Lang Lakar (लङ् लकार) is the past tense (imperfect) in Sanskrit grammar. It is used to describe actions that happened in the past — what someone did or was doing. Lang Lakar is identified by the augment 'अ' (a-prefix, called Augment or वृद्धि/आगम) that is added before the verb root. It is one of the most important lakars for Sanskrit examinations from class 6 to class 10.
Lang Lakar = Past Tense (लङ् लकार = भूतकाल)
Key feature: augment 'अ' added before verb root
Third person singular ending: -त् (अपठत् = he read)
First person singular ending: -म् (अपठम् = I read)
Third person plural ending: -न् (अपठन् = they read)
Signal words: ह्यः (yesterday), पुरा (formerly), तदा (then)
No augment = Lat Lakar (present); with अ = Lang Lakar (past)
Most commonly tested past tense in class 6–10 Sanskrit exams
लङ् लकार = भूतकाल (Past Tense — Imperfect). जो कार्य बीत चुका हो, उसे व्यक्त करने के लिए लङ् लकार का प्रयोग किया जाता है। Lang Lakar describes actions completed in the past. Key feature: The augment 'अ' (a-prefix) is added before the verb root. Signal words for Lang Lakar: ह्यः (yesterday), पुरा (formerly/in the past), तदा (then/at that time), कदाचित् (once/sometimes).
The most important rule of Lang Lakar: an augment 'अ' is added before the verb root.
Root → Augment + Root: भू (to be) → अ + भव = अभव → अभवत् (he was) पठ् (to read) → अ + पठ = अपठ → अपठत् (he read) गम् → अ + गच्छ = अगच्छ → अगच्छत् (he went) लिख् → अ + लिख = अलिख → अलिखत् (he wrote)
When the root begins with a vowel, the augment combines: गम् starts with 'g' (consonant) → अ + ग = अग. If a root began with 'a', the augment would combine to give ā (ā + a = ā), but most common verbs start with consonants.
Parasmaipada endings for Lang Lakar:
पुरुष | एकवचन | द्विवचन | बहुवचन प्रथम पुरुष (He/She/It) | -त् | -ताम् | -न् मध्यम पुरुष (You) | -ः | -तम् | -त उत्तम पुरुष (I/We) | -म् | -व | -म
Note: These endings look different from Lat Lakar. Prathama singular -त् (not -ति); Uttama singular -म् (not -मि).
भू (to be) — Lang Lakar: अभवत्, अभवताम्, अभवन् | अभवः, अभवतम्, अभवत | अभवम्, अभवाव, अभवाम
पठ् (to read) — Lang Lakar: अपठत्, अपठताम्, अपठन् | अपठः, अपठतम्, अपठत | अपठम्, अपठाव, अपठाम
गम् (to go) — Lang Lakar: अगच्छत्, अगच्छताम्, अगच्छन् | अगच्छः, अगच्छतम्, अगच्छत | अगच्छम्, अगच्छाव, अगच्छाम
लिख् (to write) — Lang Lakar: अलिखत्, अलिखताम्, अलिखन् | अलिखः, अलिखतम्, अलिखत | अलिखम्, अलिखाव, अलिखाम
वद् (to speak) — Lang Lakar: अवदत्, अवदताम्, अवदन् | अवदः, अवदतम्, अवदत | अवदम्, अवदाव, अवदाम
Examples: • सः अपठत् — He read. • तौ अपठताम् — They two read. • ते अपठन् — They all read. • त्वं अगच्छः — You went. • अहं अलिखम् — I wrote. • वयं अभवाम — We were. • बालकः विद्यालयम् अगच्छत् — The boy went to school. • रामः वनम् अगच्छत् — Ram went to the forest. • आचार्यः छात्रान् अपाठयत् — The teacher taught the students. • सा पुष्पाणि अचिनोत् — She plucked flowers.
Identify Lang Lakar by: (1) The 'अ' prefix before the verb root — 'अपठत्' (not 'पठति'). (2) The ending -त् for third person singular (not -ति). (3) Context — the action is in the past; signal words like ह्यः (yesterday), पुरा (formerly). (4) Third person plural ends in -न् (not -न्ति). Key confusion: Lot Lakar (imperative) third person singular ends in -तु; Lang ends in -त्. The 'अ' augment is the simplest identifier — if it's there, it's Lang Lakar.
Lang Lakar (लङ् लकार) is the past tense (imperfect) in Sanskrit grammar. It describes actions that happened in the past. Key feature: the augment 'अ' is added before the verb root. Example: पठ् (to read) → अपठत् (he read). Third person singular ends in -त् (not -ति as in Lat Lakar). Signal words: ह्यः (yesterday), पुरा (formerly), तदा (then).
