शब्दकोशśabda-kośa · a treasury of words

Sanskrit glossary for yogis

2 min read · Updated October 17, 2026 · sources checked October 17, 2026

In short

This glossary gives 247 Sanskrit words used in yoga, in nine themes: paths and philosophy, the eight limbs, postures, breath, bandhas and mudrās, meditation, the subtle body, texts, and sacred life. Each entry gives the Devanāgarī, the scholarly transliteration (IAST), the spelling you will meet in class, and a short meaning checked in Monier-Williams' dictionary.

How to read this glossary

Devanāgarī is the script in which Sanskrit is usually written; compounds are written as one word.
IAST is the scholarly transliteration: ā ī ū are long, ṭ ḍ ṇ ṣ are retroflex (tongue curled back), ś is a soft sh, ṃ a nasal, ḥ a light breath. The pronunciation guide explains every sign.
Usual spelling is what you will read in yoga books and studios. Many of these forms follow Hindi, which drops the final short a: karma for karman, ashram for āśrama, kirtan for kīrtana.
Meaning: a short sense checked in Monier-Williams' Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), then, where the dictionary is silent, in the text that uses the word. A † marks a technical haṭha term that the dictionary does not record; its sense comes from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (HYP). YS means the Yoga Sutras.
Modern names. Many posture names are modern, even when built from old words. When a name already appears in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika or the Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā, we say so; otherwise, we say "modern". An old word does not make an old posture.

The glossary, in nine themes

Paths and philosophy (39)

Devanāgarī	IAST	Usual spelling	Meaning
योग	yoga	yoga	yoking, joining; discipline, union; from the root yuj, to yoke
हठ	haṭha	hatha	force; haṭha yoga, the yoga of breath, seals and posture
राजयोग	rāja-yoga	raja yoga	"royal yoga"; the goal state in the hatha texts; often used for Patañjali's yoga
भक्ति	bhakti	bhakti	devotion, loving attachment to the divine
ज्ञान	jñāna	jnana, gyan	knowledge, especially knowledge of the ultimate reality
कर्मन्	karman	karma	action, work; the effect of past actions
तन्त्र	tantra	tantra	"loom, warp"; a class of ritual and mystical scriptures
वेदान्त	vedānta	vedanta	"end of the Veda": the Upaniṣads and the philosophy built on them
सांख्य	sāṃkhya	samkhya	"enumeration"; the dualist philosophy that Yoga shares
अद्वैत	advaita	advaita	non-duality
दर्शन	darśana	darshan	seeing, sight; a school of philosophy; the sight of a deity or a holy person
आत्मन्	ātman	atman	the self, the soul
ब्रह्मन्	brahman	brahman	the absolute, the ultimate reality
पुरुष	puruṣa	purusha	person; in Sāṃkhya and Yoga, pure consciousness, the seer
प्रकृति	prakṛti	prakriti	nature, the original source of the material world
गुण	guṇa	guna	strand, quality; the three strands of nature
सत्त्व	sattva	sattva	clarity, goodness; the luminous strand
रजस्	rajas	rajas	passion, activity; the restless strand
तमस्	tamas	tamas	darkness, inertia; the heavy strand
धर्म	dharma	dharma	order, law, duty, right conduct
संसार	saṃsāra	samsara	the round of births and deaths
मोक्ष	mokṣa	moksha	liberation, release
कैवल्य	kaivalya	kaivalya	isolation, aloneness of the seer; the goal of the Yoga Sutras
जीव	jīva	jiva	the living being, the individual soul
माया	māyā	maya	power of illusion, appearance
अविद्या	avidyā	avidya	ignorance, not-knowing; the root affliction (YS 2.4)
विवेक	viveka	viveka	discrimination between the real and the unreal
वैराग्य	vairāgya	vairagya	dispassion, freedom from worldly desire
अभ्यास	abhyāsa	abhyasa	repeated practice (YS 1.12-1.14)
ईश्वर	īśvara	ishvara	the Lord; in YS 1.24 a special puruṣa untouched by afflictions
शक्ति	śakti	shakti	power, energy; the Goddess as divine power
दुःख	duḥkha	duhkha	pain, suffering, unease
सुख	sukha	sukha	ease, comfort, happiness
आनन्द	ānanda	ananda	bliss, joy
सच्चिदानन्द	saccidānanda	satchidananda	being (sat), consciousness (cit) and bliss (ānanda)
शान्ति	śānti	shanti	peace, calm
मनस्	manas	manas	mind, the thinking faculty
बुद्धि	buddhi	buddhi	intellect, the discerning faculty
अहंकार	ahaṃkāra	ahamkara	the "I-maker", the sense of ego

