tree

gAn (noun) song; (vocal) music (verb)
sing; 2nd and 3rd person (hon.) pres.

gAl cheek

GAm sweat

GAs grass

cAn (verb) want; 2nd and 3rd person
(hon.) pres.

cAr four

cAl rice; fashion; thatched roof

jAm a type of black berry


21
tAr his; her; its

dAm price

An paddy; rice

nAk nose

nAc (noun) dancing; dance; (verb stem)
dance

pAn (noun) betel-leaf; drinking (verb)
receive; get; 2nd and 3rd person
(hon.) pres.

bAG tiger

bAr (noun) day of the week; time suffix

mAC fish

mAs month

YAk (verb) go; 2nd and 3rd person pres.
imperative

YAn (verb) go; 2nd and 3rd person (hon.)
pres.

rAt night

rAm a name

lAl red


22
ZAk leafy vegetable

ZAm a name

ZAl shawl; sal wood

sAt seven

hAt hand

3. CaC = CaCo

kAl (adjective) black; dark

bAr (adjective) twelve

BAl (adjective) good; well

4. Cai = Cai

KA (verb) eat; 1st person pres.

gA (verb) sing; 1st person pres.

tA that is why; so

BA brother

YA (verb) go; 1st person pres.

5. VCa = VCa

lA name of girl

kA @ka alone

23

TA eTa this one

TA that one

rA they

6. CCa = C]Ca

kaA word; talk; discourse; story; "about"
(post-postion)

karA (verbal noun) doing; making

galA voice; neck; throat

paRA (verbal noun) studying; reading

majA fun

ramA name of a girl

samA name of a person

7. CaV = Cae

KAy eat; 3rd person pres.

gAy sing; 3rd person pres.

cAy want; 3rd person pres.

YAy go; 3rd person pres.


24

kAk kAl| jAm kAl| m BAl| pAn BAl| ramA
KAn| lA gAn| samA cAn| ramA pAn|

rmA pAn cAy| lA gAn gAy| kAk jAm KAy| mA
pAn pAn| bAbA m KAn| samA cA cAn| tA ramA YAn|

lAl m BAl| BAl jAm kAl| rAm r ZAm
kAl| Cay r Cay bAr|

rAm BAl| r tAr BA BAl| tAr BA ZAm|
ZAm pAn KAy| tA tAr gAl lAl| ZAm BAl gAy| r
tAr galA BAl| tAr bayas bAr na y|

mA Kan lAl ZAl cAn| tA rAm YAy| ZAm YAy nA|
ZAm pAn KAy, r gAn gAy| tAr galA BAl r tAr
gAn BAl| tAr kAj BAl nay| ZAm kAj cAy nA| ZAm
sab samay nAc-gAn cAy|

gAC baR| r nAm ZAl gAC| ZAl kAa BAl|
m kAa BAl nay| jAm gAC baR nay| r tAr kAa
t BAl nay|


25

ZAm pAn KAy r gAn gAy|

An baR| tA tAr cAl baR| baR An, baR cAl;
tA tAr baR dAm| BAl An r BAl cAl; tA tAr
dAm baR|

III. Note: The following statement is not applicable to verb forms.

As previously stated, there are several Bengali orthographic sequences, such as BAl,
kAl, bAr, etc. which can be read as bhal, kal, bar or bhalo, kalo, baro. The
proper interpretation of such sequences depends upon the linguistic environment of the

26
forms. The forms bhalo "good," kalo "black," baro "twelve" are adjectival forms,
and the forms bhal "forehead," kal "time," and bar "day of the week" are non-
adjectival, usually noun, forms. To put it another way, sequences (C)VCo are adjectives,
and sequences (C)VC are members of other classes. Therefore, in some cases, it is
possible to discover whether or not to pronounce the final vowel by recognizing the form
class to which the word belongs by its function in the sentence.
An Introduction to Bengali, Part II Review
27

Review Lesson

1. Following frequently used words should now be at you command:

j today

r and

this (emphatic)

k one

Kan now

(conjunction) and
(adjective) that

that (emphatic)

par on; top; upon; above

kaKan when

kata how much; how many

kam less; little

kAj work

kAn ear

kAl (noun) time; period
(adjective) black; dark

garam hot

gAC tree
28

gAn (noun) song
(verb stem) sing; 2nd and
3rd person (hon.) pres.

gAl cheek; abuse

Gar room

cA (noun) tea
(verb stem) want; you (fam.)
want; pres. imperative

cA want; 1st person pres.

cAr four

Cay six

jal water

tA that is why

tAr his; her; its

daZ ten

dAm price

nay nine
(verb) is not (=negative of the
verb hay )

nA not

nAk nose

nAc dancing; dance

nAm name

29
pA feet

Pal fruit; result

ba book

ba wife

baRa large; big; elder; eldest; very

bAG tiger

BA brother

BAl good

mA mother

mAC fish

YAy go; 3rd person pres.

lAl red

Zahar (sahar) city; town

sab all

samay time

sahaj easy

sAt seven

2. You should know the following words, which are orthographically identical, but have
different meanings:

kAl kal (noun) time; period
kalo (adjective) black; dark

30
gA (noun) body
(verb stem) sing; you (fam.)
sing; pres. imperative

gAn (noun) song;
(verb) sing; 2nd and 3rd
person (hon.) pres.

cA (noun) tea
(verb stem) want; you (fam.)
want; pres. imperative

nay (noun) nine
(verb) is not (negative form
of the verb hay "to be")

pAn (noun) betel-leaf; drinking
(verb) get; receive; 2nd and
3rd person (hon.) pres.

mat m]t (noun) opinion; view
m]to (adjective) like; similar

3. Note the kind of /s/ used in the spelling of the following words:

sab all

samay time

sAt seven

bayas age

daZ ten

Zahar/sahar city

ZAk vegetable

ZAl shawl
31

4. Note the spelling of the following words:

jae "he goes" YAy and not jAy, jA or YA

gh]r "room" Gar and not GaR

b]Ro "large" baR and not bar ("bridegroom")

5. Note the pronunciation of the following words of orthographic shape (C)C or (C)VC:

Adjectival forms have the phonological shapes [(C)VCo]:

ta ]to so much

ta @to this much

kat k]to how much

Gan gh]no thick

baRa b]Ro large

BAl bhalo good

6. Note the two different pronunciations of the following words in noun and in adjectival
forms:

mat m]t (noun) opinion

m]to (adjective) like

kAl kal (noun) time

kalo (adjective) black

bAr bar (noun) time

baro (adjective) twelve
32

I. Copy the following Bengali words:

________________________________________________________
t
________________________________________________________
m
________________________________________________________
lA
________________________________________________________
gal
________________________________________________________
T
________________________________________________________
N
________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________
Saa
________________________________________________________
kat
________________________________________________________
KAm
________________________________________________________
gAC
________________________________________________________
Gar
________________________________________________________
cAn
________________________________________________________
Cay
________________________________________________________
jal
________________________________________________________
JA
33
________________________________________________________
Tap`
________________________________________________________
ak
________________________________________________________
DAl
________________________________________________________
AkA
________________________________________________________
tAr
________________________________________________________
An
________________________________________________________
daZ
________________________________________________________
An
________________________________________________________
nay
________________________________________________________
pa
________________________________________________________
Pal
________________________________________________________
baR
________________________________________________________
BAl
________________________________________________________
mat
________________________________________________________
YAy
________________________________________________________
raX
________________________________________________________
lAl
________________________________________________________
Zahar
________________________________________________________
SAT
________________________________________________________
samay
34
________________________________________________________
hay
________________________________________________________
GaRA
________________________________________________________
gAa
________________________________________________________
rM
________________________________________________________
baAH
________________________________________________________
^gA

Exercise II.

Write the following words in Bengali:

oi ei @To ]To @k k]to k]m gh]r

j]l d]s n]e ph]l boi bou b]Ro s]b

ch]e kaj kan nak gal car tai kham

tar nam nac gach gan mach bagh bhai

bhalo jae jao lal sat ma pae uT

dhan maTh ghas m]ja k]tha gae sal @khon

b]chor s]moe r]kom s]hor k]khon

35

Lesson
4
4

Vowel (i), when not the first letter in a word or a syllable, is written as a "hrossi-
kar" ( i ) before the consonant but pronounced after it.



1. iC = Ci

ik% what

iJ% maid-servant

2. iCC = CiC

i%k exact; right; correct

iD%m egg

it%n three

id%k (noun) direction; (verb) give; 3rd
person (ord.) pres imperative

id%n (noun) day; (verb) give; 3rd person
(hon.) pres. imperative

36
in%k (verb) take; 3rd person (ord.) pres.
imperative

3. iCC = CiCo

iC%l was; were (past-tense of the verb
stem C-)

id%l gave; 3rd person simple past

in%l took; 3rd person simple past

4. CiC = CoCi

kaib poet

kair (verb) do; make; 1st person pres.

GaiR watch; clock

Caib% picture; a name

paiR% (verb) read; study; fall; 1st person
pres.

pair% (verb) wear; 1st person pres.

bail% (verb) say; tell; speak; 1st person
pres.

bais% (verb) sit; 1st person pres.

raib% a name; sun

37
hair% a name; a name of the Hindu God
Visnu

5. ViC = VCi

iC% (verb) am; are

in (verb) bring; 1st person pres.

im% I

is% (verb) come; 1st person pres.

in he; she; this one (hon.)

i% (verb) get up; rise; 1st person pres.

in% he; she; that one (hon.)

6. iCi = Cii

id% (verb) give; 1st person pres.

in% (verb) take; 1st person pres.

7. Idiom: (im%) BAla iC% I am well.


m%Ar nAm raib%| im% kajan kaib%| im% gAn gA|
r im% ba paiR%| im% sa b ba paiR%| im% it%n
38
id%na kAj kair% nA| it%n id%n im% ba paiR% r gAn gA|
#BA hair%, im% Kan BAl iC%| im% Kan kaib%|$

Caib% ba cAy| tA im% Kan i%| im% ba
in%| r im% ba id%| im% bail%, #Caib%,
ba cA ik%?$ Caib% TA cAy nA| TA BAl ba nay| tA
im% bail%, #im% Kan ik% ka ir%?$

hair% tAr baRa BA| lA tAr iJ% nay| lA tAr ba|
ramA tAr iJ%| ramA Kan iD%m cAy| tA im% bail%, #ramA
TA in%k| r lA TA id%k|$ lA TA cAy| tA
im% bail%, #hair% TA id%k|$ r im% bail%, #lA, Kan
Bajan gAn gA|$ lA Bajan gAn gAy| lA Bajan gAn
BAl gAy| rAt hay| tA im% bail%, #im% Kan i%|$

III. Notes:

1. see section 0.4.2.

2. It is a general phonological rule in Bengali that when a word has the orthographic
shape CiC, it has the phonological shape CoCi. Thus:

kaib% kobi

(see An Introduction to Bengali, Part I, Lesson II, grammar section 1.1)

39

im% ba paiR%|

40

Lesson
5
5

Vowel (i), when not the first letter in a word, is written as a "dirghi-kar" ( I ) after
the consonant and pronounced after it.



1. CiC = CiC

nIl blue

BIR crowd

ZIt winter; cold

2. CCi = CoCi

anI rich

naTI actress

nadI river

ZaZI name of a person; moon

satI name of a girl

41
II. Read the following in Bengali and translate into English.

nadI| nadI baR| tAr ja l nIl| Kan tAr
jal eY%n
1
baraP| tA tAr jal nIl nay| Kan ZIt kAl|
ZIt kAl BAl nay| garam kAl BAl|

BIR| BIR baR nay| ZaZI, satI
r im% BIR kair% nA| raib% ba id%l| r Za ZI ba
in%l| ZaZI tAr BA| sa tI tAr ba| satI naTI iC%l|
satI Kan tAr ba| ZaZI anI| tA satI anI|

1
eY%na [j@no], like; as if.
42

Lesson
6
6

Vowel (u), when not the first letter in a word or syllable, is usually written as a
"hrossu-kar" below the consonant but pronounced after it; in the case of .
(r]), the vowel sign is usually written at the side of the consonant symbol, like so: +



1. CuC = CuC

very; much; very much

quality

. quiet

. hair

milk

flower

mistake; wrong

mouth; face

-+ you (hon.) lie down

43
happiness

. tune; melody

2. Cui = Cui

two

- you (fam.)

3. CCu = CoCu

+ bullock; ox; calf; simpleton

honey; a name

- but; still

4. uCV = uC]e

both

5. Idiom: . . you (fam.) be quiet


+ -. . -- + -.
. - -- - . . -
--

44
-- + + .+ +
.

-- - . . + +
- . . - --

-- -. . . -. .

1

-- - . . + +
2
+
. + + - --

- --

1
both (lit. meaning: two [emphatic])
2
you (fam.) sing
45

-- + -. . -.
+ .+ .
+

-- - . . - . .
- . + - -- .
.

III. Notes:

1. It is a general phonological rule in Bengali that when a word has the orthographic
shape CCu, it has the phonological shape CoCu. Thus:

+ goru

2. In many older texts, the u in , - and is written differently.
46

Lesson
7
7

Vowel (e/@),when not the first letter in a word, is written as an "e-kar" ( . ) before
the consonant but pronounced after it.



1. eC = Ce/C@

. ke who

. that

. he; she; it

2. eCC = CeC

.+ ken (verb stem) buy; you (fam.) buy;
pres. imperative.

.- country

.- quite; good; all right

.- end; final

3. eCC = C@C

. d@kh (verb stem) see; look; you (fam.)
look; pres. imperative.

. (verb stem) throw; drop; you (fam.)
throw, pres. imperative

47
.. (verb stem) sell; you (fam.) sell,
pres. imperative

4. eCC = C@Co

.+ k@no why

. you (ord.) play

5. eCV = CeV

. someone; anyone

.+ there is not (negative of the verb
stem )

. that (specific)

6. eCV = C@e

. give; 3rd person pres.

.+ take; 3rd person pres.

7. CeC = C]Ce

. when; on what day

.. do: 3rd person pres.

.. in the room (locative)

.. move; walk; 3rd person pres.

-. but; then

.. hold; catch; 3rd person pres.

. study; read; fall; 3rd person pres.

48
.. wear; 3rd person pres. afterwards;
after

. say; tell; speak; 3rd person pres.

. will be; 2nd and 3rd persons future

8. CeC = CoCe

.. .. doing; having done (PAP)

.. .. holding; having held (PAP)

. . studying; having studied (PAP)

.. .. wearing; having worn (PAP)

. . saying; having said (PAP)

. . sitting; having sat (PAP)

. . being; having been (PAP)

9. VeC = VCe

. previously; before; first

. there is

.+ bring; 3rd person pres.

. come; 3rd person pres.

. rising; getting up (PAP)

.- in this (locative)

. coming; having come (PAP)

. rise; get up; 3rd person pres.

49
10. Idioms:

. . get up; 3rd person pres.

. + no one

. talk; speak; 3rd person pres.

- Is that so?

- + ? Is not that so?

. . sit down; 3rd person pres.

. like; (lit. meaning: good strikes)

.- .. finish; (lit. meaning: end makes) 3rd
person present


. . . .- - . . -. + . +
. -. + . + .+ . .
1
. . .- .- .
. + .- + . . . .- + -. .
-. .- . + -+ .
. + . . -. + . + - . + +-
.-
2
+- .- .- . -. -. -. .- +
- +

3
-+ . . . . .- + .-
+- .- -+ . .. . . .
. . + . + - . . .. .. .
. .. . . -+ . . +- .- . -. .-
. -. .- . +

1
. . some (reduplication has a plural meaning)
2
+- . - Russia
3
a name
50
-+ . . - + - .- - . . .
. ..
. + . + - . .
+ + . + .- . +
4
.
.-
-+ . . - -.
5
--. + -.
.+ .- . +
. + . -- + .
. + + .. + . + + - -.
.- . -+ . -. +- .-
. -+ .+ .+ . - - . .
-+ . + . .. . .

-+ . + . .. . .

4
+ I/we know
5
- . - . if that is so; in that case
51

Lesson
8
8

Vowel (o), when not the first letter in a word or syllable, is written as an "o-kar"
( . ) around the consonant but pronounced after it.



1. (C)o = Co

.- hundred

2. V(C)o = VCo

.+ you (ord.) bring

. light

. you (ord.) raise

3. (C)oC = CoC

.+ which; what

. (verb stem) run; you (pres. imp.
fam.) run,

. fault; defect

.+ sister

. you (pres. imp. fam.) sit; title of a
Kaiyastha caste group, a surname
52
(N.B. two verbs, and , are
irregular in their present imperative
forms in that they use the high stem
instead of the low stem)

.. dawn

.. everyday

. people

.-+ (verb stem) listen; you (pres. imp.
fam.) listen

4. (C)oV = Coe

.- lie down; 3rd person pres.

5. (C)oC = CoCo

.+ any

. small; little; younger; youngest

. you (ord.) sit

.-+ you (ord.) listen

. sixteen

6. C(C)o = C]Co

.. you (ord.) do

.. you (ord.) move; let (us) go

. you (ord.) read; study

. you (ord.) say; tell

53
7. C(C)o = CoCo

. . you (ord.) sit

. . became; 3rd person simple past

8. Idiom:

. alike; similar; so so; one kind

.. ... how; by what means
..

. .. you (ord.) keep quiet

.- - perhaps

II. Exercise l: Read the following in Bengali and translate into English:

.. -. .. . .. . . . .. . .
.. . .. + .
. . . . . .+
+ . . -. .. . . .
1

.
2
--
3
. . .
+ + . . . .
. . - . . -. .. .+
. . -. .. .- . .. .
+ .. . + . .. +
. +
. . . . .+ .
-. ..
. .
. . - .- .

1
. . "will be prepared" (lit. meaning: making will be--verbal noun + is one of the two
standard ways to form the passive in Bengali)
2
. "terribly"; excessive
3
-- cold
54
. .-. . . . . . -+
. .
4
.-

. .

4
. again
55
III. Notes:

1. . Pronunciation is bos. It is sometimes written as or as . (note: and
form their present imperative, familiar and ordinary, from the high stem.)

2. . Pronunciation is boso. In some textbooks it is also written as . or as
... (see note for A. above)

3. . Pronunciation is holo. In some textbooks it is also written as . or as .

4. .- It is also written as - , however, the pronunciation is h]eto.

IV. Exercise 2: Read the following in Bengali and translate into English:

. .. . .. .+

. - . .

.. . ..

- + ..

+ ..+ . ..

. .. . .+-

-
5
. . - - -. ..

.- . .

-. + .-
6
..
7
. . . + . -.
. -

5
(verb stem) think; contemplate
6
.- name of a girl
7
.. people (nominative case, despite the locative ending; See An Introduction to Bengali, Part I.,
Lesson XI, grammar 5)
56
- . . .+

..
8
. -

-+ . . .-+ - . + - +
. .. . .. .
9
.

.. . - . - . .

. . .

. .. .

. . .+

+ .-
10
. -

.-+ . + . + +

8
.. necessity (See An Introduction to Bengali, Part I., Lesson IX, grammar)
9
. going; having gone; PAP form of the verb stem |
10
.- to be (infinitive)
57

Lesson
9
9

Vowel (u), when not the first letter in a word or syllable, is written as a "dirghu-
kar" below the consonant but pronounced after it. With ., the vowel is usually
written at the side of the consonant symbol, like so: +



1. CuC = CuC

bank; shore

. distance; distant; far

incense; resin

+ beauty; grace

2. CuCo/CuCa = CuCo/CuCa

. dust

. worship

II. Exercise 1: Read the following in Bengali and translate into English:

- .

+ .

+ - + . .+

58
.
1
+. . .. -

.
2
+

.
3
.

.- -. . . .+ .

.. -
4
...+
5
-. +. . .. -. .
. + -. . + . .

.-. .- . - .-. +
6

.- - . .+

- +.
7

.- .- +

III. Exercise 2: Read the following in Bengali and translate into English:

- - .

.

.
8
.

+ . + .+
9
.+

1
. everyone
2
. anything else
3
money; rupee
4
- only
5
..+ (verb stem) know; recognize
6
+ (verb stem) know
7
+. woman
8
. only
59

.-. +

.
10
...+ - .- . ...+


. - . - .

+ + . .

-
11
. + + +

.-. .

- . . - . . .+ -
12
-
+ . + - . + - + . + - . .
-

.- - .-. .

- . . .-
13
- . .

V. Exercise 4: Read the following in Bengali and translate into English:

-. .. . .. +. ..
14
. . .+ .
+. .. . . -. ...+ . -. .+

. +
15
..
16
-. . . +. .. -. .+
17

.. . .+ .
18
. -. .- . -. .. .

9
+ prestige; honor
10
me (objective); same as .
11
something; anything
12
mad; insane
13
.- all right; good
14
.. side; corner; edge (locative)
15
. + that day
60
.+ . . -. + . -. .
19
. . -. .-
.-. .- .+

.
20
- . . ..
21

-. .. . . -. ..
22
.-+
.-. +

. ..
23
..

..
24

. +
25
. . . . -. - .
.+

. . .+ . + . . .
. ..
26

16
.. Sunday
17
.+ "great"; many
18
.+ (verbal idiom) ("it seems"; come to mind; (lit. meaning: be in mind)
19
. near; nearby
20
. Kalipuja--worship of goddess Kali (see note 1, Part IV).
21
.. (verb stem) go away; move away
22
(verb stem) call
23
(verb stem) laugh; smile
24
.. (verb stem) come back; return
25
. + next day
26
(verb stem) remain; stay; live
61
VI. Note:

It is a general phonological rule in Bengali that when a word has the orthographic shape
CVCC or VCCC, it has the phonological shape CVCoC or VCCoC. Thus: (pagol),
-. (bhitor).

-. .- .
62

Lesson
10
10

The diphthong (oi), when not the first letter of a word or syllable, is written as an
"oi-kar" ( F ) before the consonant but pronounced after it.



1. oiC = Coi

Ek% a kind of fish

EK% "puffed rice"; fried grain

Ed% curd

Em% ladder

2. oiCC = CoiCo

Et%la oil

EZ%la a name; mountain


Eb%ZAKa
1
mAsa| Eb%ZAKa mAes% Kuba garama| ta eb% taKana kAZa
2
nIla| ra
kAeZ% sAdA
3
hAlakA
4
em%Ga|
5
gAeC% sabuja
6
pAtA
7
ra kata rakama
8
Pala_ma,

1
Eb%ZAKa Baishak--first month of the Bengali calendar (April-May)
2
kAZa sky
3
sAdA white
4
hAla kA light (weight)
5
em%Ga cloud
63
jAma| kata rakaem%ra Pula_lAla, nIla , sAdA| gAeC% sabuja , nIla, ha laed%
9

pAKI|
10
jael%
11
mACa_Ek%
12
mACa,
13
mACa, kAta lA
14
mACa| bAMlAed% eZ%
15

Eb%ZaAKa mAsa garama kAla| ta eb% Eb%ZAKa mAsa BAla samaya| bAXAlIra
16
mAsaTA BAla
lAeg% |

III. Note:

EK% (khoi), Ed% (doi), and Em% (moi) can also be written as Ka (khoi), da (doi), and ma
(moi). However, although Ek% and ka are phonologically the same, their (orthographic)
uses are restricted to particular contexts and meanings. The orthographic form Ek% is
written for the koi fish, whereas ka is commonly written when it means "where" in
colloquial Bengali.

