Vidhilinglakar (विधिलिङ् लकार) is the optative/potential mood in Sanskrit grammar. It is used to express obligation, duty, recommendation, wish, or what 'should' be done. In translation, Vidhilinglakar corresponds to 'should,' 'ought to,' 'must,' or 'it is necessary to.' It is one of the most tested lakars in Sanskrit examinations from class 6 to class 10, particularly for translating sentences with 'चाहिए' (should) from Hindi to Sanskrit.
Vidhilinglakar = Should/Ought to (विधिलिङ् = चाहिए)
Used for: obligation, duty, recommendation, wish, possibility
Key marker: vowel 'ए' in all endings
Third person singular ending: -एत् (पठेत् = should read)
First person singular ending: -एयम् (पठेयम् = I should read)
Hindi signal: 'चाहिए' translates to Vidhilinglakar in Sanskrit
No augment 'अ' (distinguishes from Lang Lakar)
One of the most tested lakars in Sanskrit grammar exams
विधिलिङ् लकार = चाहिए / करना चाहिए (Should/Ought to). जिस कार्य को करना उचित हो, जिसे करने की विधि हो, या जिसे करने का आदेश/उपदेश हो — उसे व्यक्त करने के लिए विधिलिङ् लकार का प्रयोग होता है। It expresses: Obligation — 'one should do'; Duty — 'it is the duty of...to'; Advice/recommendation — 'it would be good if...'; Possibility — 'one might do'; Wish — 'may he be...'
Parasmaipada endings for Vidhilinglakar:
पुरुष | एकवचन | द्विवचन | बहुवचन प्रथम पुरुष | -एत् | -एताम् | -एयुः मध्यम पुरुष | -एः | -एतम् | -एत उत्तम पुरुष | -एयम् | -एव | -एम
Key feature: All Vidhilinglakar forms contain the vowel 'ए' (e). Third person singular ends in -एत् (not -ति or -त्).
भू (to be) — Vidhilinglakar: भवेत्, भवेताम्, भवेयुः | भवेः, भवेतम्, भवेत | भवेयम्, भवेव, भवेम
पठ् (to read) — Vidhilinglakar: पठेत्, पठेताम्, पठेयुः | पठेः, पठेतम्, पठेत | पठेयम्, पठेव, पठेम
गम् (to go) — Vidhilinglakar: गच्छेत्, गच्छेताम्, गच्छेयुः | गच्छेः, गच्छेतम्, गच्छेत | गच्छेयम्, गच्छेव, गच्छेम
लिख् (to write) — Vidhilinglakar: लिखेत्, लिखेताम्, लिखेयुः | लिखेः, लिखेतम्, लिखेत | लिखेयम्, लिखेव, लिखेम
वद् (to speak) — Vidhilinglakar: वदेत्, वदेताम्, वदेयुः | वदेः, वदेतम्, वदेत | वदेयम्, वदेव, वदेम
Examples: • छात्रः प्रतिदिनं पठेत् — The student should read every day. • बालकाः माता-पितरौ मन्येरन् — Children should respect their parents. • अहं सत्यं वदेयम् — I should speak the truth. • सः संस्कृतं पठेत् — He should study Sanskrit. • वयं वृक्षान् रक्षेम — We should protect trees. • त्वं गुरुं नमेः — You should bow to the teacher. • नरः धर्मम् आचरेत् — A person should follow dharma. • छात्राः परिश्रमं कुर्युः — Students should work hard.
Identify Vidhilinglakar by: (1) The vowel 'ए' is always present in the ending. (2) Third person singular ends in -एत् (पठेत्, गच्छेत्). (3) No augment 'अ' (unlike Lang Lakar). (4) Context: the sentence expresses obligation, duty, or recommendation — 'should,' 'ought to,' 'must.' (5) Translation hint: if a Hindi sentence contains 'चाहिए,' the Sanskrit equivalent uses Vidhilinglakar.
Key confusion: Lot Lakar (Imperative) vs. Vidhilinglakar: Lot Lakar = command (भवतु = let him be). Vidhilinglakar = should/ought (भवेत् = he should be).
Vidhilinglakar (विधिलिङ् लकार) is the optative/potential mood in Sanskrit. It is used to express what 'should,' 'ought to,' or 'must' be done — obligation, duty, advice, or recommendation. The key marker is the vowel 'ए' in all endings. Third person singular ends in -एत् (e.g., पठेत् = he should read). In Hindi translation, whenever you see 'चाहिए,' use Vidhilinglakar in Sanskrit.
Parasmaipada Vidhilinglakar endings: Prathama Purush (Third): Singular -एत्, Dual -एताम्, Plural -एयुः. Madhyama Purush (Second): Singular -एः, Dual -एतम्, Plural -एत. Uttama Purush (First): Singular -एयम्, Dual -एव, Plural -एम. The vowel 'ए' is present in all forms — this is the clearest identifier.
1. छात्रः प्रतिदिनं पठेत् — The student should read every day. 2. अहं सत्यं वदेयम् — I should speak the truth. 3. सः संस्कृतं पठेत् — He should study Sanskrit. 4. वयं वृक्षान् रक्षेम — We should protect trees. 5. नरः धर्मम् आचरेत् — A person should follow dharma.
Lot Lakar (Imperative) = command. Third person singular ends in -तु (भवतु = let him be; पठतु = let him read). Used for direct orders. Vidhilinglakar (Optative/Should) = obligation or recommendation. Third person singular ends in -एत् (भवेत् = he should be; पठेत् = he should read). Used for duty, advice, what one ought to do. The -तु vs. -एत् distinction is the key difference.
Path (पठ्) dhatu in Vidhilinglakar: Prathama — पठेत्, पठेताम्, पठेयुः. Madhyama — पठेः, पठेतम्, पठेत. Uttama — पठेयम्, पठेव, पठेम. Example: 'बालकाः नित्यं पठेयुः' — Children should study every day.
The Hindi word 'चाहिए' (should/ought to) is translated using Vidhilinglakar in Sanskrit. Examples: Hindi: उसे पढ़ना चाहिए → Sanskrit: सः पठेत्. Hindi: हमें सच बोलना चाहिए → Sanskrit: वयं सत्यं वदेम. Hindi: विद्यार्थियों को परिश्रम करना चाहिए → Sanskrit: छात्राः परिश्रमं कुर्युः. The Vidhilinglakar form agrees with the subject in person and number.
Likh (लिख्) dhatu Vidhilinglakar first person singular (Uttama Purush Ekavachana): लिखेयम् (I should write). Full Uttama Purush row: लिखेयम् (I), लिखेव (we two), लिखेम (we all). Example sentence: 'अहं सुन्दरं लिखेयम्' — I should write beautifully.
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