The eight limbs and the Yoga Sutras (34)

Devanāgarī	IAST	Usual spelling	Meaning
अष्टाङ्ग	aṣṭāṅga	ashtanga	"eight limbs", Patañjali's path (YS 2.29)
यम	yama	yama	restraint; the first limb
नियम	niyama	niyama	observance; the second limb
आसन	āsana	asana	seat, sitting; posture; the third limb
प्राणायाम	prāṇāyāma	pranayama	regulation of the breath; the fourth limb
प्रत्याहार	pratyāhāra	pratyahara	withdrawal of the senses; the fifth limb
धारणा	dhāraṇā	dharana	holding the mind on one place, concentration
ध्यान	dhyāna	dhyana	meditation, continuous attention
समाधि	samādhi	samadhi	absorption, deep concentration; the eighth limb
संयम	saṃyama	samyama	dhāraṇā, dhyāna and samādhi together (YS 3.4)
अहिंसा	ahiṃsā	ahimsa	non-harming
सत्य	satya	satya	truthfulness
अस्तेय	asteya	asteya	not stealing
ब्रह्मचर्य	brahmacarya	brahmacharya	the life of a Veda student; continence, chastity
अपरिग्रह	aparigraha	aparigraha	non-possession, not grasping
शौच	śauca	shaucha	purity, cleanliness
संतोष	saṃtoṣa	santosha	contentment
तपस्	tapas	tapas	heat; austerity, disciplined effort
स्वाध्याय	svādhyāya	svadhyaya	recitation and study of sacred texts, self-study
ईश्वरप्रणिधान	īśvara-praṇidhāna	ishvara pranidhana	devotion to the Lord
चित्त	citta	chitta	mind, thinking, the field of consciousness
वृत्ति	vṛtti	vritti	movement, fluctuation of the mind
निरोध	nirodha	nirodha	restraint, stilling, control (YS 1.2)
क्लेश	kleśa	klesha	affliction; five are listed in YS 2.3
अस्मिता	asmitā	asmita	"I-am-ness", egoism
राग	rāga	raga	attachment, desire
द्वेष	dveṣa	dvesha	aversion, hatred
अभिनिवेश	abhiniveśa	abhinivesha	tenacity, clinging; in YS 2.9, the clinging to life found even in the wise
संस्कार	saṃskāra	samskara	latent impression left by experience; also a life-cycle rite
सिद्धि	siddhi	siddhi	accomplishment, success; a supernatural power
मैत्री	maitrī	maitri	friendliness (YS 1.33)
करुणा	karuṇā	karuna	compassion
मुदिता	muditā	mudita	gladness, joy at others' good
उपेक्षा	upekṣā	upeksha	overlooking, indifference; in YS 1.33, toward those who do wrong

Āsanas and the words in their names (36)