IV. Exercise 2.

Read the following in Bengali and translate into English:

En%hAiT%
17
eCoTa Zahara| EZ%la En%hAiT%et% Aek% | EZ%lara kaTA
edokAna
18
eC%| EZ%la edokAen% EK% Ed% eb% ec%| mA
19
EZ%lara ba|
mA bARIra
20
ba| es% bARIra saba kAja ka er%| mA el%KA paRA
21

jAen% nA| taeb% mA bARIra saba kAja jAen%|

6
sabuja green
7
pAtA leaf; page
8
rakama kind; variety (N.B. constructions with raka ma (a noun) allow for the nominative or the genitive--i.e.,
"this type thing" ( raka ma ij% in%Sa ) or "a thing of this type" ( ra kaem%ra ij%in%Sa ). Note also that
in English one says "this type of thing" whereas in Bengali the construction translates literally into
"a thing of this type"--the word "type, kind, variety" takes the genitive.)
9
ha laed% yellow
10
pAKI bird
11
ja l water%
12
Ek% 'koi' - a kind of fish
13
'rui' - a kind of fish
14
kAta lA 'katla' - kind of fish
15
bAMlAed% Za Bangladesh
16
bAXAlI Bengali (people)
17
En%hAiT% Naihati - a town in W. Bengal
18
edokAna shop
19
mA a name
20
bARI (bAiR%) house
21
el% KA pa RA (compound noun) reading & writing
64

EZ%la bAbu

ja EZ%lara kAkA
22
En%hAiT%et% saeb%na| tA mA EZ%laek% bael%,
""kAkA ja saeb%na| tuim% ja BAla Ek% mACa Ed% eno| kAkAra Ek%
mACa Kuba BAla lAeg% |''

kAra
23
ik% BAla lAeg% mA es% Kabara rAeK%
24
| mA bAAlI em% ey%|
25

V. Note:

It is a general phonological rule in Bengali that when a word has the orthographic shape
oiCC, it has the phonological shape CoiCo. Thus:

EZ%la soilo

22
kAkA uncle (father's younger brother)
23
kAra whose; whom
24
raAKa - (verb stem) keep; you (fam.) keep
25
em%ey% girl; daughter
65

Lesson
11
11

The diphthong (ou), when not the first letter of a word or syllable, is written as an
"ou-kar" . around the consonant symbol but pronounced after it.



1. Cou = Cou

. wife

2. CouC = CouC

.. couch

.. name of a person

. (verb stem) run

. ninth month of the Bengali
calendar (December-January)

3. CouCo/CouCa = CouCo/CouCa

... small box; casket

.+..+ boat

66

. .-
1
.+ .+
2
.
3
..-
4
..
.+
5

. . .- .
6
. ..-
.. . .-. .

.. .- .

7
. .. ..
8
.- . +
9
.-..
10
.

-+
11
. .. ...
12
.. . -

13
.. -. . ..
14
.. .
15
.. -.
. ...
16
-.. .
17
- -.
... ..
18
..
19

1
.- a name of a person
babu - an honorific suffix attached to the given name of a male person addressed
2
.+ .+ how are you (hon.)
3
. on what day; when
4
. Gauhati - name of a town in Assam
5
.. (verb stem) return; go back
6
.. ninth month of the Bengali calendar (December-January)
7
a little
8
was; were
9
+ still; even now; yet
10
.-.. -.. inside; within (lexical treatment depends on the context)
11
-+ -+ I/we heard
.-+ (verb stem) hear; listen
12
. ..-. Soudpur - name of a place
13
today
14
.. eldest son
15
. letter
16
. .. youngest daughter
17
-.. . not feeling well; sick
-.. health
. bad
67

+ .++ . . . .. .

+ + .- . ..
20
.. .
21

.-.. .- .. . .- .. . .- . + ..
22

+

.- - . +

. .
23

III. Notes:

1. . (bou) can also be written as (bou) (see lesson I).

2. , when followed by a vowel, often has no phonological value, simply functioning as
a place-holder for the following vowel. Thus:

jaoa


.
24
.. . .-
25

-- .
26
.
27
... ..
28
. . .
+ . . ... -.. . - -+.
29

18
(verbal noun) going
19
.. necessity
20
. Wednesday
21
you (ord.) go; pres. imperative
22
.. outside
23
. . come again
24
. what's the news?
25
.- untranslatable particle which transmits a feeling or condition of doubt on the part of the speaker
26
-- . is that (you) Sashi
27
. & .. N.B. present imperatives of & , even though the stem vowel is
high
28
See note 27.
68

.- . .+ .-. . . . ..-
- +

+ . . .
30
. + ... .

... . .
31
.

. . -. . + ... . . .
.. + -. .
32
. .
33

.-. .. + . .

..
34
+ .+
35
.. + .
36
.+ .
- ... . . . . . -.
37
.. .
- .-
38
. .+ . -+ ... + . .

. .+ . + . .. .-.
39
.+
.

-. -+ ... +. .

.- +. .

29
-+. Saturday
30
Cuttack - a city in Orissa
31
. . who else
32
aunt (wife of father's younger brother)
33
(verb stem) live; stay; remain
34
.. name of a girl
35
+ Japan
36
. . two years
37
- .- . some
. impersonal plural suffix
38
next; coming (adjective)
39
.- end; final
69
.. + . .. .. +.
- .

+ . +.
40
. .- .. .. + .
41

+ .+ - +

+
42
.. . . .
43
+

+ . + .. .

.- . .

40
++ nine
41
+ . Mr. Cotton
saheb or sahib - an honorific word attached to the name of a male (usually a western,
Christian, or a Moslem) person addressed. (in address Mr.; Sir)
42
+ right now
43
(verb stem) eat; "drink"
70

Lesson
12
12

The symbol known as c]ndro-bindu (moon-dot) when placed over a vowel
nasalizes the vowel.



a~ka (adjective) drawn; painted

(verb stem) draw; paint;
mark

village

. moon

. five

. (verb stem) reach, arrive

(verb stem) walk

knee

71
II. Read the following in Bengali and translate it into English:

. +. .. . +. + .+ +
. . . +. +
1
. . + . +
2
+.-
+
3
. -+ +.-
4
+.- .
5

6

. + .- .+.
7
..
8
-
9
.. .. + .
10

1
name of a river in W. Bengal; unconquerable; a name
2
name of a river
3
rain; rainy-season
4
one knee-deep water
5
. "someplace"; somewhere
. + not anywhere; nowhere
6
sand
7
.+..+ boat
72
+. ..
11

12
. - . . .+ .+
. .
13
. . . .
14

+. . .. . .
15
- +. ..
. .
16
. ..+ ..
17
. ..
18
.. +.-
-. +.- .+ ..
19
. ...
20
+. . .
21
.+ +.
.. . . . .. . . .
22
.. .
23
+. .. ... .. .. .
.. . -..
24
-
25
....+
26
.+.
... ..
27
. -.
28
.
29

. . .. . -+ . . +

8
. (verb stem) move; "run"
9
- however, still then
10
. (verb stem) cross; cross over
11
. both sides (lit. meaning: two sides)
12
field
13
. summer; hot season
14
(verb stem) fly
15
picture; a name
16
. . small (distributive)
17
. peasant; farmer
18
. peasant's wife
19
.+ . (verb stem) take bath
20
.. . (verbal noun, gen.) returning
21
.. from (post position)
22
old woman
23
(verb stem) live; stay; remain
24
-. . them
25
story; tale; word; "about" (post-position, gen.)
- so many stories or tales
.. .... about children
26
...+ + older days; passed days; bygone days
...+..+ old
27
happy; satisfied; pleased
28
some
29
(verb stem) spend; pass; cut
73
.
30

31
.+
32
...-
33
.
.+ + . .. . .+ . . .. . ...+
.+. .
34
.+ .+
35
-. .... .. . .+
.+ . .
36
.
37
. . . . .
38
..
.. . .. -. .- .. .
39

+ .-
40
. . -+ .-
41
. . ..
42

+ . + . . .
. . . . . . + ..
43

30
. only
31
alone
32
. + whole day; entire day
33
...- N.B. double locative allowed--.. or ...-
34
(verb stem) think; contemplate; meditate
35
.+ .+ occasionally; from time to time
36
. N.B. monosylabic vowel-final nouns add . not just , to form the locative; multisylabic add just
or .- , e.g., - or -.-
37
. morning time
38
. . afternoon time
39
.. . (verb stem) reach (someone)
40
- sky
41
ground, dirt
42
. (verb stem) see; observe
43
.. (verb stem) "pass by, elapse"
74

.- . . ..
75

Lesson
13
13

The symbol (X) known as onussar/onuss]r is an alternative of the velar nasal .

I. Read the following in Bengali and translate it into English:

-
1
+ .-
2
.+ - +-+
3

.-. .. .+
4
.
5
..
.
6
+.- .+ . .. -. ...
. + ..
7
.
8
...-
9
+.
10
-
11
..+
-+ - . ...-
12
.+ -..-
13
.
14
...+
15
-.. . ...+ + -
16
... .
17

1
- name of a Bengali gentleman
2
a town in W. Bengal; Hoogly (river)
3
+-++-+ new
4
.-. . (verb stem) build; prepare
5
Ganges (river)
6
. Mr. King
7
.. . English (gentleman)
8
. writer; a common noun suffix which forms derivative nouns from verb is ]k.
. (verb stem) write
9
.. . English (language)
10
+. novel (loan word)
11
- poem
12
. . America (loan word)
13
- . Chicago (loan word)
14
. (verbal noun) studying
. (verbal noun) writing
(verbal noun) reading
15
Hong Kong (loan word)
16
- Calcutta - the capital city of W. Bengal
17
... newspaper
paper
76
..+ .. . .+ -
18
. ..-. .
19
+.
..+

.- . .. . - - + . .-
.-
20
.+ -+ -. +-+ +.- .+ .
21
-..+
22
-+ .- .+
23
-+ ..
.+ . + -+.+ .- ..
24

25
+ -+
.. . .+ . .
26
-.. .
27
.+ -.
. .
28
...
29
+ . . .
30
. + -. -. +
+ .. .- -.
31

18
- past; last
19
. about
20
.- to stay; to live (infinitive)
21
language
22
.- (verb stem) learn
23
(verbal idiom) speak; talk
24
.- .. .particularly
.- particular
Here .. is an adverbial formative; although identical in form with the PAP of the verb stem
., this usage is different and common in Bengali.
25
"Baul - a type of mendicant religious singer who wanders from village to village celebrating God
in ecstatic songs." (see note 3 in part IV)
26
. poor
27
. family; "daily round of existence"
28
. . from street to street; reduplicated form of the locative of "path or street"; the
reduplicated locative form is very frequent in Bengali, has the force of continuing action - "from . .
. to . . ."
29
.. (verb stem) wander
30
. (verb stem) roam; walk
31
-. one-stringed instrument (made from a gourd)
77

.. .- -.

.
32
.+
33
...
34
-
35

36

37
.
38
+
39
.+.
. -. +. .+
40
.+ .+. . -. - . - -+

32
body
33
.+ . . yellow, orange, or red ocher
34
. . color
35
- dhoti - garment worn by Indian men
36
neck; voice; throat
78
.++ + . .+ . + -+ .. .
.+

-. + .. .
41
. .- ..
-
42
.
43
. .
44
. +

II. Note:

It is a general phonological rule in Bengali that the final consonant (grapheme) when
preceded by the consonant (grapheme) , (X), must have the inherent vowel o. Thus:

maXso

37
garland
38
shoulder
39
+ knapsack; basket or bag made of a piece of cloth
40
+ (verb stem) pull; draw; here it means "attract"
41
. food
42
- a type of (leafy) vegetable
- green vegetable
43
. shrimp
44
. goat meat; mutton
he-goat
meat; flesh
79

Lesson
14
14

The symbol known as kh]NDo t] ("broken t") indicates the dental t] without
following vowel.

I. Read the following in Bengali and translate into English:

. .
1
.. .
2
.+.
3
.. .+.
..
4

5
-
6
. .. . + . .+
-
7
.. -
8
. . . . .
.
9
. -..
10
. -. . .
11
.
12
.+
..
13
-. .+...
14

-. . -. . . . .
15

.. + . ..
16
.
17
.. .
18

19
. .. . . ..
20
+
21

1
. West Bengal, state in India
2
. Bihar, state in N.E. India
3
. +. Chotonagpur - a district in Bihar
4
.. wonderful; "very nice"
5
place
6
hill; mountain
7
- a kind of tree; . a kind of tree, from which intoxicating liquor is produced
8
- bottom; base
9
. . hut; small cottage
. (noun) hut; small cottage
. (adjective) lazy; idle
10
- 'Santal' - a people living mostly in Chotonagpur area
11
. . thousands and thousands (distributive)
12
.. year
13
. (verb stem) dwell; live
14
original dweller; aboriginal
15
honest
80

-. .
22
..
23
-+ . +.. .. . .
.
24
. . ..
25
.. +

16
wants
17
. complaints
18
always; all the time
19
(noun) smile; laugh
(verb stem) smile; laugh
20
. . simply; here . is used as an adverbial suffix
21
+ life
22
-. autumn (season)
23
celebration; festival
24
. old man
25
. . (verb stem) enjoy; make fun
81

Lesson
15
15

I. Read the following in Bengali and translate into English:

+. .-. ..- .+
1
+. .+
. .-. . .- . - . . +.
. . . + .. . . ++ ..+ +.
..+ . .
2

3
. . . . -
4

+
5
. .
6
. .
7

8
+ -
. . +. -.. -
9
+ . - + .-
10
. .+. . . + . - .
. . .-

+. .+ . .-. +.- . -
. . +. . -+ .
+ ..- + . . + .
11
++ .
.+ . . + -++

1
if
2
. . reduplication of the noun stem . "row"; here the significance of reduplication is
distributive, "rows on rows."
3
banana
4
- bamboo
5
+ bush; shrub
6
. small pool; puddle of water
7
. pond
8
winding; zig zag
9
- a kind of long wild grass
10
dinghy
11
+ "people"; man; mankind
82
+.- . .+.

. + +. . +. +.+ . + +.. .
. . . + +. .-. .+.+ +.
.-. +.+

An Introduction to Bengali, Part II Part II-Conjuncts
83

Part II. Int roduct i on t o Conj unct Consonant s Part II. Int roduct i on t o Conj unct Consonant s

O.O. A common difficulty for students learning to read Bengali lies in the so-called
conjunct consonant (juktakkhor) symbols, and the discrepancies of these conjuncts
with Bengali phonology. Although there is currently a trend toward the simplification of
Bengali orthography in the reduction of the number of conjunct symbols, in some modern
texts and in all older ones, the conjuncts still pose a problem. Some conjuncts you will
be able to recognize immediately from the shape of their component parts, others will
have to be added to the list of characters to be learned. Conjunct consonant symbols
represent two or more consonants in cluster. There are a few general statements which
can be made about their pronunciation:

O.O.1. A doubled or geminate stop is pronounced as a long stop, i.e., the breath is held
behind the stop for a doubled period of time before being released.

O.O.2. A conjunct is always pronounced with a following vowel; if no vowel sign is
present, then /o/ is pronunced--except in loan-words:

Spelling Pronunciation Meaning

ca /ucco/ high

jaa /j]nmo/ birth

but

halAa /h]laND/ Holland

O.O.3. If a conjunct (phonologically a consonant cluster) occurs in a word not in final
position, word-final /]/ will not be pronounced.

AZa /klas/ class

O.O.4. There are no phonetic three-member consonant clusters in Bengali, except where
the final member of a three-member cluster is ra /r]/. Thus, even though
orthographically three-member conjuncts are possible, they are pronounced as two-
member clusters:

la /ujj]l/ bright

but
84

I /Stri/ wife

O.O.5. When ma (/m]/) occurs as the second member of a conjunct, it has the
phonological effect of doubling the preceding consonant and nasalizing the following
vowel or the preceding vowel,

A /atta~/ or soul
/a~tta/

O.O.5.1. However, ther are some exceptions where the vowel is not nasalized:

paa /p]ddo/ lotus

lI /lokkhi/ name of goddess of wealth

maZAna /s]san/ cremation ground

O.O.5.2. The exceptions to this rule (O.O.5.) are in conjuncts with ga /g]/, na /n]/, and
la /l]/ and Za /s]/ when medial; in these cases ma is pronounced as a full bilabial nasal:

bAg`mI /bagmi/ orator

jaa /j]nmo/ birth

bAIik% /balmiki/ name of a Hindu sage and
traditional author of the
Ramayana

kAIra /kasmir/ Kashmir

O.O.6. When ba /b]/ occurs in conjunct with the initial consonant of a word, it has no
phonological value. When it occurs with consonants other than initial, as the second
element of the conjunct, it doubles the preceding consonants:

AmI /sami/ husband

saraatI /s]rossoti/ goddess of learning and art

85
O.O.6.1. The exception to this rule is when ba occurs in conjunct with bilabial nasal. In
such cases, it has its full value of a bilabial stop.

kaala /k]mbol/ blanket

O.O.7. When Y /j]/ occurs as the second member of a conjunct, it has the form ( )
(j]phola). When a conjunct consonant with occurs initially in a word, or within a
word and followed by A (a-kar), the following vowel has the value @:

baya /b@e/ expenditure

bATabala /b@Tb]l/ bat and ball

O.O.7.1. When medial in a word, as the second member of a conjunct doubles the first
member of the conjunct:

ib%dA /bidda/ learning

Thus, when a word has the orthographic shape CCy or C(V)Cy followed by a vowel, it
has the phonological shape CoCCo or CoCCV:

jana /jonno/ for

kanA /konna/ daughter

mae% /moddhe/ within

O.O.7.2. When , as the second member of a conjunct, is final in a word, it doiubles the
preceding consonant; like all final consonant clusters, the resulting cluster is followed by
the vowel /o/:

sAih%ta /sahitto/ literature

O.O.7.3. The exception to this rule is when occurs in conjunction with the consonant
symbol ha /h]/. in this case is pronounced as /j]/, is doubled, and is pronounced as the
first member of the luster.

saha /sojjho/ tolerate

86
O.O.7.4. When occurs as the third element of a conjunct, it has no phonological value:

sUYa /sUY /surjjo/ sun

(The reph accounts for the doubling of the j].)

O.O.7.4.1. Where in conjuncts has no phonological value, the recent tendency has
been to drop out the and simplify the spelling and, because spelling has tended to
influence pronunciation, the doubling of the consonant (caused by the reph, in this case)
gets dropped also:

sUYa /surjo/ sun

O.O.8. The symbol , when used with a consonant, has the form & , which is written
below the consonant:

k&Saka /kris]k/ peasant

O.O.8.1. As the first member of a conjunct, ra takes the form called reph, which is
placed above the consonant with which ra clusters:

baSA /b]rsa/ rain

O.O.8.2. As the second member of a conjunct, ra takes the form called r]phola, which
is placed below the consonant with which ra clusters:

Zaim%ka /Sromik/ laborer

O.O.8.2.1. As the second element of a conjunct, ra doubles the preceding consonant:

pua /puttro/ son

O.O.8.2.2. As the third element of a conjunct, ra has no effect upon the other elements:

I /Stri/ wife

O.O.9. When la /l]/ occurs as the second element of a conjunct, the first element of that
conjunct becomes doubled if preceded by a vowel:

Aa /]kklanto/ tireless
87

O.O.10. When sa /s]/ occurs as the first element of a conjunct with a dental consonant
(ta /t]/, a /th]/, na /n]/, ra /r]/), it is pronounced as a dental sibilant (S]):

saA /s]Sta/ cheap

Ana /Sthan/ place

Ana /Snan/ bath

eota /Srot/ current

O.O.11. When a /th]/ occurs as the second element of a conjunct with sa /s]/, it has a
shape similar to ha /h]/:

Ana /Sthan/ place

Aa /saStho/ health

O.O.12. The symbol Ha (bis]rgo) originally indicated strong aspiration. In modern
Bengali, the symbol indicates strong aspiration only after a monosyllable:

bAHa /bah/ surprising!

When the symbol occurs in polysyllabics, it doubles the consonant which follows it:

duHaKa /dukkho/ sorrow

punaHa punaHa /punoppuno/ again and again

In final position of a polysyllabic word, it has no phonological value:

sAAraNataHa /sadhar]noto/ usually

88

Lesson
16
16


+

1
..

..
2
.
3
.+ .
4
.. ..
.
5
+ .. .. .. .
6
.
...
7
. ... -
8
... +. .-
-+ .
9
. .

1
third month of the Bengali calendar (June-July)
2
.. outside
3
way; means
4
. because
5
habit; practice
6
. or (just) sitting
7
. table (loan word)
8
- having no other choice; having no other course left open
9
-+ . - (verb stem) begin; start
89

10
+
11
.
12
.. +
13
.+-..
14

.+
15
..-
16
. -
17
.+-.. .
.. +
18

19
..+
20

21

10
Orissa--an Eastern state in India
11
+ flood
12
help
13
+.+ for (post-position)
14
.+- leader
15
. + appeal
16
problem
17
- famous
18
+ unjust; injustice; unlawful
90
..-
22
.
23
.. .
24

25

-
26

.+ . + . .
27
.. - . +
...
28
+.
29
.
30
. .- +
31
. .
..
32
...
33
.
34
.+ + +
35

36
. .+ .
.- .
37

.+.
38
. . . . . . . . .
.. . -. ...
39
. . -+.- .. +
.+. . .
40
. -.+ . . .. .
41

- negative prefix: not,without, etc.
+ justice; truth; dialectics
19
demand
20
.+ China
21
food
22
.- Central India
center; middle
.-. - India
23
. disturbance; trouble; noise
24
. between; among; within (lexical treatment depends oncontext).
25
fighting
26
- et cetera (etc.); and so on; and so forth
27
. . and besides; moreover; (lit. meaning: on top of this)
28
. - (verb stem) keep; put; lay down
29
+ window
30
. near; neighborhood
31
+ thick; dark
32
wind
33
... strongly; forcibly; by force
34
- (verb stem) blow; flow
35
suddenly; accidentally; unexpectedly
36
fear
37
- (verb stem) happen
38
.+ front; before; (adjectival genitive here)
39
... - (verbal idiom) call loudly
- (verb stem) call; (noun stem) mail
40
. dog
91
.- . -.
42
. + .....
43
. .
44

. . . ..
45
+
46
.. .
47
.
48
.
. .. . .... . .. +
+.
49
.-.
50
..+.
51
.-
52

53
. +
54
+. . + - . +
+
55

56
-.
57
-
58
.
.
59
+ .
60
.. +
61

..+ -+ +.
62
. . + .-
63

..+ -. . .- . - . . - . - .

41
. . .. . started barking
. . barking of dogs
42
toleration; withstanding
43
... chair (loan word)
44
. cat
45
. - (verb stem) mew
46
+ another; other; different
47
- (verb stem) flee; run away
48
. what else
49
+. unattractive; uninteresting
+.+ negative prefix: not, without
. wit; humor; juice
50
- literature
51
.. + discussion
52
prose
53
poetry
54
+ such
55
civilized
56
uncivilized
57
- tribe; caste; nation
58
- history
59
. attractive; humorous
- prefix: with
60
. after all; anyhow; (lit. meaning: let that be)
61
+ ( + ) a name
62
+. well-known (lit. meaning: name maked)
63
.- quite well (emphatic); quite good
.- quite; quite good
good
92
-+ ..+ . . -. -
-
64
+.-
65
. + .
-+ .. + .- ..+ . . -+ -
66

-.
67
- .. ..+

.. . + . . ..
68
+.. .
69

.
70
. . -. - + .
. - . . . -
71
-+
.. - + +.. . . . .
72
.
73

. ..
74
. . . .
75
.
-. .. . - .. .
. .. . .
76
.
77
. -.. .

