NCERT Class 13 Sanskrit Sanskrit Sahitya parichay: Chapter 1 — संस्कृत भाषा—उद्भव एवं विकास
This chapter, "संस्कृत भाषा—उद्भव एवं विकास" (Origin and Development of Sanskrit Language), from NCERT Class 13 Sanskrit Sahitya parichay, explores Sanskrit's status as the world's oldest language, a repository of ancient Indian civilization and culture. It highlights the continuous literary tradition from the Vedic to modern periods, emphasizing the preservation of oral traditions and pronunciation. Referred to as 'Devavani' or 'Surbharati', Sanskrit's enduring literary flow proves its immortality. The chapter discusses Sanskrit's scientific classification within the Indo-European family, noting similarities with European and Iranian languages, and its global academic respect. It details Sanskrit's influence on modern Indian languages like Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati, as well as Dravidian languages, underscoring its role in national unity. The text outlines the historical development of Aryan languages into three phases: Ancient (Vedic and Classical Sanskrit), Medieval (Pali, Prakrit, Apabhramsha), and Modern (contemporary Indo-Aryan languages), noting Sanskrit's continued prevalence among the educated throughout these periods. This chapter provides a foundational understanding of Sanskrit's historical significance and linguistic evolution for CBSE students.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 13 |
| Subject | Sanskrit |
| Book | Sanskrit Sahitya parichay |
| Chapter | Chapter 1 — संस्कृत भाषा का उद्भव एवं विकास |
| Language | Sanskrit |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 4 minutes |
| Word count | 680 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand Sanskrit's position as the oldest language and its cultural significance.
- Trace the historical development of Sanskrit and its literary tradition.
- Recognize Sanskrit's linguistic connections to other Indo-European languages.
- Appreciate Sanskrit's influence on the formation of modern Indian languages.
- Identify the different stages of Aryan language development.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| प्राचीनतम | oldest |
| सभयता | civilization |
| संस्कृति | culture |
| मौखिक | oral |
| परंपरा | tradition |
| उच्चारण | pronunciation |
| देववाणी | language of the gods |
| सुरभारती | another name for Sanskrit |
| वैज्ञानिक | scientific |
| भारोपीय | Indo-European |
| द्रविड़ | Dravidian |
| सामंजस्य | harmony/coordination |
The complete chapter text is read in the official NCERT PDF viewer below (streamed from ncert.nic.in). This page provides NCERT Help study material — summary, vocabulary, practice questions, and FAQs — not a full reproduction of the textbook.
Read chapter online
This PDF is loaded from the official NCERT website (ncert.nic.in). Use the page buttons below to read — download is disabled on NCERT Help.
Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.
Practice questions
- संस्कृत को किन अन्य नामों से जाना जाता है? Answer: संस्कृत को देववाणी या सुरभारती कहा जाता है।
- संस्कृत भाषा किस भाषा परिवार से संबंधित है? Answer: संस्कृत भाषा वैज्ञानिक दृष्टि से भारोपीय परिवार की भाषा है।
- आधुनिक भारतीय भाषाओं में से किन्हीं तीन के नाम बताइए जो संस्कृत से विकसित हुई हैं। Answer: हिन्दी, मराठी, गुजराती (या कोई अन्य तीन)।
- भाषा वैज्ञानिकों के अनुसार आर्य भाषाओं के विकास के तीन काल कौन से हैं? Answer: प्राचीन आर्य भाषा काल, मध्यकालीन आर्य भाषा काल, और आधुनिक आर्य भाषा काल।
Practice MCQs
Q1. संसार की भाषाओं में संस्कृत को क्या माना जाता है?
Explanation: The text states that Sanskrit is the oldest among the available languages in the world.
Q2. संस्कृत भाषा को किस अन्य नाम से भी जाना जाता है?
Explanation: The chapter explicitly mentions that Sanskrit language is also called 'Devavani' or 'Surbharati'.
Q3. संस्कृत भाषा किस भाषा परिवार का हिस्सा है?
Explanation: According to the text, Sanskrit is scientifically classified as a language of the Indo-European family.
Q4. मध्यकालीन आर्य भाषा काल कब से कब तक माना जाता है?
Explanation: The text defines the Medieval Aryan Language period as from 800 BCE to 1000 CE.
Q5. किस भाषा साहित्य की देन 'वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्' का उद्घोष है?
Explanation: The chapter mentions that the proclamation 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the whole world is our family) is a contribution of Sanskrit language literature.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Sanskrit considered the oldest language?
Sanskrit is considered the oldest language because its literary tradition dates back to the Vedic period, and its oral traditions have been preserved with remarkable accuracy over millennia.
What are the other names for Sanskrit?
Sanskrit is also known as 'Devavani' (language of the gods) and 'Surbharati'.
How is Sanskrit related to European languages?
Sanskrit belongs to the Indo-European language family, sharing phonetic and semantic similarities with languages like Greek, Latin, English, Russian, and French.
Which modern Indian languages have developed from Sanskrit?
Many modern Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Odia, and Assamese, have developed from Sanskrit.
What are the three main periods of Aryan language development?
The three periods are the Ancient Aryan Language period (approx. 6000 BCE – 800 BCE), the Medieval Aryan Language period (approx. 800 BCE – 1000 CE), and the Modern Aryan Language period (approx. 1000 CE – present).
Did Sanskrit influence Dravidian languages?
Yes, while belonging to a different language family, Dravidian languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam have adopted many Sanskrit words, and Sanskrit has also borrowed words from them.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 13 Sanskrit — Sanskrit Sahitya parichay — Chapter 1 — संस्कृत भाषा का उद्भव एवं विकास. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 10 Aug 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.