Devanāgarī	IAST	Usual spelling	Meaning
ताडासन	tāḍāsana	tadasana	mountain pose (modern name; the lexicons give tāḍa as "mountain")
वृक्षासन	vṛkṣāsana	vrikshasana	tree pose (vṛkṣa, tree); already in the Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā
त्रिकोणासन	trikoṇāsana	trikonasana	triangle pose (trikoṇa, triangle); modern
वीरभद्रासन	vīrabhadrāsana	virabhadrasana	warrior pose, after Vīrabhadra, a fierce form of Śiva; modern
अधोमुखश्वानासन	adho-mukha-śvānāsana	adho mukha svanasana	downward-facing dog (adho-mukha, face down; śvan, dog); modern
भुजङ्गासन	bhujaṅgāsana	bhujangasana	cobra pose (bhujaṅga, serpent); Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā
शलभासन	śalabhāsana	shalabhasana	locust pose (śalabha, grasshopper, locust); Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā
धनुरासन	dhanurāsana	dhanurasana	bow pose (dhanus, bow); Hatha Yoga Pradipika 1.27
उष्ट्रासन	uṣṭrāsana	ustrasana	camel pose (uṣṭra, camel); the Gheraṇḍa form is done lying on the belly
सर्वाङ्गासन	sarvāṅgāsana	sarvangasana	shoulder stand, "all-limbs pose" (sarvāṅga, the whole body); modern
हलासन	halāsana	halasana	plough pose (hala, plough); modern
शीर्षासन	śīrṣāsana	sirsasana	headstand (śīrṣa, head); modern name
पश्चिमोत्तानासन	paścimottānāsana	paschimottanasana	seated forward bend, "stretch of the back (west)"; paścimatāna in the Pradīpikā
गोमुखासन	gomukhāsana	gomukhasana	cow-face pose (go-mukha, cow's face); Pradīpikā 1.22
मत्स्येन्द्रासन	matsyendrāsana	matsyendrasana	twist named after the yogi Matsyendra; Pradīpikā 1.28
शवासन	śavāsana	shavasana	corpse pose (śava, corpse); Pradīpikā 1.34
पद्मासन	padmāsana	padmasana	lotus pose (padma, lotus); Pradīpikā 1.46
सिद्धासन	siddhāsana	siddhasana	"accomplished" pose, the best of all in the Pradīpikā (1.36-1.37)
सुखासन	sukhāsana	sukhasana	easy seat, simple cross-legged sitting
वज्रासन	vajrāsana	vajrasana	thunderbolt or diamond pose (vajra); kneeling in the Gheraṇḍa, another name for siddhāsana in the Pradīpikā (1.39)
वीरासन	vīrāsana	virasana	hero pose (vīra, hero); Pradīpikā 1.23
स्वस्तिकासन	svastikāsana	swastikasana	auspicious seat (svastika, sign of good fortune); the first āsana of the Pradīpikā
भद्रासन	bhadrāsana	bhadrasana	gracious or auspicious pose (bhadra); Pradīpikā 1.55
सिंहासन	siṃhāsana	simhasana	lion pose (siṃha, lion); Pradīpikā 1.52
मयूरासन	mayūrāsana	mayurasana	peacock pose (mayūra, peacock); Pradīpikā 1.32
सूर्यनमस्कार	sūrya-namaskāra	surya namaskar	salutation to the sun (sūrya, sun; namaskāra, homage)
विन्यास	vinyāsa	vinyasa	placing, arrangement; in modern yoga, movement linked to the breath
दृष्टि	dṛṣṭi	drishti	sight, gaze; the point where the eyes rest
अर्ध	ardha	ardha	half
पाद	pāda	pada	foot; a quarter, a line of verse; a book of the Yoga Sutras
परिवृत्त	parivṛtta	parivritta	turned round, revolved
बद्ध	baddha	baddha	bound
ऊर्ध्व	ūrdhva	urdhva	upward, raised
उत्तान	uttāna	uttana	stretched out, lying on the back; "intense stretch" is a modern gloss
पश्चिम	paścima	paschima	west; the back of the body
अङ्ग	aṅga	anga	limb, member, part

Prāṇāyāma, the breath (22)

Devanāgarī	IAST	Usual spelling	Meaning
प्राण	prāṇa	prana	breath, life; vital air; one of the five breaths
आयाम	āyāma	ayama	stretching, extending, restraining
पूरक	pūraka	puraka	inhalation, "filling"
रेचक	recaka	rechaka	exhalation, "emptying"
कुम्भक	kumbhaka	kumbhaka	holding the breath (kumbha, a pot)
केवलकुम्भक	kevala-kumbhaka	kevala kumbhaka	retention "alone", without inhaling or exhaling (Pradīpikā 2.71-2.75)
सहित	sahita	sahita	"accompanied" retention, with inhalation and exhalation
नाडीशोधन	nāḍī-śodhana	nadi shodhana	purification of the channels by alternate-nostril breathing
अनुलोमविलोम	anuloma-viloma	anulom vilom	"with and against the grain": alternate-nostril breathing
उज्जायी	ujjāyī	ujjayi	† breath drawn in with a sound in the throat (HYP 2.51-2.53); from ud-ji, to win, to be victorious
भस्त्रिका	bhastrikā	bhastrika	"bellows" breath (bhastrā, bellows)
कपालभाति	kapālabhāti	kapalabhati	"shining skull": rapid forced exhalations
शीतली	śītalī	shitali	"cooling" breath through the curled tongue
सीत्कारी	sītkārī	sitkari	breath with a hissing sound (sīt)
भ्रामरी	bhrāmarī	bhramari	"bee" breath, with a humming sound (bhramara, bee)
मूर्च्छा	mūrcchā	murccha	"swooning" retention
प्लाविनी	plāvinī	plavini	† "floating" retention (from plu, to float), which lets one float on water (HYP 2.70)
सूर्यभेदन	sūrya-bhedana	surya bhedana	"piercing the sun": inhaling through the right nostril
मात्रा	mātrā	matra	measure, unit of time in counting the breath
अजपा	ajapā	ajapa	the "unrecited" mantra: the sound haṃ-saḥ of the breath
सोऽहम्	so 'ham	soham	"he, I": I am he (MW: "I myself"); the mantra heard in the breath
हंस	haṃsa	hamsa	goose, swan; the soul; the breath as haṃ-sa