64
dumbfounded; speechless; surprised; (lit. meaning: without speech or word)
speech; word
65
.+ - (verb stem) understand
66
- part
67
- civilization; '-'--a noun-forming suffix
68
+ . . - (verbal idiom) feel very bad
. indicates a sort of completive action; "finish"
. bad
69
+.. . on me
+. reflexive pron. "oneself"; by one's self; personally
70
. anger; rage
71
a mistake; an error; adj. wrong
72
. once
73
. desire; wish
74
.. .- (verb stem) throw away
. - (verb stem) throw
. - (verb stem) give
75
. verandah; porch
76
. . by means of scissors
. by means of; through; along; although . is identical in form with the PAP of the verb
. the use is quite different and very common.
77
to cut
93
. -.
78
. . . . . + . .+
79
. + .
80

-+ .- . . .+ .. ..
81
..

78
courage; boldness
79
sorrow; misery; trouble; distress
80
. rather; preferably; better
81
.. sun; sunlight
94

Lesson
17
17

Read the following story in Bengali and translate into English:

.
1

2

3
. .. -+ . .- +
4
.- .
.. .
5
+ .- ... . ..
+ ..
6
+ ..
7
+
8

9
..
10
.
11

+.- ..-
12
..- + +..
13

14

15

1
. the past; that age; (lit. meaning: that time)
2
the present; this age
3
sixty
4
+ life
5
happiness
6
cloth
7
two
8
+ annas (16 annas = 1 rupee)
9
six
10
.. seer, measure of weight 1 seer = 2 lbs. (approximate)
11
. rice
12
cloth
13
+ things
is a quallifying suffix used most frequently, as here, with + . Its meaning, in so far as
it can be assigned a lexical one, is distributive: things of various kinds.
14
price
15
cheap
95
... .- -+ ..
16

17
+ -. ... .-
.. .. . -..
18

... .+ - + ... .+ -
19

. .

..
20
-
21
+ -. .. + . +
22

..- . .+ .. - .. + ..-
23

24
+

. .+ .
25
-+ .
26
.
27
-
.. . .+ . .. -
28
...
29

16
.. plenty
17
money (lit. meaning: rupees and pice)
18
- rest
19
- peace
20
travel
21
. convenience; advantage
22
+ enjoyment; pleasure; joy
23
most of the time
often
24
"diseases and things like that"
Both and have almost the same lit. meaning: "without or devoid of happiness";
this type of "echo-word" formation is frequent in Bengali, the reduplicated portion either has no
lexical meaning or acts as an intensive for the first element.
25
(. ) .+ . (I) remember
26
East Bengal (which is now Bangladesh)
east; past
27
village
28
- old
29
. gentleman; polite way of referring to a person; people of high station in society
cultivated
96
.. .- .-+ . . - ... ..-+
30

- .. . ..- +

-. .-+ .+
31
- . + .
32
- .
-. - .-+ .+.. .
33
..-.
34

30
. - (verb stem) gossip
story
31
.+ old days; ancient time
.+ ancient
32
. condition; situation
33
. Ramayana (Hindu Epic)
34
.- Mahabharata (Hindu Epic)
97
. . -.+ - + .- -+ + ..
+ . .+
35
+ - .- +. +. .-

.. .
36
. .
37
.. ...
.-+
38
. .. . .-+ .. . .. . .-+ .-+
..
39
..
40
. .-+ .
41
.
42
-+ +
..
43
..- . .-+ . -+- . . ..
44
+ - +- + - . .. . ..
.-

+
45
.+ .+ .+
46
.. .. .-.-+
47

. .. . . - .+ .+ ....
48
.. -
.. + ... .- . . + -
49
.+ -+
-
50
.-+
51
. .-+ . .+ .+ - -
. - . .. + .-

35
.+ cinema (loan word)
36
. north; answer
37
. Kali-temple
Kali--a Hindu goddess (see note 1, part IV)
. temple
38
.- + every day; each and every day
39
.. in the night
. night
40
a medieval poet of Bengal, author of the Bengali edition of epic Ramayana
41
. electric (loan word)
42
. light
43
oil lamp
44
meaning; essence
45
+ + learned
46
.+ .+ occasionally
47
.-- (verb stem) teach (cause to learn)
48
.... loudly
...- (verb stem) shout
49
- artist
50
- idol; figure; image
51
- (verb stem) build; mould
98

.-+ .. .. . .-+

.. .. .- .
52
.- ..
+..- .+ . .. .- .- .. -
...
53
-
54
.. .. . .- .
55

.- . +.
56
.-
57
-.
58
.
. .-
59
-. +..- + ..-
60
. ..-
61

52
. worshipping of Goddesss Durga (see note 2, part IV)
53
young man
54
- young woman
55
Hindu
56
+ Muslim/Moslem
57
peasant; farmer
58
- laborer
- labor
59
. - (verb stem) form a crowd
crowd
60
+ . - (verb stem) enjoy, have pleasure
61
. . - (verb stem) have fun
99
.. +..- . .
62
.- -
. . . . ..-
63

- .. . .- .. .-+
64
.. .-+
.- .- . - . . .. - . . .-
. .+
65
. . . + .+ ..- ..
.. + ... .. ... . . .+
. ... .+ .-+
66
. - .+

62
(noun stem) opera; open air theatre; starting
. - (verb stem) perform an opera or perform an open air entertainment; start
63
. . - (verb stem) enjoy (in a sense of consumption); enjoy the taste
64
.- + . + change
65
. .+ no more; any more
66
.-+ such; like that; similar to that
100

Lesson
18
18


+
1

.
2
.
3
-+ . ..-
4
.
. ..-
5
. .-
6
. .-
7

..- - . .
8

9
..- - .
..- . . . .+
10
.- ..- . +
.
11
.+
12
.- ..
13
.. .- .
.
14
..- - . ..
15

1
+ unknown
+ (verbal noun); knowing; known
2
. (verb stem) decide; fix
3
vacation
4
. Delhi--capital of India
5
. name of a village in W. Bengal (lit. meaning: three tributaries)
6
.- usually
7
Agra city in North India
8
. entire; whole
9
summer time
10
..+ . + because of that; that is why; (lit. meaning: for that)
11
first
12
. + few days
. few; some
13
.- .. in (by means of) an 'ekka gari'
one-horse cart
.. by means of; although identical in form with the PAP of the verb stem . -, the usage is
quite different and very common.
14
. Birla Temple (see note 4, Part IV)
101

16
. .- . . .+. .+
.- . .-
17
. + . .
. . . . -.. . . .+ . ..- .. ..
. . ... .+
18
..
19

. .+ ..
20
.+ .- --
21

.-.
22
.
23
.
24
-
25
. .+
26
. .-.+
27
.
28

29
.. .+ .
30
.
.
31
--
32
..+ . ..
33

. .
34
- +. . .
+
35
. .
36
. .+ . .
. .. .
37
. .. . . .

15
.. Delhi Fort (see note 5, Part IV)
16
Jumma Mosque
17
possible
18
.+ train (loan word)
19
. (verb stem) catch; hold
20
only
21
-- third
22
.- class
23
. compartment
24
. sitting accommodations
25
- difficult; hard; firm
26
two hours
hour; bell
27
.-+ station (loan word)
28
. (verb stem) reach
29
half hour
30
platform (loan word)
31
. (verb stem) come and stop; come and stand up
32
-- quickly; hurriedly; swiftly
33
. (verb stem) occupy; capture
34
. (verbal idiom) "feel warm"; (lit. meaning: strike hot)
. . "(I) was feeling warm."
35
. (verb stem) open
36
. opposite
37
.. (verbal idiom) notice; observe; (lit. meaning: eyes fall)
102
.. +. . . . . .+ . . . . .- .
38

... .+ . . .+ - + + .. . .-
. .+ . . . . . . -.
39
-.
. -. . .+ . . . .
..
40
. . . . .
41

42
-
.

. . .. + . . . .

.
43
. . . .+ ..- -+ ..
+ .
44

45
-. . .
46
. .

38
. beautiful (feminine)
39
- look; gaze
40
(verbal idiom) feel shy
shyness; shame
41
. very
42
sweet
43
(verb stem) ring; sound, play (instrument)
44
+ . through the window
103
-. . -. .. . . .+
.. ..
47
. .

.
48
.. .+
49
. .+ -
50

.-.+ . . .
51
. + .
. . .. . . .
52
.+ . . .
.. . ..+. . . ... . .
.. . . . + . .. .
.+.- ..

. . .+ . . .+.
53
-. . . -. .
54

..
55
. . -. .+ ..- -+
.... . .. +. . . . -
+.
56
. . . . .. . .
- + .- . +

-. .+ . . .. .. . .. .
.-
57
. .

. through; along; although identical in form with the PAP of the verb . , the usage is
quite different and very common.
45
(verbal idiom) "look out" (lit. meaning: stretch face)
- (verb stem) stretch
46
. . once more
47
.. (verb stem) leave; abandon
48
. few months
49
+ Burdwanname of a town in W. Bengal about 70 miles N.W. of Calcutta.
50
- Saktigarhname of a village in W. Bengal about 60 miles N.W. of Calcutta (lit. meaning:
powerful fort)
- power; strength
51
. (verb stem) get up and sit; rise up and sit
52
. another
53
+ (verb stem) get down; descend; (noun stem) name
54
. with
55
. (verb stem) converse; make acquaintance
56
+ (verb stem) wave; move; (lexical treatment depends on context)
57
.- (verbal idiom) begin to think; infinitive + finite - "begin to"
104

Lesson
19
19


... +

-
1
-
2
- + . . .
3
.- . .- ..

- + .
4

5
- .. . .. . +

- .- . .
6
+ - . .-.
. +

- .+ + .+..
7
. .+ -
8

-
9
.+ + . +. . +.
..+
10
+

1
- a man's name
2
- a woman's name
3
a boy's nickname
4
. terribly; excessively
5
cold
6
. warm clothes
shirt; blouse; any upper garment
7
. + Rabindranath Tagore, 1861-1941, greatest Bengali poet. (see note 6, Part IV)
8
.+ - "Pracin-Sahitya"--name of a book written by Rabindranath Tagore (lit.
meaning: ancient literature) (see note 7, Part IV)
9
- besides that; moreover
10
. (verb stem) like
105
- - . . . . .-. . .. +
11

12
.-. . ..+ + .+
+
13
. .+
14

- + . . +..
15
..+ +
+. .+ - - + .+ ..
16

..+ + . .+ .

- .. - .-. . . .
17
+.
.. . -+ .+ + ..-
18
..

- - . + + .+ + ..+ -+
+. . .

- -+ - . . . - +

- .. .. .- -
19
.+ -+
.
20

21
.+ - .
22
..+ ..+
23

- .+.. . .+ -

11
.. Note spelling of imperative. Could have been spelled . .
12
well; all right; yes
13
+ Christian (loan word)
14
. .+ is that the reason? that is why?
15
dislike
16
.... job
17
degree (loan word)
18
+ . (verb stem) earn; acquire
+ earning
19
- pundit; scholar; learned man
20
. Candidasaa medieval poet, 14th century A.D. (see note 8, Part IV)
21
Kalidasagreatest Indian poet and dramatist, 5th century A.D. (see note 9,
Part IV)
22
-. about; in connection with; in regards to
23
.. + . (verb stem) discuss
..+ discussion
106
- .. . . .. .- +
24

.+ -+ .-
25
.+ . +
+. - -.
26
.. . . ..+
. .
27
+
28
-+ . -+ .-.
29

+
30
.- ..+

- - + - . + . ++
31
.
... + +

- -- . .-
32
. ..- ..
+

- +. .- . ..- . + + +
+ .-. .
33

24
singer
25
.- folk-song
. village; neighborhood
-- song
26
-. Friday
27
. violin
28
(verb stem) play (cause to ring or sound)
29
.-. sitar (string instrument)
30
instrument
31
. . (verb stem) wait
. waiting; compared to (post position)
32
.- "very long"; much longer
morpheme indicating time
33
.-. (verb stem) "get ready"; "get dressed"
.-. ready; preparation
107

Lesson
20
20


+-
1

-. . ..-
2
.

3
..+

- - .. .+ - .- -.
.++ .. ...+ - .
4
.+ . . . ....
5

6
-. . . -.+. ..
7
. .
8
. ..
. . . . -. -
9

10
-.
- .

1
+- destiny; fate
2
. . (verb stem) marry; wed
. marriage; wedding
3
objection
4
. well (lit. meaning: in the manner well)
5
... childhood (time)
6
companion; friend; associate
7
.. acquaintance
8
. together
9
- truly
10
(verb stem) love; like
108
.+ .
11
.+ + . .- - .-
12
.. +
.-. -. . .
13
. + - -. . ..
14

. +

.
15
.+ - . . . +
.+ - - . +

...
16
.+ .. . - .. .-.
17

- .+ + . . - - .+ +

. .+ .-
18
.. .-.
- + -. . . -.+ . -. + +.
19
.+ . ....
20
.
21
.+

- .+ + . -. .. .... .
..+

. .
22
- - .- . +
+

11
+ (verb stem) shake head
head
+ (verb stem) shake; nod; (lexical treatment depends on context)
12
- . (verb stem) consent; give opinion
13
right; proper; etc. (lexical treatment depends on context)
14
result; effect; fruit
15
helpless
16
... angrily
17
- family; clan (all dead and living members of the extended family)
18
.- untranslatable particle which transmits a feeling of condition or doubt on the part
of the speaker
19
lawyer; pleader
20
.. name of a place
. title; often used as a surname
. city; town
21
. landlord (Zamindar)
22
. . (verb stem) admit
109
.+ .. . -
23
- -. ..
24

.+
25
. .... + . .+
26

27
-. -+ . + .+ -. -+
-..
28
+. .+ .+. +
29

.+ . .+ .
30
+ . - + .
31

..-+ ..-
32
..+ + - -+ . -. .
..-+ ..- .+ . + ..+
.+ + . -+ -. . .-
..+
33
.+ . . . +.- ..+ .
..
34
.+. + .. .
35
..+. . -+ .
..+
36
. . . .+ .+ . . .+ +
+ .. . .-. . . . . ..- ..
+ . .-. . .-
37
. . .+ .
38
.
. ..+ .
39
. .+ +
40
. . .+

23
- long; tall
24
.. in short
25
.+ a name
26
a name; eternal; imperishable
perishable; decay
27
that is (i.e.,); that is to say; in effect
28
- region; area; edge of a sari
29
friend
30
. ill; sick; (lit. meaning: not well or healthy)
. well; healthy
31
. estate
32
..-+ . (verbal idiom) look over; supervise
33
.- . (verbal idiom) take possession of; dispose; dispossess
34
. behavior; treatment; use
35
+ .. dishearten; (lit meaning: mind breakdown)
.. (verb stem) break down; collapse
36
. (verb stem) die
37
- (die) in an accident
38
. . second month of the Bengali calendar (May-June)
39
fifth month of the Bengali calendar (August-September)
40
+ accident
110
..
41
.+ . .+ . - .-+
42
..
43
+
- . .-. -. . . . +

. -.+ . . . .
44
+ -
. .-. -
45
. .
46
.+
+ . ..+ + + +.. - .+ . .
. .- . . .+ -. . .- .
+ -. .
47
- .- . .- .. +

+ . - . . -. .+ . .
.. -. .-
48
. . .+ . - .-+ .. +
.- .- . . - . . - .
.- .. ..- - .. + .+

. . - . .-. .-
49
-.
. .. .-. . - .
50
+

-
51
.+ . + -+. + -+ . .
.-. .
52
- ..

41
(verb stem) stop
42
.- + very long; much longer; (lit. meaning: more days)
43
. - (verb stem) survive; live
44
. . + lost patience; (lit. meaning: patience remained not)
. . patience
45
- blind faith; blind belief
blind
- belief; faith, surname
46
. prejudice; superstition
47
. fault; defect; flaw
48
. (verb stem) suffer; enjoy (pleasure or sensual pleasure)
49
- without consent
- consent
50
- . (verb stem) believe
51
- only; simply; merely
52
. desire; wish
111

-
53
. . .. + . .-
54
.. .+
. . . - -. .. - ..
. ... . +
55
.. .
56
- . +
. - ..-
57

. .-+
58
. + .
59
. -.
. + . .. - - .. . .-+ + ..
60
..
.
61
.-+ . + .
62
+ ... .+ .
-. .. .+ .+ -. .
63
. .+ ..
-. . . . . . - . . . .
.

. .. . . +
64
.
+.
65
-. .- .
66
.+ - + +
.
67
.- . - . . .+ .

53
- seventh month of the Bengali calendar (October-November)
54
.- SarasvatiHindu goddess of art and learning (puja at end of January,
beginning of February)
55
week
56
. examination
57
compel; indebted; obliged
58
.-+-+ (verbal noun) studying
(verbal noun) studying
.-+-+ (verbal noun) listening; hearing
59
. entire; whole
60
+ . (verbal idiom) concentrate; (lit. meaning: give mind)
61
.. . (verb stem) try; attempt
62
+ (verbal idiom) concentrate; find interest; (lit. meaning: mind sit)
63
dream
64
+ mail-man; attendant
65
+ (verbal idiom) knock at the door
iron knob of the door; hard; (lexical treatment depends on the context)
+ (verb stem) knock; (lexical treatment depends on the context)
66
. telegram (loan word)
67
(verb stem) become frightened; become panicky
112
.
68
. + . . ..+ ... ..
... .. . -. ..- . +

.+. .
69
. . . .

.+ + .. . . .+ .+
..+ - . - . .

68
. . in great apprehension; in great fear (reduplication frequently has a plural or a
distributing meaning)
69
illness; sickness; disease
113

Lesson
21
21

114

..+

1
.
2
- .+ . .

. - . .

. - . .

. + ...
3
.

- + .. ...+ +
4

. - . .
5
. + .. . .- +. ..+
-+ -. . . .. ..

.-. + .. . . +

. . .- . . . + ..- ..-
6
.+.
-. .. + + . . .-. + +. -
. .- .+ . - + -.. .
7
- ..- .+ -

1
Bankima man's name
2
. Rinaa woman's name
3
+ . Jamini Roy (1887-1972) one of the outstanding Bengali painters (see note 10,
Part IV)
4
+ "don't you? is it not so?" (lexical treatment depends on the context)
5
. "Mr. Smith"
6
.- foreign country
7
-...-. true; real
115
..
8
.
9
..
10
- .. + .. +
11
. .+
12
. + . .
13
+ ..+ +

.-. .+ . + . + . -
14

. + -. . .
15
. . . -.. - +
16
. -+
. - ++

- . - -. - .
17
.
18
+ ..
19

. -. -. + .
20
- .- - + + -

.- . . - - .. -. .- .+

. + . - + + - .. . .-
21
. +
22
-. .-+
. - . . +
23
-.. .
. +
24

8
.. European; adjectival suffix which forms derivative adjectives from noun
stems is ;
.. Europe
9
. Moghul
10
school (loan word)
11
+ . (verb stem) copy
12
. .+ (verbal idiom) (I) think; (I) suppose; it seems (to me)
13
. to anyone
14
. - folk-artist
15
. style; form; figure
16
-+- like
17
- art
18
. how; in what manner
19
+ . (verb stem) describe
20
impossible (lit meaning: not possible)
possible
21
.- Indian; (see note 8 above)
.- India
22
.+ painting
. picture
+ painting
23
+ modern
24
+ whether or not
116
. .- .+ . .-. - .. . .-
..
25
+ +
26
+
27
+ ...

. . -
28
. - .- + ... .
- .

. - + . - . + -. .-+ .. - +
- .+ +
29
+ . + -. .-+ ..

. .+ + .- .+ -. .-+ .

- .- ..
30
. .-. - . .-. .
.

. + - . ..- . . -
31
- .+

- - . ..- . .

. + ..
32
. ..- .-
33
..+

- ..- . .

. .-.
34
-.-
35

25
.- .. especially; particularly
.- special
26
++ Abanindranath Tagore (1871-1951), nephew of Rabindranath Tagore,
regarded as one of the greatest Indian painters of the twentieth century (see note
11, Part IV)
27
+ Nandalal Bose, a leading Bengali painter and an ardent exponent of the
Tagore school of painting.
28
. - folk-art
- art
29
+ "or," not; although + means "not," in colloquial Bengali it is used in place of in
questions.
30
sculpture
31
. - teacher
- - polite way of addressing a person; suffix attached to the given surname
of a male person addressed; sir
32
+ .. American government
.. government; a surname
33
.+ to teach (cause to study)
34
.-. "majority"; greatest part
117

.-. - - . . + ...

. . .- .+ . - .. - . .- .. . .

.-. .. -.+ . . .

.- much, many, excessive
part, portion
35
- Calcuttathe capital city of W. Bengal
118

Lesson
22
22


-
1
.
2

.
3

. -.. . . ...
4
- . + - .. .
.
5
+ .
6
. + .. . . . + . .
7

. . + -+ .-
8
..-+ . . . - -
9

. + ..+ . ...
10
.+

1
- Emperor
2
. AkbarMoghul Emperor, 1555-1605 A.D. (see note 12, Part IV).
3
. Birbalone of the nine ministers in Akbar's court.
4
... most; (lit. meaning: "compared to all"; superlative)
5
. king's or emperor's court
. king; kingdom
court; meeting
6
. jewel (used here figuratively; "prominent figure")
7
. witty
8
.- humor; joviality; wit
9
- unparalleled; unrivalled; second to none
- second
10
favorite; intimate; dear; beloved
119

. ... .+

120
- . + ..+ . -+ . .. . .-
..+ -. . . -+ . . . . +
11
.+ .
. .
12
. . + - . . .. .+ .
- .. .
13
..

. -. . -
14
.+ .+ .
15
- ..
. ..

- .+ . . .-.+ . . . .
16

. . . - --
17
.
18
. .+
. - . . . . -.+
. -.+ - .- -+ .. .
. . ..
19
.. . .
20
.-. . . .+
- . ..- . - . ..
-. . . . .. +

. .+ - . . .

- .+ . . - .
21
.. . ..
.-. . .
22

23
. .-. .. .
24
. .-

11
. (verbal idiom) put (someone) to shame; embarrass (lit. meaning: throw (someone) to
embarrassment or shame)
shame
. (verb stem) throw; allow to fall
12
. at the right time; in time
as; for example
13
. funny dream
fun
14
- intention; purpose; plan
15
. . surprise; astonishment; wonder
16
. incident; matter
17
-- side by side; this type of formation is not infrequent in Bengali. The significance is mutual
action (see An Introduction to Bengali, Part I, lesson XI, grammar section)
.- to the side; by (someone's) side
18
. road
19
. rose water
20
. (verb stem) fall; the finite verb stem - indicates "action"
21
. rotten
22
mud
23
"filth"; dirt; soil
. . "covered with filth and rotten mud" (lit. meaning: rotten
mud and filth struck)
121
.
25
.-. .
26
.. . .
27
.-
. - .-
28
.

