Revision Guide: उपसर्ग

उपसर्ग are prefixes added to root words that modify their meanings. E.g., 'प्र' in 'प्रहार' changes 'हार' (mala) to mean 'attack'.

Adding different prefixes can significantly change a root word's meaning. For instance, 'सो' with 'उद्' becomes 'उद्भव' (to arise).

उपसर्ग can be classified as indicating direction, negation, or intensification. Each has a unique influence on the base word.

'प्र' indicates progress or intense action, as shown in 'प्रवेश' (to enter) and 'प्रकर्ष' (excellence).

'उप' suggests proximity or support. E.g., 'उपरिचय' means 'acquaintance' or 'making known.'

'नर' implies a connection to humans. For example, 'नरमासु' means 'humankind' or 'to behave like a man.'

'अध' can signify superiority or elevation. In 'अधिनियम' it means 'superior law.'

'निष' means 'outside' or 'not within.' An example is 'निष्कासन' (expulsion).

'अव' denotes the idea of falling or going down, such as 'अवगति' meaning 'decline.'

'सम' implies equality or balance, as in 'सम्भव' meaning 'possible' or 'equal occurrence.'

From 'हार' (mala) + 'प्र', it means 'to hit,' showcasing the prefix's impact on meaning.

'सर' relates to cleanliness or emphasis. An example is 'संस्करण' meaning 'to purify.'

'अय' conveys absence; e.g., 'अयतिक' means 'not feasible.'

'पर' can denote something beyond; like in 'पराजय' meaning 'defeat.'

'अनु' signifies following, as seen in 'अनुग्रह' meaning 'favor' or 'support.'

'दुर्बल' (weak) uses 'दु' which indicates something negative or undesirable.

'उति' illustrates crossing over, like 'उत्क्रमण' meaning 'to ascend.'

'प्रति' refers to opposition or correspondence, as in 'प्रतिनिधि' meaning 'representative.'

'सद' indicates togetherness; an instance is 'सद्भावना' meaning 'goodwill.'

'कृ' often implies making or doing, seen in 'कृतज्ञता' (gratitude).

Students often confuse similar prefixes; practice differentiating them with clear examples.