Bandhas, mudrās and cleansing acts (21)

Devanāgarī	IAST	Usual spelling	Meaning
बन्ध	bandha	bandha	binding, lock
मूलबन्ध	mūla-bandha	mula bandha	root lock (mūla, root)
उड्डीयान	uḍḍīyāna	uddiyana	"flying up": the abdominal lock
जालन्धर	jālandhara	jalandhara	the chin lock (jāla, net; dhara, holding); a mudrā of HYP 3.6
मुद्रा	mudrā	mudra	seal, stamp; a gesture of the hands; in haṭha, a technique of the body
ज्ञानमुद्रा	jñāna-mudrā	jnana mudra	gesture of knowledge, index touching thumb
अञ्जलि	añjali	anjali	the open hands joined and slightly hollowed; reverence, salutation
खेचरी	khecarī	khechari	"moving in space": the tongue turned back (Pradīpikā 3.32)
शाम्भवी	śāmbhavī	shambhavi	"of Śambhu (Śiva)": inner attention with open eyes (Pradīpikā 4.36)
विपरीतकरणी	viparīta-karaṇī	viparita karani	"the inverted practice"
महामुद्रा	mahā-mudrā	maha mudra	"great seal" (Pradīpikā 3.10)
योनिमुद्रा	yoni-mudrā	yoni mudra	the "womb" seal: closing the openings of the senses with the fingers (Śiva Saṃhitā, Gheraṇḍa)
अश्विनीमुद्रा	aśvinī-mudrā	ashwini mudra	"horse" gesture (aśva, horse): contracting the anus (Gheraṇḍa)
शक्तिचालन	śakti-cālana	shakti chalana	"stirring the power" (Pradīpikā 3.104)
षट्कर्मन्	ṣaṭ-karman	shatkarma	the six cleansing acts (Pradīpikā 2.22)
धौति	dhauti	dhauti	washing (from dhāv, to wash): cleansing of the digestive tract
बस्ति	basti	basti	bladder, lower belly; yogic enema
नेति	neti	neti	† cleansing of the nasal passage with a thread (HYP 2.29)
त्राटक	trāṭaka	trataka	steady gazing at a small point (Pradīpikā 2.31)
नौलि	nauli	nauli	† churning of the abdominal muscles (HYP 2.33)
भ्रूमध्य	bhrū-madhya	bhrumadhya	the point between the eyebrows

Meditation and mantra (13)

Devanāgarī	IAST	Usual spelling	Meaning
मन्त्र	mantra	mantra	"instrument of thought": sacred formula, prayer, hymn
जप	japa	japa	muttering, repetition of a mantra
माला	mālā	mala	garland, wreath; a rosary of beads
ॐ	oṃ	om	the sacred syllable; YS 1.27 calls it the word for Īśvara
प्रणव	praṇava	pranava	the sacred syllable Om
बीज	bīja	bija	seed; seed syllable of a mantra
नाद	nāda	nada	sound, resonance; the inner sound
एकाग्रता	ekāgratā	ekagrata	one-pointedness, close and undisturbed attention
साक्षिन्	sākṣin	sakshi	witness
योगनिद्रा	yoga-nidrā	yoga nidra	"yogic sleep": half meditation, half sleep; today also a guided relaxation
संकल्प	saṃkalpa	sankalpa	will, intention, a resolve formed in the mind
यन्त्र	yantra	yantra	instrument, support; an amulet, a mystical diagram
मण्डल	maṇḍala	mandala	circle, disc, ring; also a book of the Ṛgveda

The subtle body (30)