. .+ - .
29

. . + . - .-. .

. .+ - . +. - + -. +
.

- .+ .

. .+ . . + .. .+ .... +
30
.
... .. ....+ -.+ . + .- . ... . .
. . ..

- . .. .+ -. . -.. ..

. .+ . . + . .. +
31
.
+. . . ... . ..
32
..

. . . -.+ - .. +

24
smell
25
. .- begin to come out; begin to go out; note: infinitive + finite of =
"begin to"
26
. condition; situation
27
. . "(I) was amused"; (lit. meaning: (of me) fun struck)
28
verb stem) weep; cry
29
misfortune; bad luck (lit. meaning: bad forehead)
forehead
. bad
30
... (verb stem) shout; scream
31
. (verb stem) lick
32
laughing (mutual action; see note 17)
122

Lesson
23
23


..- .
1
. .+
2
..- . .+ -
3

+ . .- .+ . . .. . ..
4
- .
.-+ .+
5

6
...
7
. .+ .- .-.
8

. .- .-. +. . .. ..
9
-+.- .+

+ -++
10

11
..

..- - . .+ .. .+ -
12

13
-+
++
14
.
15
.-+
16
. . .+.
17
.
18
.. ..-+

1
abbreviated form of . "paternal grandmother"
2
. .+ usually (habitually) tell; note: PAP + finite verb stem indicates usual
(habitual) action
3
- exception
4
.. (verb stem) surround
5
.+ + sometimes
6
tiger
7
. bear
8
.- - "the pundit-jackal"
.-- jackal; fox
- pundit; learned person; scholar
9
.. .. "each and every house"; "from one home to the other" (distributive; see note
28, lesson 13)
10
-++ you (hon.) listen; note that the position of the verb is a matter of stylistic choice.
-++ is here brought before the object and the subject is dropped; such syntax is
not infrequent in modern Bengali composition.
11
mischievous; naughty
12
- strange; peculiar
13
whim; hobby; luxury; fashion
14
++ many; various
123
+ .. . . - + . .-. + . -. .
19

.. .+ -.. . - . . .. .-
20

- .- . . +
21
. . .. .+ .
.
22

. . + + + . -..

- .
23
.. + .
24
-+ -.. .- ++ ..-
. . + .- .-
25
.. .+ - . + -. .+
.+ + - + - - . .- .- . .. +
26

.-..
27
. - + - . . .- .+ .
28
.- .- - . . .- . . -.. .+
.
29
. +
30
..-. ... .+
31
. + . .-
32

-+ . . . . . .+ .. + .+.
. . . . . .. .+ . . . + .
33
..
34

. .. . . + -
35
-. -.+ .
. . .. . .. +

15
animal
16
. (verb stem) nurture; foster; tame
17
.+ gold
18
. cage
19
minister
20
.- teach; 3rd person pres. imperative
21
. (verb stem) (is) in trouble; (lit. meaning: fall in danger)
22
. . "His Majesty"; emperor; (lit. meaning: great king)
23
. what else
24
. having no other recourse; perforce
25
.- .- far and abroad (lit. meaning: country and foreign land)
26
. . (verb stem) begin
27
.- labor; hard work
28
a few; one or two
29
. present; offering
30
various; different
31
.++ invitation
32
. king's palace
33
+. greeting; good morning
34
.. please; "be kind"; "being kind"; (lit. meaning: doing mercy)
. verb stem) do mercy; show pity
35
-- Sir; Mr.; polite way of addressing a person
124

+. -

+ .
36
..- .+
37
+
38

. .. . .
39

40
..- .

. . + - . -
41
.- - .

36
Brahmin
37
very; very much (emphatic)
38
+ good person
39
. . repeatedly; again and again
40
bow; salute
41
- here it means "well-behaved; good natured"
125
. .
42
.. . . . + +
. . + . . . . . . ..-

+ - .+
43
..- .
44

+ - . .. - . . . .. ...

-- .. . . . + .. .. . .
. .. . . . .- .

. . .+ .
45
.-. . .
46

.-. . .. . ..
47
. - . . . . +
.
48
.- +

. .+ + . . .- + .. . .
+ .

.+ - + .- .. +
49
. .
50
. -
51
+
.
52
. .
53
-. . - . -+

. .- - . +
54
. . . +. -
. +. .. ..
55
. . . . . -
. +. .

.+ . . .. + .+
56
-
57

. - .. .+ - . +

42
. polite way of addressing a respectable Brahmin; Brahmin cook; idol; a surname
43
oh-oh; exclamation indicating sympathy
44
(verb stem) suffer
suffering; sorrow
45
. "what are you saying?" (lit. meaning: that is what talk)
46
. . (verb stem) help; to do good
47
. .. . (verb stem) help (someone) to come out; throw (someone) out
48
. dealings; behavior
49
+ + never
50
. . (let's) go and see
51
- at least
52
witness; spectator
53
. . (verb stem) ask; inquire
54
- .+ (Let's) go; (Let's) move; you (hon.) move
55
+. .. . let you (hon.) go
.. . (verb stem) leave; abandon
126

. .- +.
58
. ++ +
59
.+

-+ . .. + .
60
- ..
61
.
. - . . . -
62
..

- . - .- .. . . .
63
.+
+
64
. .. .
65
....
66

....
67
-... ... . - .. .
68
. . -.
-. .
69
. .
70
.+.
71
.+ .
- ..
72
. + + .. . .. +. .

. .- .-
73
. . +. .
-++

.+ . +. . . . . - .
-+ -.. .-. - ..

. . +. . ++

. + +
74
+ . . . .. .
. .+ .

56
+.+ in the middle
57
- peepul or fig tree
58
+.. to him (hon.); to that
59
+ "he (hon.);" that one (hon.)
60
. hail; hey there
61
..+. anyone
62
- harm; damage; loss
63
. . "taking me as an example"; through me
64
.+ + why don't you look
65
only; only one; sole
66
.. scorching heat; scorching sun
scorching; (lexical treatment depends on the context)
67
shade; shadow
68
. verb stem) save (lit. meaning: cause to live)
69
branch
70
goat
71
.+ (verbal noun) feeding
72
. (verb stem) tear; pluck
73
.- .- while smiling, smilingly; laughingly; the reduplicated infinitive is
frequent in the language and has the force of continuing action
127

. .- + . . ++

.+ . .. . . - . . .
- ..

. - .- .. . . + + . . +
+ .. .... + . .-.
75
- .
76

.. .. .. .. .. - .. . . ...
... ...
77

.- . .- .- . . . +
.+

.+ . +. . .

. .- .-
78
+ . . .. + -. . ++

.- . . . -. ..
79
. + .

. + .- .- .- .
80
. ++

.- . .. .+ . .- - - .
+ - . .. . . - . . . - ..

.- - . . ..
81
+ .. + .
+. +.- .. + . . . .. . . . -
..

74
+ botheration; trouble
75
. .-. at the end of the rainy (season)
rain
.-. at the end
76
. insect
77
. (verb stem) kill; beat
78
.- .- all right
79
. (verb stem) show
80
maternal uncle
81
.. clearly (for this use of .. see note 24, lesson 13)
clear
128
.+ . .- . .+. .. .

-.+ .- - . . .+ . .
82

. . . . . + .. .- .. + - +
-+ + .. . .. . .- - . .. . .
. . . +.- ... + + . .

.+ . .- . .+. . .

.- - . . .+ + . . .+ .
. . . .. + -. .

. .- - . . . .
.

.- - . . . . .-
.
83
+

... . + - + . - + - + -
+ . +.- .. + - - . + ..
. .- .-
84
.. . -.. . . .- -
. .. . ..

-. . .- - . . . . +.-
... + + . ..+ - . . .
+ ... . .. . +. - ..- .. .
+ + - + .. -.+ . .+
85
. -
. .-
86
.+ . -. +. - ..- ..

-. . .- - . .. . .- . -.
- . .- - .- .- .. ..
87

82
complicated
83
. (verb stem) enter
84
.- .- while saying (see note 71)
85
.. -.+ . (verbal idiom) "move carefully" (lit. meaning: seeing and listening
move)
86
world; earth
87
.. (verb stem) go away; move away
129

88
+ .. . .. . -+ .. + . .. .
. + -

88
but; still; in colloquial Bengali the position of in a sentence is a matter of stylistic choice, for it
is used before or after the subject or even at the end of the sentence. Ex:
. +

. +
. +
130

Lesson
24
24

-..-+
1

2

-..-+
3
..- . . .+
4
-.+
5
.. -+
-. ..
6
.. + . .. -. )
7
+ - .+ - +
-..-.+ . . . - . .+
8
. .- + -
9

1
-..-+ Sri Chaitanyaa religious reformer of Bengal, 15th-16th century (see note 13, in Part IV)
- "Sri" used before a name may funciton as the Bengali equivalent of Mr., Mrs., or Miss, etc.
Also used before the name of a place.
..-+ lit. meaning: consciousness
2
ignorant; stupid
3
south
4
many; much; abundant
5
- .+ place of pilgrimage
- pilgrimage
.+ place
6
-.. Srirangapurname of a place
7
. ) Benkat Bhattaname of a South Indian Brahmin
8
Lord
9
- guest
131
.+
10
. .- +. +
11
. .- . .
+
12
++

-..-+ .+ .
13

14
. .- .+ -
15
.+ .
. .. - . -. .. - +

-. ) .+ . .. - .+ +. . ..
16

. + .

-..-+ . .) . .. - .+ . .+ - +
17

. + -. -..-.+ . -+ ..
18
+ ..+ -..- + - +
.. + . .+ - + - + . .. +

- + .. .+ . .. . ..
19
. .+
20

-
21
..+
22
-. .. . .++ . - .
. - ..- .. -. ) .. +
23
.. +
.+
24
+ - .+ - ..+

+ -..- + . .. . .+ - + ..+ . . . ...
.. . .
25
.
26
-..- + . ..+ - -

10
.+ be (hon.) pres. imperative; the "o" vowel need not be written, even though it is pronounced.
11
. (verbal idiom) "pay a visit" (lit. meaning: give feet dust); this is a polite way to ask a holy
or respectable person "to pay a visit" at one's home
12
fulfilled; meaningful
13
. (indicative) hey; O
14
(adjective) devout; (noun stem) devotee
15
- shelter
16
. . (verb stem) serve; take care
17
-+ every day
18
-+ .. "having the opportunity to get the sight"
-+ literally means "sight"; the technical meaning (as used here) in Indian religion is that there is
merit in the mere sight of an exceptionally holy man
. (verb stem) gain; profit
19
. (noun stem) corner
20
.+ with great concentration; attentively; (lit. meaning: in one mind)
21
- Bhagavad Gita
22
. (verb stem) recite; read
23
) . (verbal idiom) taunt and ridicule
) taunt; joke
ridicule
24
+ . (verbal idiom) pay attention; pay heed to; (lit. meaning: give ears)
25
. body
132
.. +. - .- .
27

28
.+ + . .-. ..
29

.
30
- - -.
31
.+ + - .. -
..

. .
32
. + . - .
33

.. . -. + + -.
34
+.- .
+ - +.
35

36
+ .
37
+ . .. -
..- .-
38
..+ - +. + . -
39

- . --
40
+
41
..
42
-+ ..- .
+ +.
43
. -
44
. + - .. +. -
45

.
46
+.
47
+. . ... . . .
.- .
48

-..-+ .+ - .- ..
49
- -. .
50

.+. . .- . .-. . + .-. .. -.

26
verb stem) shiver; tremble
27
- Sanskrit
28
rhythm; style; poetical metre
29
.. pronunciation
30
. perhaps
31
-- word; sound
32
. (verb stem) stand up (lit. meaning: rise and stand up)
33
. letter; syllable
34
essence; central theme
35
+ preceptor; teacher
36
order
37
+ . (verb stem) obey; comply with
38
.- order; command
39
- as long as
40
-- so long
41
+ Lord; God
42
Krishnathe eighth avatar of Vishnu and one of the most widely worshipped of the Hindu deities
43
+ Arjunathird brother of the Pandavas (reference is made from the Hindu epic (Mahabharata))
44
.- advice
45
- thrilled; overwhelmed
46
heart
47
filled; full
48
.- . "continue to shiver" (lit. meaning: to shiver remains); note: infinitive + . is not
infrequent in the language and has the connotation of continuing action
49
.- .. might be; can; may become (although literal meaning is "are able to be," the lexical
treatment depends on the context)
50
. main; core
133
. - + . - +
51
-... - - +
52
.-.
53
..- .

-..-+ .. ..- .+ . ... . .
54

. . - + ) ..-+ -. . . . + -. . .
+.-
55
.+

51
-+ as many days
52
--+ so many days
53
association; companionship
54
. (verb stem) spread
55
.+ (verbal idiom) "take the dust of (someone's) feet"; the technical meaning is, that there is a
merit in taking the dust of a holy man's or superior being's feet
134

Lesson
25
25


jayaed%ba
1

saMa &ta -sAih%et% en%ka pUba
2
kAba
3
-gaa
4
eC%| kAil%dAsa BabaBUit%
5

ib%iB% a
6
kAba racanA kaer%eC%na |
7
^tAed%ra kAeb% a k&it%ra
8
pUba sudara
9
ba Na nA
10
eC%|
mAnuSa ak&it% ra saaa
11
kAil%dAes%ra kAeb% a la haey% e%eC% |
12

bahu kaib% e%maek%
13
ek%a
14
kaer% kAba raca nA kaer%eC% na| bAXalAra ka ib% ib% dApait%
15

caIdAsa e%ma -gIit%
16
racanA kaer%eC%na | jayaed%ba raca nA kaer%eC%na gIta egoib%da|
17
ib%a
18
-
sAih%et% gIta egoib%da kaiT% mara
19
kAba -gaa|

1
jayaed%ba JayadevaVaisnava poet, 12th century A.D. (see note 14, Part IV)
2
pUba exquisite; exquisitely; wonderful
3
kAba poetry
4
gaa book
5
BabaBUit% BhababhutiSanskrit poet, (see note 15, Part IV)
6
ib%iB%a various; different
7
racanA kara - (verb stem) compose; write
racanA composition; essay; writing
8
ak&it% nature
9
sudar% beautiful
10
baNanA description
11
saaa relation; connection
12
l haey% a - (verbal idiom) "become vivid"
l bright; brilliant
13
e%ma love
14
ek%a center; focus
15
ib%dApait% VidyapatiMaithili Vaisnava poet, 15th century A.D. (see note 16, Part IV)
16
e%ma -gIit love-songs
17
gIta egoib%da (lit. meaning: Songs of Krishna), lyric poems composed by Jayadeva, which tell the story
of the love of Govinda (Krishna as the God of the herdsman) and his consort Radha
18
ib% world
135

jayaed%ba bAXa lAra rAjA laaNa es%en% ra
20
saBAkaib
21
% iC%el% na| rAA
22
k&e%ra
e%maek% ek% a kaer% it%in% pUba kAba -gaa raca nA kaer%na | ja yaed%ba kAba -gaa iT%
gIit% -kAba
23
ep%
24
racanA kaer%na | k&e%ra pa r
25
a nAma egoib%da| es% jaen% jayaed%ba
kAeb%ra nAma ed%na gIta egoib%da | gIta egoib%da bAXa lAra Eb% abaed%ra
26
it%
27
i%ya gaa|

jayaed%ba bAXa lAra kaib%; bAXa lAra egOra ba|
28
jayaed% ba sArA jIbaen% kaiT% mAa
29
kAba -
gaa racanA kaer%na| sa Ma &ta -sAih%et% ka mAa
30
jayaed%ba ka iT% mAa kAba -ga a raca nA kaer%
mara haey%eC% na|

19
mara immortal (lit. meaning: not mortal)
20
laa Na es%na Lakshman Senan eminent ruler of the Sen Dynasty in Bengal
21
saBAkaib court poet
22
rAA Radhaconsort of Lord Krishna
23
gIit% -kAba lyric poem
24
ep% "in the form of" (locative)
25
par other
26
Eb%aba "worshippers of Visnu," the word is derived from ib% u, name of a Hindu God
27
it% very
28
egOraba pride
29
kaiT% mAa only one
30
ka mAa only; sole; singularly
An Introduction to Bengali, Part II Sadhu-bhasa
136

Part III. Int roduct i on t o Wri t t en Forms: Cal i t , Li khi t a Part III. Int roduct i on t o Wri t t en Forms: Cal i t , Li khi t a
Cal i t , and Sadhu Cal i t , and Sadhu- - bhasa Bengal i (scal e di agram bhasa Bengal i (scal e di agram
i ncl uded) i ncl uded)

O.O.O. It is recognized that there are three forms of written Bengali, two of which are
used for prose composition and the third one for poetry. The two forms that are used for
prose composition are called Sadhu-bhasa (the pedantic language or literary language,
hereafter SB) and Likhita Calit-bhasa (the literary colloquial language, hereafter LCB).
The third form has no specific name but is generally referred to as Kabitar bhasa (the
poetic language).

O.O.O.1. Pure SB used to be the norm for the writing of the language, the peculiarities of
which are still recognized and understood wherever Bengali is written or read; SB is not
ordinarily spoken.

O.O.O.2. The LCB is theoretically based on CB, the standard spoken language, which is
first and foremost the standard language of Calcutta. CB is used and understood
throughout an area which crosses over many dialect boundaries. Though LCB is
primarily based on CB, it is far from an exact representation of CB. First of all, it may be
mentioned that the LCB orthographic system, which is not much different from the SB
orthographic system, fails to represent the CB phonology fully and accurately. There are
many other deeper differences between LCB and CB. These differences are found at all
levels of structure - phonology, morphology, syntax, and vocabulary.

O.O.O.3. In relatively recent times there has been a movement to blend the SB and the
CB lexicon at the literary level. The result of this blending in literature is the emergence
of an LCB whose points of focus fall within the continuum between the two extreme
poles of the SB and the CB (see figure 1 below). In the middle and late nineteenth
century few writers (like Pyarichand Mitra, Kaliprasanna Simha, etc.) used CB for
serious literature; Pramatha Choudhury was perhaps the first champion of LCB, but it
was Rabindranath Thakur (Tagore) who really raised it to its present respected status.
Tagore's writing in general represents the middle ground between the opposite poles of
the SB and CB Bengali. Among contemporary Bengali writers there are ardent and
powerful apologists for the extremes of both the SB and the CB, but the trend is strongly
toward an LCB whose focus is drawing closer to CB. However, in school and college
textbooks, newspapers, etc., the language used is still essentially SB.

O.O.O.4. Descriptively, the difference between the SB and the CB forms can be
summarized under five categories: morphological, lexical, phonological, syntactical, and
idiomatic usages. The morphological and lexical differences between the SB and the CB
are significant and will be discussed here briefly. The phonological, syntactical, and
137
idiomatic differences between the SB and the CB (LCB) forms, considerably more
difficult to systematize, will be met as they occur in the following pages.

O.O.O.5. Morphological distinctions: Morphological differences between SB and
CB/LCB are primarily in verb forms and in certain noun and pronoun endings. There are
few verb forms common to both SB and CB (see below). Besides them, an SB suffix is
rarely if ever used in a CB environment. The distinctions are summarized here:

O.O.5.1. (i) Verb forms: (synopsis of 1st person forms for all the tenses, 2nd and 3rd
persons of the present and future imperative forms are given as examples:

a. Regular stem form: ex. . /k]r/ (to) do
b. Causative stem form: ex. . /k]ra/ (to) cause do
c. Irregular stem form: ex. /ja/ (to) go
d. Negatives ex. + .+ + +

Tense CB SB

a. Regular stem form:

Simple present: . .
/kor-i/ /kor-i/

Simple past: . .
/kor-l-am/ /kor-i-l-am/
.
/kor-l-um/

Past habitual: .- .-
/kor-t-am/ /kor-it-am/
.-
/kor-t-um/

Simple future: .. .
/kor-b-o/ /kor-ib-o/

Pres. continuative: . ..-
/kor-ch-i/ /kor-ite-ch-i/

Past continuative: . ..-
/kor-chi-l-am/ /kor-ite-chi-l-am/
138
.
/kor-chi-l-um/

Pres. completive: .. .
/kor-e-ch-i/ /kor-ia-ch-i/

Past completive: .. .
/kor-e-chi-l-am/ /kor-ia-chi-l-am/
..
/kor-e-chi-l-um/

Infinitive: ..- ..-
/kor-te/ /kor-ite/

Past Active Participle: .. .
/kor-e/ /kor-ia/

Conditional: .. ..
/kor-le/ /kor-ile/

Pres. Imperative:

2nd person (ord.): .. .
/k]r-o/ /k]r-o/

3rd person (ord.): + +
/kor-uk/ /kor-uk/

2nd/3rd per. (hon.): ++ ++
/kor-un/ /kor-un/

Future Imperative:

2nd person (ord.): .. .
/kor-o/ /kor-io/

2nd/3rd per. (hon.): ..+ ..+
/kor-b-en/ /kor-ib-en/

139
b. Causative stem form:

Simple present: . .
/k]ra-i/ /k]ra-i/

Simple past: . .
/k]ra-l-am/ /k]ra-il-am/
.
/k]ra-l-um/

Past habitual: .- .-
/k]ra-t-am/ /k]ra-it-am/
.-
/k]ra-t-um/

Simple future: .. .
/k]ra-b-o/ /k]ra-ib-o/

Pres. continuative: . ..-
/k]ra-cch-i/ /k]ra-ite-ch-i/

Past continuative: . ..-
/k]ra-cchi-l-am/ /k]ra-ite-chi-l-am/
.
/k]ra-cchi-l-um/

Pres. completive: .. .
/kori-e-chi-i/ /kora-ia-ch-i/

Past completive: .. .
/kori-e-chi-l-am/ /kora-ia-chi-l-am/
..
/kori-e-chi-l-um/

Infinitive: ..- ..-
/k]ra-te/ /k]ra-ite/

Past active participle: .. .
/kori-e/ /k]ra-ia/

140
Conditional: .. ..
/k]ra-le/ /k]ra-ile/

Pres. imperative:

2nd person (ord.): . .
/k]ra-o/ /k]ra-o/

3rd person (ord.): . .
/k]ra-k/ /k]ra-k/

2nd/3rd per. (hon.): .+ .+
/k]ra-n/ /k]ra-n/

Future imperative:

2nd person (ord.): . .
/kori-o/ /k]ra-io/

2nd/3rd per. (hon.): ..+ ..+
/k]ra-b-en/ /k]ra-ib-en/

c. Irregular stem form:

Simple present:
/ja-i/ /ja-i/

Simple past: .
/ge-l-am/ /ja-il-am/
.
/ge-l-um/

Past habitual: .- -
/je-t-am/ /ja-it-am/
.-
/je-t-um/

Simple future: .
/ja-b-o/ /ja-ib-o/

141
Pres. continuative: .-
/ja-cch-i/ /ja-ite-ch-i/

Past continuative: .-
/ja-cchi-l-am/ /ja-ite-chi-l-am/

/ja-cchi-l-um/

Pres. completive: .
/ge-ch-i/ /gi-a-ch-i/
.
/gi-e-ch-i/

Past completive: .
/gi-e-chi-l-am/ /gi-a-chi-l-am/
.
/gi-e-chi-l-um/

Infinitive: ..- .-
/je-te/ /ja-ite/

Past active participle: .
/gi-e/ /ja-ia/
..
/je-e/ /gi-a/

Conditional: .. .
/ge-le/ /ja-ile/
..
/ge-le/

Pres. imperative:

2nd person (ord.):
/ja-o/ /ja-o/

3rd person (ord.):
/ja-k/ /ja-uk/

2nd/3rd per. (hon.): + +
/ja-n/ /ja-un/
142

Future imperative:

2nd person (ord.): .
/je-o/ /ja-io/

2nd/3rd per. (hon.): .+ .+
/ja-b-en/ /ja-ib-en/

d. Negatives:

+ +
/na/ /na/

.+ +
/nei/ /nai/

+ +
/ni/ /nai/

+ +.
/n]e/ /n]he/

Nouns & Pronouns: The most striking differences are the forms of the animate plural
suffixes and the inanimate pronouns . - etc.

