1. पत्र (patra): This is the most common and literal translation of "paper". It literally means "leaf" and was initially used for palm leaves used as writing material. Later, with the introduction of paper, it started being used for paper too.
2. कागद (kagada): This is a Persian word that was adopted into Sanskrit. It refers specifically to paper made from pulp, which was introduced to India from Persia.
3. तौलिया (tauliya): This is another Persian word adopted into Sanskrit, though it's less commonly used than "kagada". It also refers to paper.
4. लेखनपत्र (lekhanapatra): This is a compound word meaning "writing material". It's more formal and less commonly used in everyday speech.
5. भूर्जपत्र (bhoorjapatra): This refers to birch bark, which was another common writing material in ancient India. While not directly paper, it could be used in the context of writing materials.
Ultimately, the best Sanskrit translation for "paper" depends on the context and the type of paper being referred to. "पत्र" is the most common and versatile word, while "कागद" is more specific to modern paper.