Devanāgarī	IAST	Usual spelling	Meaning
नाडी	nāḍī	nadi	tube, vein; a channel of the subtle body
इडा	iḍā	ida	the channel on the left side of the body, linked to the moon in the hatha texts
पिङ्गला	piṅgalā	pingala	the channel on the right side, linked to the sun
सुषुम्णा	suṣumṇā	sushumna	the central channel, between iḍā and piṅgalā
चक्र	cakra	chakra	wheel, circle; a centre of the subtle body
मूलाधार	mūlādhāra	muladhara	"root support": the lowest centre, at the base of the trunk
स्वाधिष्ठान	svādhiṣṭhāna	svadhisthana	"one's own place": the centre above the root
मणिपूर	maṇipūra	manipura	"filled with jewels" (maṇi, jewel): the centre at the navel
अनाहत	anāhata	anahata	"unstruck" (sound): the heart centre
विशुद्ध	viśuddha	vishuddha	"purified": the throat centre
आज्ञा	ājñā	ajna	"command": the centre between the eyebrows
सहस्रार	sahasrāra	sahasrara	"thousand-spoked": the lotus at the crown
कुण्डलिनी	kuṇḍalinī	kundalini	"the coiled one" (kuṇḍalin, circular; a snake): the power asleep at the base of the spine
ग्रन्थि	granthi	granthi	knot
बिन्दु	bindu	bindu	drop, dot; in the hatha texts, the vital essence
कोश	kośa	kosha	sheath, covering
अन्नमय	annamaya	annamaya	made of food: the physical sheath
प्राणमय	prāṇamaya	pranamaya	made of breath: the vital sheath
मनोमय	manomaya	manomaya	made of mind: the mental sheath
विज्ञानमय	vijñānamaya	vijnanamaya	made of understanding
आनन्दमय	ānandamaya	anandamaya	made of bliss
वायु	vāyu	vayu	wind, air; one of the vital breaths
अपान	apāna	apana	the downward breath
समान	samāna	samana	the breath of the middle, linked to digestion
उदान	udāna	udana	the upward breath
व्यान	vyāna	vyana	the breath that pervades the whole body
ब्रह्मरन्ध्र	brahma-randhra	brahmarandhra	"opening of brahman": the aperture at the crown of the head
कन्द	kanda	kanda	bulb; the root from which the channels spring (HYP 3.113)
तत्त्व	tattva	tattva	"thatness": true principle, element
आकाश	ākāśa	akasha	space, ether

Texts and language (18)

Devanāgarī	IAST	Usual spelling	Meaning
वेद	veda	veda	knowledge; the four oldest collections of sacred texts
ऋग्वेद	ṛg-veda	rigveda	the Veda of hymns (ṛc, verse of praise)
उपनिषद्	upaniṣad	upanishad	"sitting near": the philosophical texts that close the Veda
श्रुति	śruti	shruti	"what is heard": revealed scripture
स्मृति	smṛti	smriti	"what is remembered": tradition; also memory
सूत्र	sūtra	sutra	thread; a short aphorism
भाष्य	bhāṣya	bhashya	commentary
योगसूत्र	yoga-sūtra	Yoga Sutra	Patañjali's aphorisms on yoga
भगवद्गीता	bhagavad-gītā	Bhagavad Gita	"Song of the Lord", in the Mahābhārata
हठप्रदीपिका	haṭha-pradīpikā	Hatha Yoga Pradipika	"Little lamp on haṭha", Svātmārāma, 15th century
संहिता	saṃhitā	samhita	collection; a text joined by sandhi
पुराण	purāṇa	purana	"ancient": the books of ancient lore
महाभारत	mahābhārata	Mahabharata	the great epic of the Bharatas
श्लोक	śloka	shloka	verse; especially the common metre of 32 syllables
अध्याय	adhyāya	adhyaya	chapter, lesson
संस्कृत	saṃskṛta	Sanskrit	"put together, refined, perfected": the language
देवनागरी	devanāgarī	Devanagari	"divine city writing": the script in which Sanskrit is usually written
अक्षर	akṣara	akshara	imperishable; a syllable, a letter

Rites and sacred life (34)