Noun suffixes:

Case LCB form SB form Gloss

Nominative: .
/balok-ra/ /balok-g]n/ boys
..
/baloke-ra/

Genitive: .. ..
/balok-der/ /balok-der/ of boys
..
/balok-dig-er/

143
Objective: ... .
/balok-der-ke/ /balok-g]n-ke/ to boys
.. .
/balok-der/ /balok-dig]-ke/

Pronoun endings: (animate 1st person and 3rd person pronouns as examples).

Case LCB form SB form Gloss

Nominative . .
(lst person) /am-ra/ /am-ra/ we

Genitive (1st): .. ..
/ama-der/ /ama-dig-er/ of us

Objective (1st): .. . .
/ama-der-ke/ /ama-dig]-ke/ to us
..
/ama-der/

Nominative -. -.
(3rd person) /ta-ra/ /ta-ha-ra/ they (ord.)

-. -.
/ta~-ra/ /ta~-ha-ra/ they (hon.)

Other pronouns: (inanimate)

/e-ta/ /i-ha/ this; this one

/o-ta/ /u-ha/ that; that one

- -
/ta/ /ta-ha/ that

/ja/ /ja-ha/ that

144

O.O.O.6. Lexical distinctions: Lexical differences between the CB and SB forms are
significant. Many words are identical in CB and SB, though the majority are not. A few
examples of CB and SB lexical differences (as will appear in the lessons) are the
following:

CB form SB form Gloss

-
/baba/ /pita/ father

-
/ma/ /mata/ mother

.. +
/chele/ /puttro, s]ntan/ son

.. +
/mee/ /konna/ daughter

..
/mee/ /balika/ girl

.
/lok/ /bekti/ person

-
/hat/ /h]Sto/ hand

/matha/ /m]Stok/ head

O.O.O.6.1. Idiomatic distinctions: The following are the few examples of CB and SB
idiomatic differences that will appear in the lessons:

CB form SB form Gloss

. -
/matha kharap/ /moStisko-bikkrito/ insane

145
+ . - . (verb stem)
/kan de-/ /k]rnopat k]r/ to pay heed

O.O.O.6.2. It is to be noted that the LCB uses the majority of the CB and SB lexicons and
idioms. The most significant features of the LCB which differentiates it from the SB is
its CB morphology and CB syntax. LCB seldom, if ever, uses certain CB lexicon.
Similarly, certain highly pedantic SB lexicons are generally not used in LCB. Thus both
the CB and SB have their own lexicons which are outside the realm of LCB. However, it
is to be noted also that there is a certain amount of vocabulary (used in science,
journalism, etc.) which is common in CB, LCB and SB lexicons.

A scale diagram is drawn here to show the relations of the CB, LCB and SB.

Figure 1.

LCB
|<----------------------- ----------------------->|
Field of CB Field of SB

CB pole SB pole

CB 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 CB

SB 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 SB

Free variant in the LCB realm:
(i) CB morphology and syntax
(ii) majority of CB and SB lexicons and idioms

In figure 1., two extreme poles of a scale are fixed by CB and SB, and it is considered
that there are an infinite number of points between the two poles on which the focal point
of LCB can fall. The field of LCB is relatively large. The poles of LCB could be drawn
either close to the CB or SB end, depending on the frequency of use of the CB or SB
lexicons and idioms.

O.O.O.6.3. In the following pages three stories are given both in LCB and SB forms and
one story only in SB form. This is just to show the distinction and gradation between the
LCB and the SB form of writings at certain levels. I have tried to maintain a level in
writing which will be appropriate at this stage of the introductory reader. You will notice
that the main distinction between the LCB and SB forms is morphological. Apart from
such morphological distinctions you will also meet lexical and a few idiomatic and
syntactic differences. You will also notice that the choice of CB or SB lexicons and
idioms depends on the theme (subject matter) and context of the material.

146
O.O.O.6.4. I would like you now to imagine that CB and SB are at two extreme poles of
a scale and that there are an infinite number of points between the two poles on which the
focal point of LCB can fall (figure 1.). Having such a scale at your disposal, you can
place lesson 26a at the CB end of the scale (because it has CB morphology and mainly
CB lexicon) and lesson 26c at the SB end of the scale (as it has SB morphology and SB
lexicon). With two poles now set at the opposite ends of the scale, you will find that
lesson 26b, written in LCB, falls in the middle of that scale as it has CB morphology and
SB lexicon.

O.O.O.6.5. You will find that the LCB form of the next lesson (lesson 27a) falls toward
the CB end of the scale (having CB morphology and predominantly CB lexicon); the
other, (lesson 27b), is in SB form and is at the SB end of the scale.

O.O.O.6.6. You will notice in lesson 28a (having CB morphology and SB lexicon) that
the focal point of LCB can be brought toward the SB end of the scale by making use of
the SB lexicon. Lesson 28b, written in SB form, differs from lesson 28a only in having
SB morphology.

O.O.O.6.7. The last lesson in Part III is written only in SB form. I presume that after
going through the three previous lessons in SB form, you will now be able to understand
and enjoy the story.

References

E.C. Dimock, Jr., 1960. "Literary and Colloquial Bengali in Modern Prose":
International Journal of American Linguistics, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 43-63.

S. Chatterjee, 1961. "A Study of the Relationships of Colloquial and Literary Bengali"
(unpublished thesis).
An Introduction to Bengali, Part II Lesson 26a
147

Lesson
26a
26a

+
1

2

..
3
-.
4
-
5
. -. + .-+
+ . + +
6

7
+. .
8
+ +. - .
+ .
9
++
10
+. . -

+ + .. +.- .+ ..- +
11
..+ . . + . -..
. . ..-+
12
+ + +.- .+ ..+ -. .-
.
13
..
14

15
. . .. +. .

1
+ sage; hermit
2
mouse
3
The Himalayas (lit. meaning: abode for ice or snow); note that the final of and the
initial of combine to in a compound.
dew; ice; snow
abode
4
- "foothill"; base (lit. meaning: base of the feet)
5
- hermitage; monastery
6
+ a name
7
the Ganges
8
. on one side
9
+. on the other side
+ other
10
++ others; different
11
.+ . verb stem) take a bath
12
. . (verb stem) worship
13
. female mouse
wife; female (of any animal); woman
14
.. (verb stem) come floating
15
helpless (feminine); note: is a feminine-forming suffix
148

-. .- . ..

+ . -.
16
. ..+ -. . .+ .- .. +
. ..- . + . .. + .+ . -+ ..
...- .- .. ..+
17
+ . .
18
.. -. +
19

. - .. +

+. . .+ .. ..
20
+ + .. . -. . . .+
.+ ... - +.. ... - + ..
21
+. .. .
..
22
.+ -+ .. . .+
23
. .
24
+ ..-
.+

16
- banana leaf
banana
17
.- .. . (verb stem) turn into; transform
.- . (verb stem) turn into; transform
18
. power of meditation; esoteric power or spiritual power obtained by yoga
19
+ daughter; girl
20
.. .. children; sons and daughters; boys and girls
21
+ . (verb stem) bring up; raise (lit. meaning: make [someone into a] man)
22
happy; delighted
23
.+ much; many; great
24
. affection and care
. affection
149

... + .+..
25
. . - + + . -. .
26
. +
.. . .. . .
27
+ . . . .. + .+
- . .. . . . -
28
. ... .
. .. .. + ..
29
- ... --
30
.+
.. -

+. .+ . . . ..
31
. .. ... .
+ . + -. .

+. . .
32
.+ + + . ...+ .+

+ . .+ . .. +. .. -. +
-. . ++ .. . . . + -. ... .. .+
- . . ..- .

.. . .. -
33

34
-
35
..-
. + + .
36
+
37
.+

... -.+ + . .+ + + . +. ...
38

. .

.+ .
39
. ... -+ . .. . .. .-
40

..+

care
25
.+.. fifteen
26
husband; sannyasis are also addressed as Swami
27
(verb stem) increase; grow
28
- duty
29
(verbal idiom) grow up
30
-- opinion
31
sun
32
. (verb stem) appear; be present
33
- heat
34
terrible; intense; awful
35
. to tolerate; withstand
36
. rather; instead
37
bridegroom; vessel; jar
38
... compared to (post-position)
39
. cloud
40
.. . (verb stem) cover; cover up
150

+ -. ... . ..+ - . . . ..- .

. . . . + . + .+

+ - + .. .. . ..+ +. ... . .

. .+ . ... -
41

+ - + -. . + -. .. + + . +
+
42
. . ..- .. + + + . +

+ - + -. .. . ..+ + + . +. ...
. .

- .+ . ... -
43
. - . .-
44

..+

+ - + -. .+ -. .. + + . +
+
45
. . .
46
+ + . . . . . ..- .. +
+ .. + . +

+ - + -. . ..+ +. ... . .

- . . . ...

+ - + .. .+

+ + .. .. .- .. .
47
+ +. . +.
.. .
48
-. .. .
49
--
50
. .
51
.

41
- wind; air
42
+ strong; powerful; a common (masculine) adjectival suffix which forms adjective
derivatives from nouns is +
43
- mountain
44
. (verb stem) resist; obstruct (lit. meaning: give resistance)
45
+ rough
46
.. decrepit
47
.. (verb stem) filled with
48
.. (verb stem) shiver; tremble
49
. just; only; note: both . and mean "only." is used as an
intensifier
151
-+
52
. -+
53
.. + + . + .
.. . .- +
54
.. + . .. . - ++

+ -. . . ... . .. . - ..+

. . +
55
. +. . + .- .

50
-- word; sound
51
. (verb stem) come out; go out
52
-+- like
53
a while
54
.- . (verb stem) offer; submit; hand over (lit. meaning: give into the hand)
55
+ male; man; person; generation
An Introduction to Bengali, Part II Lesson 26b
152

Lesson
26b
26b

+

.. -. - . -. + .-+
+ . + + +. .-
1
+ +. - .
. .-
2
++ +. . -

+ + - + +.- .+ ..-+
3
..+. . + .
-.. . + ..-+
4
+ + +.- .+ . .+
5
-. .
6

7
.. . . .. +. . +
-. -. .
8
..+ .+ .- .. + + . +
+. + .+ . -+ . .-
9
. -
..+
10
+ . . . .- . - .. +

+ .
11
.+ + -
12
+ + . -. . .
. .+ . - +
13
+.
14
+ ..
15
+

1
- one side
2
. - other side
3
.+ . (verb stem) take bath
4
+ . (verb stem) worship; pray; meditate
5
suddenly
6
hand
7
female mouse
8
. on; top; upon
9
girl
10
.- . (verb stem) turn into; transform
11
+ wife of the hermit
wife
12
+ - children; sons and daughters
13
+ daughter
14
+. suffix meaning "as"; in the form of
15
+ . verb stem) bring up; raise; serve
153
. .. -
16
+ - .+ - + -. . . + ..-
.+

. + .+.. .
17
. - + + -. .
.+ .. . +. . + .
18
. .+
19

+ . + -
20
.. -
21
. .
22
+.
. . - .. + +
23
. + +.
-- .+ .. -

+ .+ . . .. . . . +.

+ . + -. ..
24
.+ .
25

.
26
.- . .+ + + . ... +
.+

+ . . . + . + +. .. - .
+ . +. ++ ..

. . + -. +. .. .+ - .. ..-
.

+ . - ...
27

28

..- .. + + . + . +

16
- greatly; extremely
17
. year
18
marriage; wedding
19
.+ necessity; need
20
right; correct; true
21
- father
22
. at the right time; in proper time
23
grown up; aged (feminine)
24
. Sun God
. god; an element of a name
25
.+ . (verb stem) call; invite
26
oneself; himself
27
heat
28
intense; powerful; awful
154
+. -.+ + . . .+ . . + + .
+. .
29
. . .- - .
30

. . + . . . .- -. -+ .. .
.. .- ..+

+ -. ... . ..+ - . .. ..- .

+ . - .. -
31
--
32
+ . +
.+

+ - + ... .. . .. + +. . . .
.--.

.. .+ +.
33
. . .- -.

+ - + +.. . + +.. . . + + . +
- + . ..- .. + + + .+

+ - + +.. .. . .. + + + . +.
. . . .- - .

+. .+ . . - .- -. . - .
.- .. +

+ - + -. .+ -. .. + + .+ - +
- + . . + + . .. ..- .. + +
.. + . +

+ - + -. . ..+ +. . . . .- - .

- . + . . .- -. + - + .
.+

29
. compared to; relative to (post-position)
30
.--. greater; better; note: -. is a relative forming suffix
31
- very; utterly
32
-- cold
33
+. Wind God
155
+ + . .. .- .. . + +. . +.
.. . -. .. -- . . . - + .
-+ . + + . - . . . . +. +
++
34
.. + . . . - ++

+ -. . . +. . .- ..+ +
+. . + .- .

34
+.+ . (verb stem) offer; submit; hand over
An Introduction to Bengali, Part II Lesson 26c
156

Lesson
26c
26c

+

.. -. - . -. + .- +
+ . + + +. .- + +. - . .
.- ++ +.. -

+ + - + +.- .+ ..- + ..+ . . + .
-.. + ..-+ + + +.- .+ ..-. + -.
.
1
. . + .
+ . -. . .. + .+ .- . + +
.+ +. + . + . . -+ .-
. - .. + + .. . .- .- .. +

+ . .+ + - + + . -. +
2
+
. + . - + +. + .. + .
- + - .+ -+ -. - - .. + ..-
.+

. + .+. . - + + -. . . +
.. . + . .-. + .
3
. . +

+ .+ -
4
- . . +.
. . - .. + + . + +. - -
5
.. -

1
(verb stem) come floating
2
+ to; near; neighborhood
3
. of her; of his; of its
4
true; correct; accurate (emphatic)
5
(verbal noun) taking
157
+ .+ . . ... - .. +.
+ .+ - .
6
. . .+ ..- .
.- .+ + + . . + . +

+ . . .+ . + +. .. - .
+ . +. ++ .. . . + -.
+. .+ - .. ..- .
7

+ - ...
..- . + + . + .+

+. -+ + .. .+ . . + +
. +. . . . .- -.

. .+ . . . .-- . - + .. .
.-
8
..+

+ -. +. ..+ - ... ..-
.

+ - .. - -- + . + . +

+ - + ... .. + +. . . .
.--.

.. . + +. . . .- -.

+ - + +.. .+ +.. . + + . +
+ - + . . .- . + + +
.+

+ - + +.. . .+ + + . +.
. . . .- - .

+. . + . . - .- -. . - .
.- .. +

6
- . in that case
7
. you (ord.) want--present tense
8
. (verb stem) cover; cover up
158
+ - + -. . + -. . + + . + -
+ - + . . + + . .. ..- . + +
. + .+

+ - + -. ..+ +. . . . .- - .

- .+ . . .- - .

+ - + . .+

+ + . . .- .
9
+ +. . +.

10
-. .- - - .
11
. -+
. -+ . ++ - . .. .
+. + ++ . + . . . - ++

+ -. .. +. . .- .. +
+ +. . + .-

The following is a list of a few LCB and SB forms found in Lesson 26:

LCB SB
.. .
-. .
. +
. .
. -
- . - .
. .
.. . .
. .
.. .
..
.. .-

9
. (verb stem) be filled with
10
(verb stem) shiver; tremble
11
. (verb stem) come out; go out
159

Lesson
27a
27a

.-
1

..- .
2
. .. .+
3
.
+ . . . . . -.
4

5
. ..
.. . . .
6
. .-.
7

8
.. .
9

.-. + . .
10
. . -. .-.
11
.
12
-.+ -.
. .. -

1
.- name of a girl
2
. rich person
3
money; riches; both and mean about the same thing, i.e. "money."
Such formations, using two synonymous nouns or adjectives in compound are
common in Bengali and give a little more force to the expression -- here, perhaps
"a lot of money" "cowrie," a kind of shell used as money
4
entire
5
ash, ashes; also means "ash"; use of words having the same meaning is not
uncommon in Bengali and usually intensifies the meaning
6
. (verbal idiom) break down in despondence (lit. meaning: fall in
despondence)
7
.- grief; mourning; regret
8
meal; eating; food; (echo-word)
9
.. . (verb stem) give up; abandon; leave
10
. sick; ill; (lit. meaning: not healthy)
11
. - sickness; illness
12
. reason; cause; because
160

. ..

..
13
+ - -+ .-. . .
14
.. + - .-.
. ....
15
- .-. . . +
16
+ -

13
. (verb stem) lament; mourn
14
. good use; proper use; (honest) and . (use); note that before a voiced
consonant in the compound, the voiceless - is replaced by its equivalent voiced
counterpart,
15
. . (verb stem) store up; keep accumulating
(verb stem) accumulate; store up
. (verb stem) keep
161
. .-
17
+ - ..
18
. ... - .
.

. . - -.+ . .. .
19
. -. -.-.
20

-. ..+ .. . .-. .
21
.. - - ...
.+ - .- .+
22
+.
23
..
24
.
25
... - + -
... .-. .. . .. . . .. .
+ . + ..

-. -. -.+ .- .
26
..
. . ..

. .. . . .. + .-
.- . -.
27
. .+ . . .. .. .
.- .. . -
28
+ - .+ +. .. .
29
...+
.+ . -.+ . . . . - . .+
+. .. + - .. . + . . .+
+. .. . . + . .. -
+.- .

+ - + .+ .+ .
.
30
.. .- . . -
31
.+ . ..
. - .. . . . . . +.
32
.+

16
+ equal; equivalent
17
.- advice
18
. market; bazaar
19
. appear; present
20
-.- neighbor
21
. mad; insane
22
.+ gold
23
+. silver
24
.. diamond
25
. pearl
26
alas
27
parents; mother and father
28
-- in address, it is sir or Mr.
29
. gem
30
. a handful
31
- at once; right away; right then
32
+. definitely; certainly
162
.
33
. .+.. . .+ +. .- . .-
.+ . . -. .. . . . . .

. . .. .. -.- .
34
. .. .
... .. .- .. . -. . . + . .
35
.
.
36
+ . ..-
37
-. .. . ..
38
. .-.
.. .
39
.- .. + . -. .. + . .. -
-- .. ..
40
. .- .. + . + .. - + .
41

.- ..+ + .+ -. .. . +. +.+
42
.
-.-. . .. .. -. ... .+
43
.. -. -.
. .-. .. . .. + .- .-. ... +.. +
- .. + -. -.-.. - ..- .. + .+
.+
44
. .- . .

. . .. -. . . . .- . . .
. .. .-. . ..

-. ... ..
45
+. . . ..- . .+ ..

46
. . .-. . .. .. . .
47

. . . .. .. .. .. .
.. . . .+ .+ .. + -+ .-.

33
. goddess
34
evening
35
. . slowly
36
. (verb stem) come forward
37
. ..- in the dead of the night; midnight; late at night
. deep; profound; thick; dense
38
. (verb stem) die
39
.. (verb stem) break down; collapse; crumble down
40
.. (verb stem) end; finish; come to an end; become emptied
41
+. cruel; heartless
42
+. .+ (verb stem) snatch; snatch away
43
medicine
44
.+ .+ deep in (one's) heart or mind; use of the double locative in Bengali is frequent;
doubling of the word emphasizes the word
45
. lap; hip or side
46
tired; fatigued
47
traveller; passer-by
163
... .+ .- .. + - + .-.
48
. -+ .-.
... .+ .- ..+

.- .- . . . - . ..
49
. .
.. - . + . . ++ . .. .
. ++
50
- . + .. - . ...
51

52
+.- ..
- . .-. ... . ..- . + .. +.- .
. .- .+ .. .. . -
53
. .+ . +

.- .. . .- .. -. ..
. . . . -. ... .- .. +
.. + . .- . . + .. . ..
.-.
54

55
.- .-.
56
. -
57
+

-- .
58
. . .. . . . .
59
.- . .
. .. -.. . .
60
..- .. .. . .
61
.
+. ..
62
-. ..-
63
. .
64
.+. .
65
- + -.
+..
66
-. .
67
. . +.. +.- ..
+.- .. . + .. - ..
68
. . . -. .
.- +.

48
- Buddha--Gautama Siddhartha (563-483 B.C.) founder of Buddhism (see note 17,
part IV)
49
(verb stem) cry; weep
50
. . (verb stem) cure
51
.. mustard
52
seed
53
- master; head of the house or family
54
- dead
55
number; figure
56
- alive
57
.- much; many (quantitative)
58
-- (verb stem) become despondent; become hopeless; "lose hope"
59
. . slowly; quietly
60
. light
61
(verb stem) light up; burn; flare up; spark up
62
+. (verb stem) go out (light)
63
.- next moment
64
. darkness
65
.+. (verb stem) descend; come down
66
future
67
. thought
68
.. in a sudden spark or blaze
164

. . .- . - .
69
- .. . .. .
.. . . .. . .. + . + .
70

.. ..- . .- -. +
71
. . . -
72

...

-. . -. . .
73
.. .-. . .. .
.-. -. -
74
+. - . - . . .+

69
. selfish; (lit. meaning: after of upon one's self)
self interest
70
world; earth
71
meaningful; successful
72
.- . (verb stem) abandon; give up
73
. . (verb stem) bury; put (someone) in the grave
. in a state of meditation; the suffix "stho" means "in a state of"
74
- refuge
165

Lesson
27b
27b

.-

..- +
1
.+ + . .. +
2

+ -.
3
+ . .+ . -. + .
4
.-
. . + .+
5
. .-. -+ .
6

. - .. +
7
.-.
8
+ - + . .+ -. .-.
. -+ -. . - . + - - +
.-. ..
9
. . + - .-. -
10
+
.. - . .-. + . . -
11
+ - .
.- .
12
- .. .
13
- .
.

. . - -+ + .. .- .+ -.
-. -. -. . .+ . .-. -
14
. -
- ..- .+ - + + - .+ +
15
.
16

1
person
2
+ riches; money and wealth
3
- early morning; dawn
4
ash
5
(verb stem) be despondent; break down
6
. eating; food; meal
7
.- . (verb stem) give up; abandon
8
.-. finally; at the end
9
money
10
- entire
11
- equal
12
. (verb stem) take; accept
13
. (verb stem) sell
14
- mad; insane
head; - deranged; impaired
15
+ silver
16
. diamond
166
17
- .. - ..- .-. .
. .. + . + . . + . +
..-

-. -. -+ .- + . -
.

