1. Understanding the System:
* Base Numbers: The Sanskrit number system is quite similar to our own, with specific words for each digit and place value. Here are the first few:
* एक (eka) - 1
* द्वौ (dva) - 2
* त्रि (tri) - 3
* चतुर् (chatvr) - 4
* पञ्च (pañc) - 5
* षट् (shat) - 6
* सप्त (sapt) - 7
* अष्ट (ashṭa) - 8
* नव (nava) - 9
* दश (dasa) - 10
* एकादश (ekādaśa) - 11
* द्वादश (dvādaśa) - 12
* त्रयोदश (trayodaśa) - 13
* चतुर्दश (chaturdaśa) - 14
* पञ्चदश (pañcadaśa) - 15
* षोडश (ṣoḍaśa) - 16
* सप्तदश (saptadaśa) - 17
* अष्टादश (aṣṭādaśa) - 18
* एकोनविंशति (ekonavimśati) - 19
* विंशति (vimśati) - 20
* त्रिंशत् (triṃśat) - 30
* चत्वारिंशत् (chaturvimśat) - 40
* पञ्चाशत् (pañcāśat) - 50
* षष्टि (ṣaṣṭi) - 60
* सप्तति (sapati) - 70
* अशीति (aśīti) - 80
* नवति (navati) - 90
* शत (śata) - 100
* सहस्र (sahasra) - 1000
* Place Values:
* "शत" (śata) - Hundreds
* "सहस्र" (sahasra) - Thousands
* "लक्ष" (lakṣa) - Hundred Thousands (100,000)
* "कोटि" (koṭi) - Ten Millions (10,000,000)
* and so on...
2. Reading Years:
* Break Down the Year: For example, let's read 2023:
* 2000 - "द्वौ सहस्र" (dva sahasra) - Two Thousand
* 23 - "त्रयोविंशति" (trayo vimśati) - Twenty-three
* Combine: "द्वौ सहस्र त्रयोविंशति" (dva sahasra trayovimśati) - Two Thousand Twenty-three
3. Common Year Ranges:
* सन् (san): The word "सन्" (san) is often used before the year number to indicate "in the year..."
* Example: सन् २०२३ (san dva sahasra trayovimśati) - in the year 2023
4. Historical Years:
* For years in the past or future, use the appropriate Sanskrit word for the era:
* "विक्रम संवत्" (vikrama samvat) - Vikram Era
* "शाके" (śāke) - Shaka Era
* "कलियुग" (kaliyuga) - Kali Yuga
* "पौष" (pauṣa) - In the Month of Pausha
* "वैशाख" (vaiśākha) - In the Month of Vaiśākha
5. Example:
* "सन् २०२३ विक्रम संवत्" (san dva sahasra trayovimśati vikrama samvat) - in the year 2023 Vikram Era.
Important Note:
The specific phrasing and word choice for expressing years in Sanskrit can vary depending on the context and the region. It's always helpful to consult with a native speaker or a Sanskrit scholar for the most accurate and appropriate way to express a year in Sanskrit.