* Ancient Origins: Sanskrit is related to other Indo-European languages, and its origins can be traced back to a proto-language, likely spoken around 4500-2500 BCE.
* Vedic Sanskrit: The oldest documented form of Sanskrit is Vedic Sanskrit, found in the Vedas, a collection of ancient hymns and religious texts. These texts are estimated to date back to 1500-500 BCE.
* Classical Sanskrit: Classical Sanskrit, the standardized form of the language, emerged around the 5th century BCE and flourished for centuries. It was used in literature, philosophy, religion, and scientific writings.
* Continued Evolution: Even after Classical Sanskrit solidified, the language continued to evolve, with regional and time-specific variations developing.
Therefore, it's more accurate to say that Sanskrit has a long history of evolution, with roots going back thousands of years. There isn't a single "start date" for the language.