+ - .- -. + .-
.- - .
18
-. --
19
. + .- +
. .- . -
20
+ - .+ + .
. ..-.+ .+ . -+ + . . + -
. .+ + . + - . .- + .
21

.+ +
22
+ .. .-
- +.- .
23

+ - +. . + .+

24
+ . . -
25
.+ .-

+ . . . + + . + . + .
.+ . . .+.. + .+ + .- . .
.+ + -. .. - . . +

17
pearl
18
. poor
19
-- parents; father and mother
20
- in address it means Sir; Mr. (see note 28, lesson 27a)
21
. previously; in the past (lexical treatment depends upon the context)
22
ruby; jewel; gem
23
. (you) want
24
a handful
25
- at once; right then
167
. . +

. . . -.-. . +
26

. - +- -. . . + .. ..
+ . .. -. + . . . .-.
+ . -. +.. + . -
-
27
. .
28
. + . + . - +.
29
.-
.. + + . -. +. + . +
30

-.-. . .
31
. -. .+. +
32
.
-. -. .-. . . + .-. .
33

..+ - . + -. -.-.. - ..-
. + .+ .+ . .-

26
+ son; male child
27
- soon; quickly
28
. (verb stem) end; finish
29
+. cruel
30
+ (verb stem) snatch away; "take away"
31
home; house
32
medicine
33
. to accept; take
168
. . .. -. + .. . .- .
. - . .-. .
34

-. . .. . . . .- .+ .
.-. . . . .-
.- .. + .- . -+
35

. + .+ + . + - + .-.
+ - + .-. .. + .- ..+

.- .- . + .-
36
.
- . + . . . ++

- . + -+ - ..
37
+.- . -
. .-. . . ..- . + .- +.- .
. . .+ +
38

39
. . .+ . +

.- .- ..
40
. -. . ..
. -. .. .- . . + + . .
. . + .- . .- .
.- . +. -- .-
.. ..
41
.
42
. .- -.. . . . .-
. . . + . ..- . . +
- + +.. -. . ..- . +..
+.- . +.- . . + .. - .
. . ..- +

. . .- - . - ... .
. . . . . + . + .

34
(verbal idiom) go insane; become mad
mad; insane
35
-+ note -+ is the verbal noun form (sadhu)
36
(verb stem) weep; cry
37
. mustard
38
master of the house; head of the family
39
or
40
.- .. "from one house to another (house)"
.. "inside another house"; note that of and of . combine to .
The conjunction (in Sanskrit) is commonly known as (see also note 3, lesson
26a)
41
.. .. slowly
42
(verb stem) "become"; "come"; (lexical treatment depends on the context)
169
.- .
43
.- -. + . .-
44

.. -. . -. . .
45
. .- . +
. .-. -. - . - . -. ..+

--- o ---

-.. .- +
46
.. +..
47
-
48

43
.- . "will have to go"; note that infinite and finite verb stem "has/have to ..."
44
.- to relinquish; let go
45
. . to cremate; bury
46
+ named
47
+. imitation; copy
48
- written
170

Lesson
28a
28a

.
1

2
+ ..
3
+ + ..-+
4
. + . . --.
5

6
-- . . . .+ -. + . . .
..+
7
+
8
. . +
9

+ -.
10
. . .+ . . .-+
11
+ .. .
-+ -.. . ..+ .-. . -.
. +
12
-
13
. + . +. . - -+.- .
.. .-
14
. -+ . . .. +
15
. -+ -.. . . -.+ .+

. .-.+ . .- .+ + - -
.+ .-.
16
-.+ . .+ . +
17

18
+

1
. a name; (lit. meaning: ocean of beauty)
. beautiful (masculine)
. ocean; sea
2
Savattiname of a place
3
+. town; city
4
. to dwell; reside
5
-- child; baby
6
birth
7
.+ youth
8
+ handsome
9
. (verb stem) become; indicates here gradualness; note that as a finite
element of a compound verb has different meaning
10
- early morning
11
.-+ Jetavanname of a place
12
+ preceptor; teacher
13
- divine truth
- truth
14
.- inquisitiveness; curiosity
15
.. . (verb stem) decide
171
. .-. . .-. . . - . .+ .
.
19
+
20
+ - .+ . .-. --. -
21

--
22
.-. . .- . + - . .-. - -.
+-
23
..
24
. --. - .. .+ + .. ..
..+ -. .
25
..+ .-. ... . . -..
+- ..+

. --. +- .. . -+ + .. .. .+ -
.. . . +

.. . . . ..+ . -+ .
26
.+ . .
27
..+

+ +.. . .
28
. + .-
29

+ .. .+ .- . . . . .+ -. . +.- ..
... -. ... ..
30
.. .- . + . .
+ - -
31
. -. +
32
.
33
.- .. . .-
. . .. - . .+ +.. . .

16
message
17
+ selfless; as a suffix + means "less or without"
+ (adjective) low; mean
18
asceticism
19
faith and ways of life of the monk or ascetic
faith; religion
20
. (verb stem) initiate
21
- consent; permission
22
-- without; besides (no gen.)
23
+- consent; permission
24
. (verb stem) take; accept
25
. serious objection
26
Ganjamname of a place
27
alms; begging profession
alms; begging
profession; scholarship
28
occasion; pretext (no gen.)
29
.- Buddhist monk
30
hardship; difficulty; suffering
31
-- courtesan; prostitute; fallen woman
32
a name (lit. meaning: offering)
33
lady; a respectable woman
woman
172
.+ - + . +. +
34
. -. .. . . .. ..
.. . . .. . + .. -+ .+. . .+

. .. - . + . +. .
.. .. +.
35
.. .. .+ - . .
.. +.- .. - . .-. .. +. .. ..
36

. - . + . + + +. . ..
+.- -- .. . .. . . - . . .
... + ..
37
. +.- .. . . -+ .
38

+.- .+ . .. . +.
39
.+ . . ++
.
40
+
41
- ..
42
. + -. .
43
+.- . +
-+ -. + .

+ .. + .. . - + . .
+ . + ++ . +- ..
44
+
..+ .. + .. .
45
. . .. .... .. ++
. .
46
-. . .. . . ..
47
+ . .-
+.- .+ - + .-. . .
48
. .. ..
49
.-..
. .+ ..- . . +
50
+ . + .
. -. . - .
51
... .+ .

34
+ (verb stem) inform (cause to know)
35
.. + (verb stem) bring back; cause to return back (someone)
36
.. . (verb stem) reward; remunerate
37
+ . (verb stem) search; look for
38
. main street
39
.+ (verb stem) take rent, to rent
40
++ . various kinds
+++++ various
.. kinds
41
+ food dishes; (rice and curry)
42
- . (verb stem) prepare; make
43
. door
44
. + mind; heart
45
. neighborhood; locality
46
.+ (verbal noun) feeding (lit. meaning: cause to eat)
47
Buddhist monk who takes alms is addressed as bhikkhu or bhikkhuk
48
. (verbal idiom) "kick dust in the air"; (lit. meaning: cause dust to
fly)
49
.. . (verb stem) make noise; shout; scream
50
+ . (verbal idiom) pay heed to; listen; pay attention
51
neighborhood
173
.. - .+
52
. + . + + . ... .-.. .
.
53
++ -. . . +
54

. + . . -. ... .-. .
55
-.. . .. . .
.. .... . .. .-. + . . -+ .. .-. . .
..
56
.-. . + +

. +. - -
57
. ... .. -+ .. - + .
. . - .+ .
58
. ... . .. -
.. . . . - .+ . . + . + + .
... ..
59
+ . .+ . + ..
60
- ..-
61
.. +
. .+

.. -- .
62
. .. +. ..
..
63
. . . -. .- +
64
.. . .- . .
-.-
65
. +
66
. -. -. .
67
..-
68
. + . .
. .-
69
..- . . + .
70
. . . .+
71
.

52
.+ (verb stem) make (someone) understand; cause to understand
53
. meal; food
54
. (verb stem) agree
55
(verb stem) make (someone) sit; (cause to sit)
56
. . (verb stem) ask (someone) to stop to do (something); prohibit; forbid
57
. +.- - according to (Anjali's) instruction
58
. noise; commotion
59
... . room upstairs
60
. comfort
61
- . (verb stem) take rest
62
- - seventh floor
- floor; base; bottom
63
couch
64
+ seat
65
.- (verb stem) yawn
66
+ sometimes
67
. edge of a sari
68
. (verb stem) "put it in right place"; adjust (lexical treatment depends on
context)
69
.- button
70
+. indifferent; unimpaired
71
. to remain
174
. +
72
.. .
73
.. . . .
74

- + + + . + . -

- + + + . + .
75
- ..+ .
76

. ..
77
+ . .. ..+ . + ++
+ . .+ . . . - . . ..

. -.+ ... ..-+ .
78
-+ .- . +
. . .
79
.. ... - + +. .-
.+ .
80
..
81
. -

. . . -
82

83
.. + - -. -..
84
. .. +
-+ .. . +
85
-. .- .. -. - +
86
. .. +

72
+ indifferent; disinterested
73
. patience
74
. (verb stem) "burst out saying"; speak up
75
. beautiful (feminine)
76
.+ youth
77
old age
78
..-+ (verb stem) become conscious; realize
79
sin
80
.+ (verbal idiom) remember (lit. meaning: fall into mind)
81
. temptation; greed; avarice
175
.+ .+ + - . + . . - . - -.
. .- .
87
- . .
88
- + . .. .-
89
.
90

.. + - . . +

. + -. + - -. -.. . .. + . .
.- . .-. +.+ - + + .-. . . ...
.. +
91
- - . +

82
..- forty
83
mile (loan word)
84
- disciple
85
.. (verb stem) burst out laughing
86
+ a name (lit. meaning: enjoyment)
87
- ideal
88
- . (verb stem) "clash or conflict going on"; the verb stem . indicates here a
continuous action
- conflict; clash
89
- battle; fight; war
90
victory; triumph
91
... . (verb stem) stare; look at
176

Lesson
28b
28b

.

+ .. + ..- + . + . . --.
-- . .+ -. + .
. . + . + . +

+ -. . ..+ . . .-+ + ..
.-. -+ -. .. + .-. . .- -.
. . +. + .- + - .+ . -
-+.- .- -. .- - + . . ..+ . -+ -. .
-
1
.-.+ .+

. .-.+ .- . + + - -
.-. + .-. -+ . .+ . +
. + + + + .- + . .-. .
.-. + .- . + . . + -
. + . .-. .-. --. - -- .
.- . + - . -. . - . . -
-. - .. + + .. . .. + -. .
..+ .-. ... . . -.. +- .. +

. --. +- . .-+ + .. .
.+ - . . . .+

.. . . . ..+ . - + . .+ .
-+ ..+

+ +.. .- . . . + .-
+ .. .+ .- . . ..-. +

1
- with (sadhu)
177
-. .- . . .. -. .. ..
.- .+

. + -- .- -. +
. .- . . .- .
- .- .+ +.. .. . + - + .
+. + . -. . . . . .
. . + -+ .+. . .-.+
.. - . + . +. . ..
. +. .. . .+ - . .
. +.- . - . .-. .. + . . .
- . + . + + +. .
. +.- .- -- . . .
.- . . . .. + . . +.- . . .
- + . .- .+ . .. .
. + . . ++ . + -
2
. .
+ -. . .- . + - + -. +

.. + . . - + .
+ + ++ . +- ..
+ ..+ + ...
3
. . .. ...
++ .
4
- . - . . ..
+ . . .- .+ - + .-. . ..
.. .-.. .+ . .- .-. .
- . +

. + . . -. - .
... .+ . - + . .
- .. + + . .. . -.. . ++
-. . .+

. + . . -. .. . -. -. . . ..
. . .. . .. .- . + .. -+ .
.- . . .. .-. . - . +

2
- prepared
3
. neighborhood
4
sweetmeats
178
. +. - -+
5
. .. . .. -+ . - +
. . - .+ . . ... .
..-. - .. . . - + .
. - .. + + . ... .. + ..+ .
+ .. - ..- ..+ . . +

. . -- . .. .
.. . . . -. .- + . . .- .
-.- + . -. -. . ..- +
. . -. . .- ..- . + .
..+ . . + . . . .
- + + + . - ..+.
. .. + . . ..+. +
++ + . .+ . . . - . . +
.

. -+ . .. ..-+ - + .- .+
. . . .
.. - + +. .- .+ .. . -

. . . - .. + - -. -.. . . +
-+ .+ -. .- . -. - +
. + .-. + . + + - . + ..- .
- . --. . .- . - . .-. - +
. .- . . .

+ - . . +

. + -. + - -. -. . . . + .
. .- .-. . + - + + .- .
. . . . .+ - - .+

--- o ---

-.. . . . + . . -

5
-+ here the word means "according to"
179

Lesson
29
29

.+ + .. . ..- + - . +
..
1
..
2
. . + .
3

+ ... . -
4
-

. . . + ++ . +
5
. + . -
6
+
. .-+ + - + -. . . + .. -+ .-
7

- . .- + + - + -. . .- +
.+ + .
8
-.. + . . . . .- +

+ .
9
. . . + - + ++ .
+ .+ ..- - .
10
. + -
. + - . + . + ..- - .
11
.+ - +
.+ . -. + - . + .+ ..-.

1
immoral; dishonest
2
.. unchaste woman (lit. meaning: dishonest character (feminine)
.. character (feminine)
3
. lover
4
- most of the time
- majority; most
5
+ food dishes; rice and curry
6
. + . (verb stem) cook
7
..-+ . (verb stem) serve (food)
8
+ Brahmaputra Rivera river in the eastern part of India, flowing through
Assam and Bangladesh
9
. "early"; soon; hurriedly
10
pleased; satisfied; happy
11
. "gluttonous"; greedy
180
. . ..- . - -
12
+.
13

. .-. ...
14
+ - .-
15
- .-. .
. . ..
16
+ - .
17
+
- . . .
18
+ + - ..- ..
+

.. .
19
.+ .+ . ..-
20
.+ . + .
.
21
. . .- . + .+ . ++ .
+ . + . - . + ..- +
.. + . . + . + .. + .- .. + .
+ .+

. .. .. -. . .. .
. .+ ..- . - ..
22
+ . . .. .-
..+ .. .- . . . - . .+
23
. .+
24
.+
.- . .. . -. . .. .
25
.
. + ..-
26
. . . .
27

-. . -+ -.
28
+.- ..+ - +
. .
29
.
30
.+ .-. . ++ . +
.+ .
31
.-. - .

12
- (verb stem) be scared; get scared
13
+ harassment; humiliation; insult
14
. health
15
.- worried
16
. goddess
17
- . (verb stem) promise; take a vow
18
. . (verb stem) "keep up"; save
19
. doubt
20
. . (verb stem) think
21
. something has happened
22
-.. meanwhile
23
.+..+ behind
24
. (verb stem) hide; remain hiding
25
..+ in front of
26
+ . (verb stem) pray
27
. . (verb stem) make (someone) (blind); "to blind someone"
blind
28
- intention
29
. . voice
30
. (verb stem) change; alter
181

.- . . -. .
32
.+ -+ -.
+ -+. + . + .- . ++ . .. -+ ..-
- . + .- . + + . .+
. -
33

34
. - -+ .+ .+ -
.. + +
35
.. . - .
36
.-.
+ ..
37
..
38
. + . .-
39
.+
.. - .-. - . .

. + .+ .+ . + + .
. . + . . .
40
- .
- .. + .-
41
- .
42

31
.+ . (verb stem) feed
32
pleased; satisifed
33
- eye-sight; vision
vision; seeing
- power; strength
34
weak; feeble
35
+ + (verb stem) show gratitude; offer thanks; show gratefulness
36
- . (verb stem) express; reveal
37
.. plenty
38
. quantity
39
.- proper; right; fit; "should, ought to"
40
... eye
41
.-.- so that
42
. (verb stem) get back; receive
182

. - .

+ . .+ .+ +.
+..- .+ .+ . + . + -. ..
+ . +. + . . . .+ .
.+

. + -.
43
+ .+ +
44
+
. . . + . .- . . .
.- .
45
-. .
46
. ..+
47
.. . .
48
.
... - -. . . + -. -
. +
49

43
-. therefore
44
+ worry
45
.- . as soon as entering
the suffix used after a verb means: "as soon as"; "immediately after"
46
. by means of a club
club
. by means of; by
47
. . (verb stem) beat; strike
48
. "as a result of"
49
- . (verb stem) drive (someone) away; kick (someone) out
An Introduction to Bengali, Part II Notes
183

Part IV. Bi ographi cal and Cul t ural Not es Part IV. Bi ographi cal and Cul t ural Not es

This section includes brief cultural notes and biographical notes on well-known
people mentioned in the text.

Notes 1 and 2 (Ref: lessons 9 and 17)

Kali Puja and Durga puja [kAlI pUjA; dugA pUjA]:

This is a religious festival connected with Saktism. It is common in its highly
developed form among the upper classes of Bengal. The main feature of Saktism is the
worship of the active female or energy principle (Prakriti or Sakti) as manifested in one
or another of the forms of Siva's consortDurga, Kali, Devi, Parvati, Candi, etc.

Durga Puja and Kali Puja both take place in Bengal. Kali Puja is held on the
darkest night of the 7th Bengali month Karttik (between October 15 and November 15,
on the night of no moon). The day commemorates Kali's dance, which was destroying
the earth until Siva threw himself at her feet. When she found herself treading on her
husband, she stopped in shame. This story is often explained as the awakening of the
human soul to realizations of its origin from God, forgotten in the tumult of human
emotions.

Durga Puja occurs in the 6th Bengali month, Asvin, on the first day of the second
quarter of the moon (eighth day of the new moon between September 15 and October
15). It lasts for three days, the second day being the most important. Animal sacrifices
are often offered to Durga. To most Hindus in Bengal Durga Puja is perhaps the most
important festival of the year.

Note 3 (Ref: lesson 13)

Baul [bAl]:

"The word itself means 'mad.' When Bengalis use the term, they usually mean to
indicate a type of mendicant religious singer who, dressed in tattered clothes deliberately
made up of the garments of both Hindus and Muslims, wanders from village to village
celebrating God in ecstatic songs, existing on whatever his listeners choose to give him.
Although today he is possibly a householder . . . , traditionally he has 'only the wind as
his home.' His hair is long and his beard is long and matted, and as he sings he
accompanies himself on a one-stringed instrument ( k-tArA ) made from a gourd. In
his songs one can find traces of Sufi-Islam of Sahajiya or Tantric Buddhism, of
184
Caitanyite Vaisnavism and perhaps other religious strands not so easy to isolate . . . The
Baul recognizes no divisions among men either social or religious; he holds that all men
are travellers on the same road towards God." (Edward C. Dimock, Jr. in the Journal of
Asian Studies, 1959, pp. 36-37; Rabindranath Tagore"The Greatest of the Bauls of
Bengal").


Birla Temple [ib%RlA-ma id%ra ]:

Laksminarayan Temple, commonly known as the Birla Temple, was the gift of a
Hindu millionaire named Birla. This temple, in the heart of New Delhi, is one new
building that is boldly Hindu in design. It was dedicated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1939,
and is said to represent all the faiths of India.


Delhi Fort [id%I-ePoTa ]:

Delhi Fort is commonly known as the Red Fort [lAl ekA] because of its
magnificent red-sandstone walls. This fort was built by Shah Jahan, the same
seventeenth-century Mogul emperor who was responsible for the delicate Taj Mahal.
The Red Fort and the palace within it remain among the great sights in Old Delhi.


Rabindranath Tagore [rabIa nAa aAkura ] (1861-1941):

The name of the greatest writer of modern India needs little introduction. As
winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature (1913), Rabindranath's fame is world-wide.
In the course of a long and incredibly productive life, Rabindranath turned out
over a thousand poems, twenty-four plays, eight novels, at least eight volumes of short
stories, over two thousand songs, and an immense amount of essay and other types of
prose writing. Clearly it is very difficult to single a few outstanding works out of such a
body of material, and I refer the reader to other sources for critical accounts.
1
In addition
to these writings, Rabindranath was an educator of originality and imagination, as his
school and university of Santiniketan witness, a musician of sufficient stature to have a
style of Indian music named after him, and a painter acclaimed by some as the best
modern Indian has produced.

1
See for example the relevant sections in J. C. Ghosh, Bengali Literature (Oxford, 1948);
Buddhadeva Bose, An Acre of Green Grass (Orient Longmans, Calcutta, 1948); Sukumar Sen, A History
of Bengali Literature (Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, 1960).
185


Pracin Sahitya [AcIna sAih%ta ]:

Written by Rabindranath Tagore, Pracin Sahitya made a sensation as a
masterpiece of literary criticism when it was first published in 1907. It includes
discussion of different aspects of ancient Indian literature. Rabindranath's own remark
that he was trying to present to his readers the India of old days, as he understood it
through the ancient literature, may help you to better appreciate the book.


Candidasa [caIdAsa ] (14th century A.D.):

Born in Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, Candidasa was one of the great
poets of the Bengali Vaisnava Bhakti (devotional religion) movement, and his work was
of great inspiration to the religious reformer Caitanya (see note 13). Most of his poems
deal with the erotic-religious theme of the love of Krishna and his consort Radha. There
exist several thousand poems signed "Candidasa," and doctrinal peculiarities of some of
them have given rise to the belief that there were several poets of that name.


Kalidasa [kAil%dAsa ] (5th century A.D.)

Although little is known of the life of this greatest of Indian poets and dramatists,
evidence would date him during the Gupta empire, perhaps during the reign of the king
Candragupta II; his expressed love for the city of Ujjayini would seem to strengthen this
view. Kalidasa was the author of three great Sanskrit dramas, including Sakuntala, and
several long poems.


Jamini Roy [YAim%nI rAya ] (1887-1972):

Born in the district of Bankura of West Bengal, Roy, an outstanding Bengali artist
of modern India, was brought up in the rich and long tradition of Bankura folk art. In his
painting since 1925, the impact of folk art is clear though he started as a portrait painter
after his graduation from the Government School of Art in Calcutta. Since 1937, Roy has
portrayed many pictures of Christian themes in addition to uniquely Indian ones.

186


Abanindranath Tagore [banIa nAa Akura ] (1871-1951):

Nephew of Rabindranath Tagore, Abanindranath was one of the early leading
figures in the cultural renaissance of Bengal. He was instrumental in the revival of Indian
art, and a number of his students have also upheld the genuine Indian tradition of
painting. Abanindranath was versatile in western and Mogul schools of painting and is
also a well-known Bengali writer.


Akbar [kabara ] (1556-1605):

Son of the Mogul Emperor Humayun, Akbar has been regarded by historian H. G.
Wells as one of the few royal figures that approach the stature of great men. A superb
soldier and a capable administrator, Akbar, though illiterate himself, was a serious patron
of the arts. Scholars, musicians, artists, and philosophers were brought together at his
court. Tolerant toward all religions, Akbar in his later life created a syncretistic religion,
"Din-i-Ilahi'' which combined elements from Zoroastrianism, Islam, Christianity, and
Hinduism. The new religion, however, did not survive after Akbar's death. Along with
Moslems, Hindus and Rajputs enjoyed positions of high respectability in his court.