Devanāgarī	IAST	Usual spelling	Meaning
पूजा	pūjā	puja	honour, worship, adoration
आरती	āratī	aarti	light waved before a deity (a Hindi word, from Sanskrit ārātrika)
गुरु	guru	guru	heavy, weighty; venerable; spiritual teacher
शिष्य	śiṣya	shishya	pupil, disciple
परम्परा	paramparā	parampara	uninterrupted succession, lineage
दीक्षा	dīkṣā	diksha	consecration, initiation
साधन	sādhana	sadhana	means of accomplishing; spiritual practice
साधक	sādhaka	sadhaka	practitioner, one who accomplishes
आश्रम	āśrama	ashram	hermitage; a stage of life
सत्सङ्ग	satsaṅga	satsang	association with the good
कीर्तन	kīrtana	kirtan	mentioning, repeating, telling; in devotion, chanting the divine names together
भजन	bhajana	bhajan	reverence, adoration; in Hindi, bhajan, a devotional song
प्रसाद	prasāda	prasad	grace, favour; food offered to a deity and then shared
नमस्	namas	namaḥ	bow, obeisance, reverential salutation
नमस्कार	namaskāra	namaskar	the word "namas", homage, adoration
प्रणाम	praṇāma	pranam	bowing, respectful salutation, prostration
होम	homa	homa, havan	oblation into the fire
यज्ञ	yajña	yajna	worship, sacrifice, offering
तीर्थ	tīrtha	tirtha	ford; a place of pilgrimage
गङ्गा	gaṅgā	Ganga	"swift-goer": the river Ganges
तिलक	tilaka	tilak	a mark on the forehead
रुद्राक्ष	rudrākṣa	rudraksha	"eye of Rudra": the seed used for rosaries
तुलसी	tulasī	tulsi	holy basil, sacred to Viṣṇu
व्रत	vrata	vrat	vow, religious observance
पूर्णिमा	pūrṇimā	purnima	the day of full moon
एकादशी	ekādaśī	ekadashi	the eleventh day of the lunar fortnight, a fast day
स्वामिन्	svāmin	swami	owner, master, lord; title of a monk
संन्यास	saṃnyāsa	sannyasa	renunciation of the world
ऋषि	ṛṣi	rishi	seer, inspired poet of the Vedic hymns
मुनि	muni	muni	sage, ascetic, one under a vow of silence
ब्रह्ममुहूर्त	brahma-muhūrta	brahma muhurta	"hour of brahman", a particular hour of the day; traditionally the hour before dawn
मौन	mauna	maun	silence, a vow of silence
सेवा	sevā	seva	service, attendance
सात्त्विक	sāttvika	sattvic	of the nature of sattva: pure, clear

Five traps worth knowing

Karma or karman? The Sanskrit stem is karman; karma is its nominative form and the usual spelling. Both are correct.
Two similar words. Mālā (long ā), a garland or rosary, is not mala, an impurity.
Haṭha does not mean "sun and moon". The dictionary gives "force"; the sun-moon explanation is a later, symbolic one (see the Hatha Yoga Pradipika page).
Uttāna does not mean "intense stretch". Monier-Williams gives "stretched out, lying on the back"; the modern gloss comes from the posture.
Namaste is not one dictionary word. It is namas, salutation, plus te, to you. Our namaste page gives the details.

Going further

Learning these words is a form of svādhyāya, the study the Yoga Sutras recommend. Our book Sanskrit for Yogis gives complete Devanāgarī tables, a pronunciation key, the basic sandhi rules, eleven mantras word by word and a themed glossary of 386 terms, with exercises.

Questions people ask

What does the word yoga mean?

Yoga comes from the root yuj, to yoke or join. Monier-Williams' dictionary first gives 'the act of yoking, joining, attaching', then many senses, among them application, concentration and union. Patañjali defines it as the stilling of the movements of the mind (Yoga Sutra 1.2).

What does the word Sanskrit mean?

Saṃskṛta means 'put together, well formed, perfected': the refined language, as opposed to the everyday speech of the people. It is the language of the Vedas, the Upaniṣads, the Bhagavad Gita and all the classical texts of yoga.

Why are Sanskrit words written with dots and dashes?

That is IAST, the International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration. A bar marks a long vowel (ā), a dot under a letter marks a retroflex sound (ṭ, ḍ, ṇ) or ṣ, and ś is a soft sh. Without these marks, different words look the same: śava (corpse) and sava (pressing of soma) are both written 'sava'.

Which Sanskrit words should a beginner learn first?

Start with the words you hear in every class: yoga, āsana, prāṇāyāma, śavāsana, namaste, oṃ, mantra, dhyāna, śānti. Then the eight limbs (yama to samādhi), which give the map of the whole practice.

Sources

Monier Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, University of Cologne checked October 17, 2026
Monier-Williams, full digital text (Cologne Sanskrit Lexicon project, csl-orig), used to check each entry checked October 17, 2026
Svātmārāma, Haṭhayogapradīpikā, Sanskrit text (GRETIL), for the hatha terms absent from the dictionary checked October 17, 2026
Patañjali, Yogasūtra, Sanskrit text (GRETIL), for the references YS checked October 17, 2026