The augment (आगम) rule of Lang Lakar states that the letter 'अ' is added before the verb root before personal endings are attached. Examples: पठ् → अ + पठत् = अपठत् (he read); गम् → अ + गच्छत् = अगच्छत् (he went); लिख् → अ + लिखत् = अलिखत् (he wrote); भू → अ + भवत् = अभवत् (he was). This 'अ' prefix is the clearest marker of Lang Lakar and distinguishes it from Lat Lakar (present tense) which has no augment.
Parasmaipada Lang Lakar endings: Prathama Purush (Third): Singular -त्, Dual -ताम्, Plural -न्. Madhyama Purush (Second): Singular -ः, Dual -तम्, Plural -त. Uttama Purush (First): Singular -म्, Dual -व, Plural -म. These are added after the augment 'अ' and the verb root.
Patha (पठ्) dhatu Lang Lakar: Prathama — अपठत्, अपठताम्, अपठन्. Madhyama — अपठः, अपठतम्, अपठत. Uttama — अपठम्, अपठाव, अपठाम. Example: 'रामः पाठं अपठत्' — Ram read the lesson. 'वयं संस्कृतम् अपठाम' — We read Sanskrit (in the past).
Lat Lakar (Present): no augment. Ending -ति (3rd singular). Example: पठति (reads now). Lang Lakar (Past): augment 'अ' before verb. Ending -त् (3rd singular). Example: अपठत् (read in past). The 'अ' augment is the most reliable test: if the verb has 'अ' before it (अपठत्, अगच्छत्), it is Lang Lakar. If not (पठति, गच्छति), it is Lat Lakar.
1. सः विद्यालयम् अगच्छत् — He went to school. 2. बालकाः क्रीडनम् अखेलन् — The boys played. 3. अहं जलं अपिबम् — I drank water. 4. आचार्यः संस्कृतम् अपाठयत् — The teacher taught Sanskrit. 5. रामः वनम् अगच्छत् — Ram went to the forest.
Gam (गम्) dhatu Lang Lakar: Prathama — अगच्छत्, अगच्छताम्, अगच्छन्. Madhyama — अगच्छः, अगच्छतम्, अगच्छत. Uttama — अगच्छम्, अगच्छाव, अगच्छाम. Note: गम् changes to गच्छ (same as in Lat Lakar), then the augment 'अ' is prefixed: अ + गच्छत् = अगच्छत्. Example: 'सः बाजारं अगच्छत्' — He went to the market.
Signal words that indicate Lang Lakar (past tense) in Sanskrit: ह्यः — yesterday; पुरा — formerly, in the past; तदा — then, at that time; कदाचित् — once, sometimes; प्रागेव — before; अतीते — in the past; भूतकाले — in the past time. When you see these words in a Sanskrit sentence or translation exercise, use Lang Lakar forms.
To convert from Lat Lakar (present) to Lang Lakar (past): (1) Add the augment 'अ' before the verb root. (2) Change the ending from Lat endings (-ति, -मि) to Lang endings (-त्, -म्). Example: Lat: रामः पठति → Ram reads. Lang: रामः अपठत् → Ram read. Another: Lat: अहं गच्छामि → I go. Lang: अहं अगच्छम् → I went. The process is: identify the Lat form, add 'अ' before the root, change ending.
पठ् (Path) Dhatu Roop in Sanskrit (All Lakar)
Learn the complete Path Dhatu Roop (पठ् धातु रूप) in Sanskrit grammar. Master all 5 Lakars (Tenses) including Lat Lakar, Lrit Lakar, and Lang Lakar for class 6-10.
फल शब्द रूप संस्कृत – सम्पूर्ण विभक्ति तालिका (Phala Shabd Roop)
Phala Shabd Roop in Sanskrit: फल (अ-कारांत नपुंसकलिंग) के सातों विभक्तियों में रूप। पुस्तक, वन, जल, पत्र पर भी लागू। Class 6–10 संस्कृत।
Phal (Fruit) Shabd Roop in Sanskrit Grammar
Learn the complete Phal (Fal/Fruit) Shabd Roop in Sanskrit grammar. Easy table for Napunsakling (Neuter Gender) Akaram noun declension.
राजन् शब्द रूप संस्कृत – सम्पूर्ण विभक्ति तालिका (Rajan Shabd Roop)
Rajan Shabd Roop in Sanskrit: राजन् (नकारांत पुल्लिंग) शब्द के सातों विभक्तियों और तीनों वचनों में रूप। पूरी विभक्ति तालिका के साथ संस्कृत व्याकरण।
Ram Shabd Roop in Sanskrit — राम शब्द रूप सभी विभक्तियों में
Ram shabd roop in Sanskrit — all 7 vibhakti and 3 vachan forms of Ram (राम) shabda. Complete declension table for class 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Sanskrit students.
Turn this guide into revision flashcards, a practice exam, or an AI-generated podcast — free, no signup required.