Sri Caitanya [ZI Ec%tana ] (1487-1534):

Caitanya was one of the greatest religious leaders of Bengal, and an important
revivalist of the Bhakti cult and philosophy which swept over India in the 15th and 16th
centuries. Born at a critical time when Bengal was torn by political conflict and religious
confusion, Caitanya (whose real name was Viswambhar Misra), was brought up in a
learned Brahmin family of Nabadwip, at that time the greatest center of learning in
Bengal. He became a brilliant exponent of Nyaya philosophy at an early age. His pattern
of life was completely changed after his initiation into the Vaisnava cult at the age of 16.
From then on, he devoted himself completely to proclaiming his newly discovered
religion of love, breaking through the barriers of caste and occupation. His love of God
in the form of Krishna found expression in hymns of praise and the reconciliation of
people who were estranged. His work was instrumental in bringing about a strong
revival of Vaisnava religion and philosophy which later spread to the rest of India, giving
rise to some of the richest Vaisnava literature in India.

187

Jayadeva [jayaed% ba ] (12th century A.D.):

Born in Kenduli in the Birbhum district of Bengal, Jayadeva, son of the poet
Bhojadeva, became court poet to the emperor Laksmanasena, the last great king of the
Sena line. His greatest work is the famous Gitagovinda (songs of Krishna) which tells
the story of the love of Govinda (Krishna as the god of the herdsmen) and his consort
Radha. This masterpiece of Sanskrit love poetry, the last great poem of the classical
period, has in recent times been taken as a religious allegory: Krishna is considered to
represent the supreme Being, and Radha's love for him is felt to epitomize the love and
yearning of the human soul for the divine.


Bhavabhuti [BabaBUit% ] (late 7th to early 8th century A.D.):

Known as a great Sanskrit dramatist, Bhavabhuti was born in a Brahmin family
and brought up with its tradition of learning. Mahavira carita and Uttara Rama carita
(based on the Hindu epic Ramayana) and Malati-Madhava (based on the theme of love
triumphing over obstacles) are considered his best works.


Vidyapati [ibadApa it% ] (15th century A.D.):

One of the most outstanding Maithili Vaisnava poets of India, Vidyapati wrote in
a dialect that combined Maithili and Bengali. Since his dialect was close to Bengali,
however, he is often regarded as a Bengali poet. He was much influenced by Jayadeva's
Gitagovinda, and it is this tradition rather than that represented by Ramananda, Kabir,
and Tulsi Das that he enriched and furthered. The main theme of his poems is the love
between Krishna and his consort Radha.

Note 17 (Ref: lessons 27 (a, b) and 28 (a, b))

Buddha [bua ] (563-483 B.C.):

Siddhartha Gautama, who is better known as Buddha (the enlightened) was the
son of a chief of the Sakyas, a small tribe of the Himalayan foothills. According to the
legend, Buddha was born in a grove of Sal trees called Lumbini, near the capital of the
Sakyas, Kapilavastu. After his enlightenment at Gaya (in Bihar) Buddha preached and
travelled in the kingdoms of Kosala and Magadha and in the tribal lands to the north of
the Ganges for about forty years. Buddha's teaching was essentially practical and
188
concerned suffering and its eradication. He saw desire as the cause of suffering and the
rejection of desire as the only way of overcoming suffering. His doctrine has no place for
God. The highest end of life was the state of nirvana, in which the soul lost its individual
existence, and which had to be attained by human endeavor. Buddhism, with its
mendicant monks, was perhaps the first missionary religion of the world. Buddhism has
no caste distinctions, but a distinction was drawn between the monks and the laity.

An Introduction to Bengali, Part II Appendices
189

APPENDIX A APPENDIX A

CARDINAL & ORDINAL NUMBERS

NUMBERS ()

Cardinals:

. /@k/
/dui, du/
-+ /tin/
.. - /car/
. . /pa~c/
/ch]e, ch]/
- + /sat/
. /aT/
+ + /n]e, n]/
- . /d]s/
. .. /@garo/
. . /baro/
.-. . /tero/
.. .. .- /coddo, couddo/
.+. .. /ponero/
. . /solo/
.-. .+ /s]tero/
.. . .. /aThero, aTharo/
+- . /unis/
- /kuRi, bis/
- . /ekus/
- /bais/
.-- /teis/
.+- - /cobbis/
.- . /po~cis/
+- /chabbis/
190
-- + /satas/
- - . /aThas, aTas/
+- /untris, unotiris/
-.- /tiris/
- . /ektris/
- /bottris/
.-- /tettris/
..- - /couttris/
- . /p]~ettris/
- /chottris/
- + /sa~ittris/
- . /aTtris/
+..- /unocollis, uncollis/
..- - /collis/
..- -. /@kcollis/
.- - /biallis/
.--.- - /tetallis/
..- -- /cuallis/
-.- -. /p]~etallis/
...- - /checollis/
-..- -+ /satcollis/
..- -. /aTcollis/
+-- - /unop]\cas, unp]\cas/
-- . /p]\cas/
.. /@kanno/
. /bahanno/
.- - . /tepanno, tipanno/
. .- /cuanno/
- .. /p]\canno/
. /chapanno/
- .+ /satanno/
.. /aTanno/
+ . /unosaT, unsaT/
/saT/
) . /@ksoTTi/
) /basoTTi/
191
.-) /tesoTTi/
..) - /cousotti/
) . /p]~esoTTi/
.) /chesoTTi/
-) + /satsoTTi/
) . /aTsoTTi/
+ . /unosottor, unsottor/
. + /sottor/
. +. /@kattor/
. + /bahattor/
.-. - . + /teattor, tiattor/
.. +- /cuattor/
.. +. /p]~cattor/
. + /chiattor/
-. ++ /satattor/
. +. /aTattor/
+- +- + /unoasi, unasi/
- . /asi/
- .. /@kasi/
.- . /birasi/
-.- . /tirasi/
..- .- /curasi/
-- .. /p]\casi/
- . /chiasi/
-- .+ /satasi/
- - .. /aTasi, asToasi/
+++ . /unonobboi, unnobboi/
++ /nobboi/
++ . /@kanobboi/
.++ /biranobboi/
-.++ /tiranobboi/
..++ - /curanobboi/
-++ . /p]\canobboi/
++ /chianobboi/
-++ + /satanobboi/
++ . /aTanobboi/
192
.+.++ /neranobboi/
+.++ /niranobboi/
.- . /@k so/
. . /hajar/
. /lakh, lokkho/
. . . /kroR, koTi/

Ordinals (abbr.):

. /prothom/
- /ditio/
-- /tritio/
.- - /coturttho/
- . /p]\com/
/s]sTho/
+ /s]ptom/
. /]sTom/
+ /n]bom/
- . /d]som/
- ..- /@kad]s/
- .- /dad]s/
.- .- /tr]eod]s/
.-- .-- /coturdd]s/
-- ..- /p]\cod]s/
.- .- /soR]s/
- .+- /s]ptod]s/
- ..- /]sTad]s/
+- .- /unobiXso/
- - /biXso/
193

Appendix B Appendix B

I. Names of the Months of the Bengali Calendar

..-.- April-May
. .. May-June
June-July
-- July-August
. August-September
-+ September-October
- October-November
November-December
.. December-January
January-February
++ February-March
..-.. March-April

Note: The Bengali year begins with the month of .- i.e., from the 15th of April.

II. Names of the Seasons in Bengali

- summer season, months of .- .
- rainy season, months of -
-. - autumn season, months of -.+
. - dewy season, months of -
-- - winter season, months of .
- spring season, months of + ..

III. Names of the Days of the Bengali Calendar

.. Monday
. Tuesday
. Wednesday
.--. Thursday
194
-..-. Friday
-+. Saturday
..... Sunday

IV. Time

--- century
; .. - year
month
fortnight
dark moon fortnight
- full moon fortnight
week
+ day
hour
+ minute
.. second

V. Names of the Directions

east (direction)
. west (direction)
. north (direction)
south (direction)
+ right (direction)
left (direction)
195

Appendix C Appendix C

Bengali abbreviations of English terms:

+.. honorary
- court
M.A. (Master of Arts)
. .. collector
. + co. (company)
.+.. .+. G.M. (general manager)
. doctor
. D.Sc. (Doctor of Science)
D. Lit. (Doctor of Literature)
+ +-. ) number
. Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
. . P.M. (Post Master)
P.S. (postscript)
. . P.O. (post office)
B.A. (Bachelor of Arts)
B.L. (Bachelor of Law)
B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science)
V.P. (Value Payable Post [C.O.D.])
. Mr.
.. .... reverend
. Ltd. (Limited)
An Introduction to Bengali, Part II Glossary
196

Gl ossary Gl ossary

This Glossary includes the words in the twenty-nine lessons of this reader. Certain
difficult compound words and idiomatic expressions are explained in the vocabulary and
notes given at the end of each lesson, and these are not included here. Verbs are given in
the verbal noun form (the traditional dictionary entry form).

Many Bengali words have no generic equivalent in English. In these cases, a meaning of
the word (usually the most frequent) and/or contextual meaning(s) are given in the
Glossary.

Omitted from this Glossary are: numerals; names of the days of the week, months, and
seasons; the most common pronouns and adverbs (if the corresponding adjective has been
given). English loan words are included if their pronunciation has been sufficiently
altered by incorporation into the Bengali language. Loan words which are easy to
recognize have been included in the vocabulary section of each lesson, and they are
omitted from the Glossary for the sake of convenience.

A chart reproducing the symbols of the Bengali script in dictionary order will assist the
student in using this Glossary.

Bengali Script in Dictionary Order

Vowels:

Consonants:

. +

- +
197

. -

_____

do not occur initially. They may occur following any vowel, inherent or
no, but the vowel modified in such a way always follows the unmodified vowels and
precedes the consonants in traditional dictionary order. This is another way of stating
that these symbols, which are not fully fledged consonants nor are they vowels, come in
the alphabetical order in between the vowels and the consonants. For example, comes
before , which comes before

are nasals corresponding respectively to the velar, palatal, and retroflex
consonant series. They do not occur initially, but usually either in conjunct form with the
consonant of the corresponding series, or in final position. does not occur in final
position in modern Bengali.
198
- n. part; segment
adj. imperishable; (a name)
. n. syllable; letter
- adv. necessarily; perforce
+ n. act of marking; drawing
adj. unconquerable; (a name)
+ adj. unknown; strange
- n. region; end of a sari
n. offering; (a name)
- adj. so much; so many
- adv./prefix very
- n. guest; visitor
- - adj. excessive; adv. excessively
- adv. exceedingly; extremely
- adj. matchless; without second
- adj. strange; odd
- adj. almost all; the majority
+- n. permission
+ . n. act of following; imitation
.+ adj. a lot; much; many
.++ adj. a long time
.+. pron. many people
- adv. at least
adj. blind
. n. darkness; adj. dark
- n. blind faith
+ n. food; rice & curry
+ adj. other; another
+. adv. elsewhere
++ adj. various and sundry
+ adj. improper; wrong; unjust
- n. accidental death or injury
n. dislike
. adj. other; another; pron.
somebody else
adj. unprecedented; wonderful
. n. expectation; postp.(gen) than
+ + n. Abanindranath Tagore
.-. adv. finally; ultimately
. n. condition; situation
adj. surprised; speechless
n. want; need; lack
- adj. bewildered; overcome
. n. complaint; accusation
n. scheme; intention; motive
n. habit; practice
- n. disapproval
.- adv. without approval
. adj. immortal; n. a god
+ n. sun; glow of the morning sun
+ n. Arjuna; one of the five
Pandava brothers
n. wealth; meaning
conj. "that is to say"; i.e.
- n. the peepul tree
adj. dishonest
adj. uncivilized; rude
adj. impossible
adj. helpless
adj.(fem.) helpless
adj. corrupt; wicked
n. illness; disease
n. illness and such
. adv. unhappily
. adj. ill
.- n. illness; disease
v. to draw; paint
. adj. drawn; painted
. n. free end of a sari
. n. Emperor Akbar
- n. sky
adj. the coming; next
. adv./postp.(gen) early; before
. . adj. previous; earlier
n. Agra; city in N. India
adj./int. good; okay
verb stem: "to be"
n. today
n. order; request; permission
adj. eight
199
. n. care; affection; fondness
. . adv. with care & affection
- n. ideal; model
n. aborigine
.- n. order; directive
+ (a name)
adj. half
+ adj. modern
+ n. joy; bliss
+ - adj. delighted; pleased
+. adv. joyfully
+ v. to bring; go and bring
+ n. anna; a coin no longer used
n. objection
+. pron.(hon. sing.) to you
+. . pron.(hon. pl.) to/of you
+. pron.(hon. sing.) your
+. pron.(pl.) you
+ pron.(sing.) you
. adv. again
. + n. appeal; petition
n. mango
. pron. we
. pron. to me
.. pron. to/of us
... pron. to us
pron. to me (obj.)
. pron. my; mine
pron. I
. . n. America
. n. delight; merriment; gladness
pres. imper.--- form of
. conj./adj. and; more
. n. beginning; start
. n. ease; comfort
n. abode; residence; dwelling
n. making acquaintance;
conversation; talk
. n. light; lamp
..+ n. discussion; conversation
. adj. astonishing, surprised; n. a
wonder, marvel
- n. ashram; a retreat
- n. shelter; protection
n. Asharh; third month of
Bengali year
adj. actual; real; genuine
v. to come
. adv. slowly; quietly
interj. ah!
interj. ah!
. n. food; eating
.+ n. invitation; summons
.. n. Europe
.. ajd. European
. n. mouse
. pron.(hon) to him/her
. adj. English
. adj. English; n. the language
.. adj. English
.. adj. English; n. the language
n. wish; inclination
. n. wish; desire
- n. history
- .. adv. in the meantime;
meanwhile
- etc.; and so forth
+ pron.(hon) he/she
(a name)
. adj. electric
pron. it (sadhu)
.. pron. to/of them (sadhu)
. pron. his/her (sadhu)
. pron. they (sadhu)
n. lawyer; pleader
.- adj. just; proper; suitable
.. n. pronunciation
adj. bright; lustrous; radiant
n. camel
. PAP of
200
.+ v. to cause to fly
n. Orissa; state in E. India
. n. answer; reply; n./adj. north
n. heat; warmth; zeal
n. celebration; party
+ adj. disinterested; unperturbed
+ pron.(hon) he/she
. n. help; assistance; benefit
.- n. advice
. n. enjoyment
. postp.(gen) on top of; above
n. purpose; opportunity;
occasion
. postp.(no gen) on account of
.- adj. present (of place)
. n. gift; present
n. way; means; method; earnings
+ n. earnings
+ n. prayer; worship
adj./pron. both
n. Uma; the goddess; (a name)
. adj. opposite; reverse; upside
down
. pron. to him/her
.. pron. to/of them
. pron. his/hers
adj. this; pron. he/she/it
adj. this
. adv. now; this time
. PAP of
adj. alone; by oneself
+ adj./pron. one person
adj./pron. a; one
adj./pron. a; one
adj. a little
-. n. a one-stringed musical
instrument
adj./pron. a group
. adv. in one direction
+ adv. a day
. adv. once
.+ adv. with concentration; "in one
mind"
adj. the one and only
n./adj. a handful
. n./adj. a handful
. adv. together
adj. alone
adj. contemporary; n. these times
adj. the same; the very same
n. one-horse cart
+ adv. now
.+ adv. here
+ adv. right now; immediately
.+ v. to advance; progress
. PAP of .+
pron. these; them
. pron. these; them
pron. this; it
. pron. to it
- adj. so much; so many
- + adv. so many days; so long
.. pron. to/of them
conj. and
. adv. now; this time
+ adj. such a type; so
. pron. his/hers
. . adv. after this
. pron. they
. PAP of
adj. that; pron. he/she/it
adj. that; pron. he/she/it; conj. and
adj. that; pron. he/she/it; conj. and
. pron. to him/her
pron. that; it
v. to rise; get up; (aux. verb)
v. to fly
.+ v. to cause to fly; dismiss
.. pron. to/of them
+. pron.(hon.) to him/her
201
. postp./adv. above; on top of
... adj. above
. pron. his/hers
. pron. they
n. medicine
. interj. hey!
adv. where; interj. "how's that?"
+ adv. when
+ adv. sometime; anytime; ever
.+ adv. sometime; anytime; ever
n. Cuttack; a city in Orissa
adj. strong; strict; harsh
n. beam (architectural); cowrie
shell
- adj. how much; how many
- adj. several; a few
- . adj./pron. several; some
-.+ . adj. of several days; how long
n. word; story
+ n. daughter
n. forehead; one's fortune
n. poet
- n. poem; poetry
. adv. when; on what day
adj. little; less
. adj. several
.+ adj./pron. several people
.+ adj./pron. several days
..+ . adj./pron. of several days
. n. hand (sadhu)
. v. to do; make; act
..+ v. to cause to do; cause to act
. PAP of . (sadhu)
.. PAP of .
- n. paying heed to; listening
- n. duty; what must be done
- n. head of the house; doer; maker
(see -)
- n. Calcutta; capital of West
Bengal
n. pen
n. banana; art; digit of the moon
- n. banana leaf
. n. college
n. trouble; difficulty
. pron. to someone
. n. scissors
v. to cry; weep
n. shoulder
v. to tremble; quake
PAP of (sadhu)
n. bell-metal
n. crow
n. uncle; father's younger brother
n. aunt; father's br.'s wife
. pron. to whom
n. paper
n. proximity
. postp.(gen) near; to; from
n. work; job
v. to cut; pass etc. (see dictionary)
.+ v. to cause to be cut; pass
PAP of (sadhu)
. PAP of .+
n. wood
- n. katla--type of fish
n. mud
+ n. ear
n. cloth; clothes; material
n. poetry
n. a volume of poetry
. n. compartment; chamber
. pron. whose
. conj./n. because; cause; reason
.. pron. anyone's; someone's
... (see ..)
- n. Kartik; son of Siva; a month
n. time; tomorrow/yesterday
n. Kalidasa--Sanskrit poet
n. goddess Kali
202
. n. Kali temple (in Calcutta)
. adj. black
- n. kash--species of grass
. pron. whose (sadhu)
adj. what; interrog. indicator
adj. some; any; pron. some;
something
adj. some; any (emphatic)
adv. some time
adv. some time
+ adv. several days; some time
+ adv. whether or not
conj. but; however
n. (a name)
. n. thatched nut
. . n. thatched nut house
. n. dog
. n. superstition
n. bank of river; shore
n. Krittivasa--author of Ben.
Ramayana
n. peasant; cultivator
n. lord Krishna; adj. black; dark
colored
. pron. who
. pron. someone; anybody
.. PAP of
.. PAP of
.. PAP of
.+ adv. why
.+ v. to buy; purchase
. n. center; principal place
. adv. only
.+ adv. how; in what manner
. n. koi; type of fish
. adv. anywhere; somewhere
. adv. where
.+ adj. some; any
. n. lap (sitting); hip (standing)
.. n. couch
. n. small box with lid
.. n. small box with lid
.- n. curiosity; interest
adj. tired; exhausted
n. time; a moment
- n. harm; loss
n. destruction; waste
adj. lean; insufficient; weak
n. puffed rice
. n. news
v. to eat
n. eating and such
.+ v. to feed
. n. cage
n. food; edibles
+ suf. a piece; part
. n. food
n. envelope
. adj. bad
adv. very
. PAP of .
- adj. happy; delighted
adj. happy; delighted
+ adj. Christian
.. PAP of
. v. to play; n. game
. n. puffed rice
. v. to open; adj. open
(see )
n. the Ganges; a goddess
v. to build; construct
- adj. past; last; finished
- adv. yesterday
n. prose
n. smell; scent
. adj. deep; dense; profound
. adj. warm; hot
. adj. poor; impoverished
+ n. cow
(see )
203
n. throat; voice; neck
n. story
n. body
n. cow
v. to sing
n. village
n. tree; plant
+ n. song
v. singer
n. cheek; abusive language
PAP of (sadhu)
. PAP of
- n. song
- n. song
- n. lyric poetry
n. faeces; dung
n. oyster
n. quality; attribute; "times"
+ n. mentor; guru
n. house; home (sadhu)
.. PAP of
.+ n. ochre color
. past tense verb stem of
. n. Gobinda--name of Krishna
. n. noise; uproar; confusion
. n. rose flower
.- n. Gautama; (a name)
.- n. Gautami; (a name--fem.)
.. adj. fair-complexioned; n. name of
Caitanya
.. n. glory; pride; honor
.. n. goddess Durga; an unmarried
girl of eight
. n. Gauhati--town in Assam
n. book (sadhu)
n. act of receiving; holding
n. village
n. summer
n. pot; pitcher
v. to happen; occur; n. grandeur
n. clock
n. hour; bell
+ adj. thick; dark
. n. room; house
n. perspiration; sweat
n. grass
.. PAP of ..
n. sleep
.. PAP of ..
. sound of a dog barking
.. v. to enclose; surround
.. v. to revolve; turn; travel
. n. eye
. adj. furious; fierce; n. name of a
demon
. n. Candidasa; Vaisnava poet
.+ n. Candranatha (a name)
.. interj. marvellous; excellent
.. n. character; conduct; behavior
. v. to move; go; come
. PAP of . (sadhu)
.. - adj. forty
. n. tea
. v. to want; desire
. v. to gaze; stare
. n. moon
.. n. job; employment
.. (see ..)
. v. to lick
.+ n. bath; bathing
... adv. everywhere; all around
. n. husked rice; manners; habits
. n. farmer; cultivator
. n. farmer's wife
. PAP of .
. n. shrimp
. n. letter; note
. n. mind; heart
. n. picture
.+ n. picture drawing
204
.. n. shout; scream
. n. worry; consideration; thought
.- adj. worried; concerned
. n. hawk; kite
.+ n. China
..+ adj. Chinese
. adj. silent
. n. hair
....+ v. to shout; scream
.... PAP of ....+
... PAP of .
..+ v. to know; recognize
... n. chair
... PAP of .; postp.(gen) than
.. n. attempt; effort
..-+ n. consciousness; Caitanya
.. n. eye
.+ v. to scatter; strew
. PAP of .+
n. verse metre; prosody
n. picture
adj. six
+ adj. six people
n. ashes
n. goat
v. to abandon; leave
PAP of (sadhu)
n. shadow; reflection
interj. "shame"; a reprimand
+.+ v. to snatch; seize
+. PAP of +.+
past tense stem of
n. holiday; vacation; after
work/school
. PAP of .
. v. to tear; rip
.. PAP of
.. n. boy; son
... n. childhood
.. .. n. children
. adj. little; small; young; mean
. v. to run
adj. complex; complicated
tangled
+ suffix: person; people
+ (a name)
n. animal
n. birth
+ postp.(gen) for; for the sake of
.+ postp.(gen) for
.+ v. to deposit
. n. landholder; zemindar
. n. zemindary; estate
. PAP of .+
n. victory; glory; triumph
. n. Jayadeva; a Bengali poet
n. victory; gaining victory
n. water
+ n. stipend; pocket-money
. n. jewelry
- n. Jataka--Buddhist/Jaina texts
- n. caste; nation; community
+ n. window (Port.)
+ v. to know
+.+ v. to cause to know; inform
+ n. Japan
n. any upper garment
n. place; locale
n. query
. n. query
+ n. things
+ n. life
- adj. alive; living
n. Jumma Mosque (in
Delhi)
. (see .)
... adv. strongly; loudly
v. to shine; sparkle; fire up
. n. second month of year
+ n. trouble; disturbance
205
+ n. cluster; clump; bush; thicket
+ n. maid-servant; daughter
+ n. hanging shoulder bag
n. taka; rupee; money
n. taka & cowrie; money
+ v. to pull; drag; draw
. n. table
. n. telegram
.+ n. train
(see . )
. n. title for Brahman; god; cook
. n. grandmother
) n. joke; joking
) n. joking & ridicule
adj. cold
adj. exact; correct
. v. to hit on head; hammar; knock
n. call; summons; mail
v. to call
PAP of (sadhu)
n. branch; lentils
n. degree
n. dinghi; type of boat
n. egg
.. PAP of
. v. to dive; sink
v. to hide; conceal; n. Dhaka
PAP of (sadhu)
.. PAP of
. v. to enter; be admitted into
- particle: expressed doubt or certainty;
then
- adv. then and there
-+ adv. then
-- adv. for so long
-- + adv. for some long
- n. essence; reality; philosophy
- n. spiritual or philosophical
discussion
- conj. still; however
-. conj. but; however
-. suf. comparative
- n. level; floor; base
- pron. that; it
- conj. that is why; thus
-. pron.(hon) to him/her
-.. pron.(hon) to them
-. pron.(hon) his/her
-. pron.(hon) they
-. pron.(hon) to him/her (sadhu)
-. pron.(hon) to them (sadhu)
-.. pron.(hon) to/of them (sadhu)
-. pron.(hon) his/her (sadhu)
-. pron.(hon) they (sadhu)
-.+ v. to look at; gaze
-. PAP of -.+
-. pron. to him/her
- PAP of -.+
-- adv. quickly; early
-.+ v. to chase away; expel
-.. pron. to/of them
-... pron. to them
- n. heat; temperature
-. n. wire; telegraph; pron. his/hers
-. . adv. after that; then
-. pron. they
-. conj. then; in that case
- pron. it (sadhu)
-. pron. to him/her (sadhu)
-. pron. to them (sadhu)
-.. pron. of them (sadhu)
-.. pron. of them (sadhu)
-. pron. of him/her (sadhu)
-. pron. they (sadhu)
-+ adj. three
-+ + adj./pron. three people
-+ pron. he/she
-= adj. sharp; keen; penetrating
-. n. arrow; dart; bank (of river)
- n. place of pilgrimage
206
-.+ n. place of pilgrimage
- pron.(fam. sing.) you
- pron.(ord. sing.) you
-- adj. third
.-+ adv./adj. so; just so; such
.-. adj. thirteen
.-. adj. prepared; ready
.- adds emphasis; adds doubt
.-. pron.(ord. pl.) you
.-. pron.(ord. sing.) to you
.-. . pron. (ord. pl.) to/of you
.- pron. to you (obj.)
.-. pron.(ord. sing.) your
.- v. to raise
. n. place name
v. to live; stay; be
v. to stop; come to a stop
.. PAP of
n. yogurt; curds
n. the south; adj. right (direction)
n. aptitude; skill; possession;
control
n. stick; punishment
n. stick of punishment
expressing a sudden blaze
n. kindness; pity; mercy
.. n. necessity; need
. n. door
-+ n. seeing; view; philosophy
n. group; party; petal
- adj. ten
- + n. the public (10 people)
.+ v. to stand; wait
. PAP of .+
n. right; claim; demand
n. price; value
n. direction
. adv. in the direction of
+ n. day
postp.(obj) by means of
. postp.(obj) by; by means of
. n. Delhi; capital of India
n. initiation rite
adj. two
adj./pron. a couple
n. sadness
n. foolhardiness; daring
n. milk
. n. both sides; both banks
n. goddess Durga
. n. Durga Puja
+ n. accident; mishap
adj. naughty; bad
adj. naughty; mischievous
. n. distance
- n. scenery; view; spectacle
n. act of seeing; perception
. v. to give
. v. to see; look
. PAP of . (sadhu)
.. PAP of ..+
.. PAP of .
. n. god; deity
. n. goddess; honorific term of
address
.- n. country; home
.-. - n. home & abroad
. n. body
. n. yogurt
.+ n. shop; store
. n. fault; wrong
. n. act of running; race
. postp.(gen) by; by means of;
through
- adj. second
+ n. wealth; riches
+ n. riches & possessions
+ adj. wealthy; rich
+ n. thanks; "thank you"
. n. type; style
207
. v. to hold; seize; catch
.. postp.(no gen.) for (with time)
n. religion; law; dharma
+ n. rice (on the stalk); paddy
.. postp.(gen) on the side of
- n. dhoti; man's lower garment
n. incense; resin
n. dust; pollen
. n. dust; pollen
. n. patience; endurance
. (see . ) n. patience; endurance
+ stem of verb "not to be"
+ n. copy
+ . n. city
+-+ adj. new
+ n. river (mas.)
+ n. river
+. n. bank of the river
+ n. Nandalal Bose
+. n. novel
+ . n. a greeting (Hindu)
+ "it is not"
+ adj. nine
+ + adj./pron. nine people
+ negative particle; no
+ v./adv. not to have; neg.
+ n. nose
+ rhetorical "is it not"
+. n. dance
+. v. to dance
+ v. to move; shake; stir
++ adj. various; different
+++ adj. various; different
+ n. name
+ . adj. famous; well-known
+ v. to descend; get down
+ negative of completive tenses
+ n. nearness; vicinity
+. pron. reflexive pronoun; self; own
+. + n. petition; polite narration
+ v. to extinguish; be put out
+. PAP of +
+ n. invitation
+- n. destiny; fate
+. postp. (obj.) with; by means of
+.- n. directive; pointing
+. adj. undifferent; stoical
+ . adv. certainly; of course
+. adj. cruel; merciless
+. adj. uninteresting; sullen; juiceless
+ adj. blue
+-+ adj. new
.+ "there is not"
.+ v. to take
.+. PAP of +
.+- n. leader
.+ (see + ) n. invitation
.+. PAP of +
.+ n. name of a town
.+ n. boat
.+. n. boat
. n. spoiled; rotten
n. liking; choice
v. to read; v. to fall
-+ n. studies
.-+ n. studies
- n. scholar; pundit
-- adj. fallen (fem.); harlot
-- n. fallen woman
n. wife
n. path; way; road
n. traveller; wayfarer
- n. sole of the foot
-. adv. at one's feet; under foot
n. dust of one's feet
n. verse
.+. adj. fifteen
+. n. wind god
n. pice; paisa coin
. postp.(gen) after
208
. + adv. the next day
. - adv. the next moment
.. n. acquaintance; introduction
. - adj. converted to; turned into;
mature
. - n. act of giving up;
relinguishing
. -+ n. transformation; exchange
. + (see . - + )
.. -+ n. serving food at table;
distribution
. n. measure; degree; extent
. . adv. by degree; quantity;
number
.- n. effort; hard work; diligence
. n. examination
.. postp.(gen) after; adv. later
- n. mountain
. n. village
.- n. folk music; village songs
n. leg; foot
v. to get; obtain
. adj. five
. five or six
n. billy goat; fool
n. bird
n. bird
adj. mad; insane; crazy
n. lesson; reading
.+ v. to send
n. neighborhood; locality
- n. leaf; page of book
n. minister; bridegroom; pot
+ n. betel leaf
n. sin; evil
. n. bank; opposite shore
. v. to be able
.- postp.(gen)/adv. at the side
- n. spinach
n. sofa; divan; bedstead
+ n. rearing; fostering; protection
.+ v. to flee; run away
-- adv. side by side
.- postp.(gen)/adv. at the side
n. hill; mountain
.+ postp.(gen) behind
- n. brass
- n. father (sadhu)
-- n. father & mother (sadhu)
(see ) n. lamp
+ n. postman; messenger; peon
. n. tank; excavated pond
n. son
. n. dwelling place; town
.. n. reward; prize
..+ (see ...+) adj. old; ancient
+ n. man; male
...+ adj. old; ancient
n. puja
. n. puja; ritual worship
adj. complete; fulfulled
adj. east; past
+ (see ) adj. east; past
n. earth; the world
... PAP of .
. n. bug; insect; worm
. v. to nourish; rear
. v. to arrive; reach
..+ v. to arrive; reach
.. PAP of .
. n. way; manner; type; sort
- n. publication; appearance;
display
- n. nature
.. adj. profuse; numerous; sufficient
n. salutation; bow in greeting
- n. promise; pledge; solemn vow
-+ adv. every day
-. - n. neighbor
- n. dawn; daybreak
.- adj. each; every
209
.- + adv. every day
adj. first
. adv. at first; initially
n. lamp
adj. mighty; powerful
.- n. entrance
- adv. morning
n. lord; honorable one
. + n. necessity; need
adj. delighted; pleased
- adj. prepared; ready
. n. beating; striking; punishment
.+ adj. ancient
.+ adv. ancient times
adv. almost; about
adv. often; frequently
+ n. prayer; request
n. darling; adj. dear; beloved
. n. love
.- n. love songs
. n. lover (mas.)
n. platform
n. snake; serpent
n. fruit
. as a result; consequently
. PAP of ...+ (sadhu)
. PAP of .. (sadhu)
.. PAP of ...+
.. PAP of ..
..+ v. to end; be exhausted; spent
.. PAP of ..+
n. flower; blossom
.. n. to return; turn around
...+ v. to cause to return; send back
. v. to throw down; let drop
.. PAP of .
. v. to blossom; boil; burst open
n. book
n. wife
v. to flow; steer; guide
- n. family; lineage
- n. flute
n. Bankim Candra Catterjee
. n. year
adj. large; great; big
. n. year
n. exchange; substitution; transfer
+ n. forest; woods
adj. shut; closed; stopped
n. friend
+ n. flood; flooding
n. age
adj. of an age; elderly (fem.)
. adv. rather; instead
. n. ice; snow
+ n. description
+ n. Burdwan--name of town
n. rain; rainy season
+ adj. strong; powerful
v. to speak; say
conj. because; postp. as; PAP of
"to speak"
. conj. because; postp. as; PAP of "to
speak"
- n. influence; control; authority
v. to sit
PAP of (sadhu)
n. Bose; a family name
. PAP of
n. cloth; clothes
adj./adv. much; many
+ adv. many days; a long time
conj. or
.. postp.(gen)/adv. outside
n. Baul; a type of religious singer
+ n. Baul song
v. to bend; twist
. v. to live; survive
..+ v. to save; cause to live
- n. bamboo
210
adj. Bengali; n. the language
n. speech; organ of speech
n. tiger
(see ) adj. Bengali; n. the
language
n. Bengali (people)
v. to ring; sound
.+ v. to play (an instrument);
sound
. n. bazaar; market
v. to increase; grow
.+ v. to cause to increase;
exaggerate
n. house; home
n. house
n. word; speech; message
- n. wind; air
- n. Badshah; king
n. obstruction; resistance
adj. obliged; obligated
+ n. flood; tidal wave
n. father
n. parents
n. honorific title (Hindu); Mr.
. n. discrete unit of time
. n. prohibition
. n. veranda; porch
.. adj. twelve
n. old age; decrepitude
n. sand; gravel
n. girl
n. dwelling place; (part. of v. "to
dwell")
. n. outside
.. adv. outside
. adv. afternoon
- adj. famous; well-known
. n. the Birla temple
.- n. foreign land
+ adj. learned; erudite
- n. Vidyapati--a Maithili poet
n. ridicule; sarcasm; irony
n. danger; adversity
n. marriage; wedding
adj. various; different
. n. wedding
.- adj. special; particular
- n. universe
-- n. world literature
- n. trust; faith
- n. rest; relaxation
n. subject; matter; affair
n. lord Visnu
n. illness
. n. Bihar--a state in India
n. seed
. n. Birbal (a name)
+ PAP of .+ (sadhu)
.+ PAP of .+
n. old woman
. adj. old ; n. old man
- n. Buddha
. n. Thursday
n. scholarship; nature or
propensity
- adj./n. aged; old man
. n. Benkat (a name)
... PAP of .
. adv. very much; excessively
..+ v. to wander; visit
. n. cat
. n. time of day; morning
.- adj./int. good; enough; okay
.- adj./adv. a lot; too much
.- adv. most of the time; a long
time
.-+ adv. a long time
.- adj. out of one's possession
. n. behala; violin
.- n. Baishakh--first month of
Bengali year
211
. adj. Vaisnava
. adj. stupid; slow witted
.+ v. to understand
.+ n. a burden
.+.+ v. to explain; cause to
understand
. adv. perhaps; maybe
.+ n. sister
.- n. Buddhist mendicant
n. individual; person
+ n. cooked food; a consonant (vs. a
vowel)
- n. violation; infringement
-- postp.(no gen) except; besides
. n. use; usage; behavior; conduct
. n. matter; incident
n. Brahmaputra river
n. brahmin
n. brahmin (fem.)
n. devotee
+ n. lord; god
+ n. bhajan; a riligious song
) n. Bhatta (a name)
adj. polite; civil
n. lady; gentlewoman
. n. gentleman
- n. Bhavabhuti--Sanskrit
playwright
n. future
n. fear
. v. to fill; adj. full
. PAP of . (sadhu)
n. (a name)
. n. bear
n. ashes; cinder
n. brother
n. part; portion
v. to break; be broken
n. rent; fare; adj. rented
n. Bhadra; fifth month of Bengali
year
n. emotional state; affection
+ n. thought; worry; concern
v. to think; consider
PAP of (sadhu)
. (makes adj. into adv.)
.- n. India
.- n. India
.- adj. Indian
. adj. heavy; very
adj. good
v. to love; like a lot
. adv. well
n. bear
n. language
v. to float; drift; be flooded
PAP of (sadhu)
n. begging
n. profession of begging
n. mendicant; beggar
n. mendicant; beggar
-. n. the inside
-.. postp.(gen) in; inside; within
n. crowd; multitude
- adj. timid; afraid
adj. horrible; terrible
n. error; mistake
.. PAP of
.-. n. inside
.-.. postp.(gen) inside; within
.. PAP of
.. PAP of
. n. enjoyment; experience
. v. to enjoy; experience; suffer
.+ n. eating; feast
.. n. dawn
n. excursion; travel
n. fun; amusement
. adj. funny; humorous
n. (a nickname)
- n. opinion
212
-+ postp.(gen) like; as
- n. scheme; stratagem; plan
-- n. views pro and con
n. honey
n. middle
. postp.(gen) within; in the midst of
+ n. heart; mind
n. minister
- n. (Mr.) minister
adj. bad; unfavorable; inferior
. n. temple
n. inner meaning; essence
- n. mister; sir
- n. mister; sir
.- n. Mahabharata--Hindu epic
. n. great rajah; great man
. n. great rajah; great man
- n. respectful address; Mr.
n. lady; woman
n. mahua--a type of tree
n. mother
n. mile
n. meat
n. fish
+ n. middle
+.+ adv. in the middle; between
.+ postp.(gen) in the middle of;
within
n. ground; earth; clay
n. field
-- n. parents (sadhu)
adv. only; merely; just
n. head
+ n. honor; respect; pride
n. uncle; mother's brother
. n. a blow; hit
. v. to strike; kill
adj. American
n. garland
. n. school master; teacher
. - n. school master; teacher
n. month
n. parents
+ n. minute
n. sweets; sweetmeats
adj. sweet; n. sweets
adj. free; liberated
. n. pearl
n. face; mouth
. n. handful
+ n. sage; seer
+ + n. daughter of a sage (sadhu)
+ n. wife of a sage (sadhu)
.+ v. to become downhearted;
discouraged
. PAP of .+
+ adj./n. Muslim
adj. illiterate; ignorant
- n. image; idol; form
(see - ) n. image; idol; form
n. mouse (sadhu)
- n. death
. n. cloud
.. n. cloud god
.. n. girl; daughter
... PAP of .
. n. ladder
. adj. Mughal/Mogul
sound of a cat
+ adv. when (with "then")
- adv. as long as (correlative)
- + adv. as many days (correlative)
n. care; earnest attention
adv. as (correlative)
adj. true; correct; accurate
. adv. in time; in due course
conj. if
n. machine; tool
pron. that which
PAP of (sadhu)
213
v. to go
. pron.(hon. pl.) who (correlative)
. pron.(sing.) whom (correlative)
.- conj. in order that; so that
n. journey; type of folk theater
+ n. Jamini Roy
. pron.(sing.) whose (correlative)
.- adv. in order that; so that
(sadhu)
- n. war; battle
n. youth; young man
- n. young woman
. conj./adj./pron. that; he/she who
.+ conj. as if; (etc.)
. n. power of yoga
.+ n. youth; youthfulness
. v. to remain; be
. n. color
. n. type; kind
. n. protection; salvation
. n. color
..+ n. making; literary composition
.- n. Rati--wife of Kama
. n. gem; jewel; ornament
. n. chariot; car
.+ n. cooking
. n. sun
. . n. Sunday
.+ n. Rabindranath Tagore
. n. Rama--wife of Vishnu
. n. rasa; flavor; juice; essence
. adj. humorous; witty
. - n. joke; jest
. (see .) v. to remain; be (sadhu)
. v. to keep; hold
. PAP of . (sadhu)
. n. anger; passion; a musical scale
. v. to become angry
. n. rajah; king
. n. regal court
. n. rajah; king
. adj. consenting; agreeing; ready
.- n. night
..- adv. at night; in the evening
. n. night
.. adv. at night
. n. Radha--consort of Krishna
. n. lord Rama
. n. Ramayana--Hindu epic
. n. king; prince; judicial verdict
.. n. (a place name)
. n. street; road
. n. (a name)
+ n. rui--a type of fish
+ adj. rough; harsh; rugged
+- adj./n. Russia
+ n. form; beauty
++. n. silver
+. postp.(gen) in the form of
+. see +
... PAP of .
... PAP of .
.. adv. daily
.. n. sunshine
PAP of (sadhu)
v. to take
- n. Laksmana--brother of Rama
- n. goddess Laksmi
n. embarrassment; shame; shyness
n. fighting; war; battle
- adj. long; tall
v. to strike; plant; etc.
+ n. reproach; reprimand
n. profit; gain
n. red
.+ v. to hide; conceal
. n. writer; author
. v. to write; n. writings
. n. studies; book learning
.. PAP of
214
. n. person; people; the world
. + n. people
. - n. folk-art
. - n. folk-artist
. n. human habitation;
settlement; society
. n. greed; avarice
- adj. difficult; hard; strong
- n. power; the goddess
- n. (a place name)
-+ . n. Saturday
-- n. sound; word
-. n. Sarat--early autumn
-.. n. body
-- n. moon; (a name)
-. n. city; town
- n. edible leafy vegetables
- n. peace
- n. (a name); Syama
- n. sal; type of tree
-. n. Chicago
- n. (a name)
- n. jackal; fox
- n. art; industry
- n. artist
-- n. baby; child
- n. pupil; disciple; follower
- adv. quickly
-- n. winter; adj. cold
-- adj. cold; chilly
- n. (a name)
-. n. Friday
- adv. only; just
-+ v. to hear; listen to (sadhu vowel)
-+ n. beginning
.- v. to learn
.-.+ v. to teach; instruct
.- n. jackal; fox
.- n. end
.- n. rock; mountain; (a name)
.- n. grief; mourning; sorrow
.- v. to lie down
.-+ v. to hear; listen to
- n. labor; toil; industry
- n. laborer
- n. goddess Laksmi; honorific title
-..-+ n. Sri Caitanya--Bengali saint
-. . n. (a place name)
.- n. class; category; series
.- adj. best; superior
.--. adj. better
adj. sixty
. adj. sixteen
.-+ n. station
.. adv. in brief; in short
n. number; numeral; issue of a
magazine
- n. collision; clash; impact
. n. world; family
. n. domestic life and duties
. n. purification rites
- n./adj. Sanskrit
. pron. everybody
n. morning
n. hobby; inclination or liking
n. group; gathering
n. companion
. postp.(gen) with
. adv. quickly
- adj. true
-. adj. true; real; genuine
-.. . adj. true; real; genuine
adj. honest
adv. recently; just; at once
. n. good behavior; good use
+ n. calendar year
+ - n. childern (sadhu)
adj. contented; pleased
. n. doubt
+ n. search
215
n. evening
. n. evening time
.. n. evening time
n. asceticism; ascetic
mendicancy
n. asceticism; ascetic
mendicancy
+ n. asceticism; ascetic
mendicancy
n. an ascetic
n. week
... adv. "most" (-est)
pron. everybody, all (human)
adj. green
n. meeting; assembly
n. court poet
adj. courteous; polite; civilized
- n. civility; culture; civilization
n. time
adj. entire; complete
n. problem; difficulty; fix
adj.(fem) equal; similar; level
. n. absorbed in meditation;
burial
+ adj. equal; equivalent
n. ocean; sea
- n. relationship; arranged marriage
-. postp.(opt. gen.) about;
concerning
adj. possible
- n. consent; willingness
. postp.(gen)/adv. in front of
.. n. government; a last name
. adj. straight; simple; naive
. . adv. simply; plainly
.. n. mustard seed
. adj. witty; tasty; succulent
. - n. goddess Saraswati
adj. cheap; inexpensive
adj. easy; simple
. n. city
adj. suddenly; all at once
- postp.(gen) with (formal)
adj. bearable; tolerated
- n. Santal; an Austro-Asiatic
people
n. witness
. n. ocean; sea
- adj. seven
- -. adj. seven-storied
adj. white
. - adv. generally; ordinarily
.+ postp.(gen) in front of
n. Swami; husband
. n. line; row; column
. v. to cure; remedy; finish
.+ adv. all day
. n. row; line
adj. successful; useful;
meaningful
n. aid; help; assistance
- n. literature
+ n. film; cinema
n. happiness
-. conj. therefore; consequently
. adj. beautiful; pretty
. n. (a name)
. n. woman; beautiful woman
+ n. handsome man
n. convenience
. n. melody; tone
. adj. healthy
n. sun
(see ) n. sun
. n. sun god
. adj./pron. that; he/she
. adj./pron. that; he/she
. + conj. for that reason
..+ conj. for that reason
.+ adv. that day; back then
. adv. those days; olden times
216
..+ adv. there
. pron. it; that
.-. n. sitar; stringed instrument
.+ adv. then; those days
.+ n. (a family name)
. n. serving; waiting upon; worship
.. n. seer; about two pounds
.+. adj. gold; golden
. . n. Monday
.. n. (a place name)
n. school
n. wife; woman
. n. female mouse
n. female mouse (sadhu)
. . adj. decrepit; infirm
.+ n. place; locale
.- n. architecture; masonry
.. adj. stable; fixed; still
.+ n. bath
adj. clear; obvious
n. dream; vision
n. dream tale
pron. one's self
. n. voice; tone of voice; a vowel
n. husband; swami
. adj. selfish
+ adj. selfless
. n. health
. n. acknowledgment; admission
PAP of (sadhu)
v. to be; become
n. Hong Kong
adv. suddenly
-- adj. disappointed; despondent
- adv. perhaps
.- adv. perhaps
. PAP of
. n. lord Krisna
. adj. yellow
n. hand (formal)
n. wind; air
v. to walk
n. knee
. n. thousand
. adj. present (of place)
- n. hand; arm
interj. alas!
..+ v. to lose; get lost
.. PAP of ..+
adj. not heavy; mild; unimportant
v. to smile; laugh
n. laughter; ridicule
n. smile; laughter
PAP of (sadhu)
adj. Hindu
n. Himalaya
. postp.(no gen) as; in the capacity
of
+ suf. without; lacking
... n. diamond
n. Hooghly; district & river in
West Bengal
n. heart
. interj. hey!
.. PAP of
.. PAP of
yes

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An Introduction to Bengali, Part II:

Introductory Bengali Reader

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