मित्राय नमः | Sanskrit Grade 7 CBSE

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शब्दभण्डारम् · Six key words

Tap each word to see how it is read (IAST) and what it means. Several of these are names of the same friendly Sun.

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The three big ideas

Mitra = friend = Sun. The word मित्र means “friend”. The Sun is called Mitra because it is the truest friend — it gives light and warmth to everyone, asking nothing in return.
Many names, one Sun. Sanskrit honours the Sun by many names — सूर्यः, आदित्यः, भास्करः, रविः, भानुः — each pointing to a quality (light-maker, son of Aditi, and so on).
A salutation, not a story. This lesson is built around the act of saluting: मित्राय नमः — “salutation to Mitra” — repeated with each name of the Sun.
Daily rhythm. The Sun rises each morning; greeting it is a way of beginning the day with gratitude and energy.

The rule. The word नमः (salutation) takes the चतुर्थी विभक्ति (dative). Whoever is being saluted appears in the dative.
The marker. For अकारान्त masculine nouns the चतुर्थी एकवचन ending is -आय: मित्र → मित्राय, सूर्य → सूर्याय, गणेश → गणेशाय.
Other words too. स्वस्ति (well-being) and नमस्कारः also take the dative — स्वस्ति प्रजाभ्यः, गुरवे नमः.
The four Sun-greetings (a sample): मित्राय नमः · रवये नमः · सूर्याय नमः · भास्कराय नमः — each name placed in the dative before नमः.

Worked example. Make “salutation to the teacher (गुरु)”.

Step 1. The word that governs the case is नमः → it needs the dative.

Step 2. Put गुरु into चतुर्थी एकवचन. (उकारान्त stems differ from -आय; गुरु → गुरवे.)

Step 3. Place the dative form before नमः.

Answer: गुरवे नमः — “Salutation to the teacher.”

Common mistake: using the nominative or accusative with नमः. “सूर्यः नमः” or “सूर्यम् नमः” is wrong — नमः always wants the dative: सूर्याय नमः.

The value. Saluting the Sun teaches gratitude for what sustains us — light, food (through plants), the seasons. We honour what we depend on.
Respect, expressed. नमः is the same word in “नमस्ते” and “नमस्कारः”. Learning it well helps you greet elders and teachers with genuine respect, not just habit.
How to read it. In any “___ नमः” line, the word before नमः is in the dative and names who is being honoured. Identify that word first.

A few of the Sun’s names in salutation (public-domain mantra phrases):

मित्राय नमः · रवये नमः · सूर्याय नमः · भास्कराय नमः

mitrāya namaḥ · ravaye namaḥ · sūryāya namaḥ · bhāskarāya namaḥ

Meaning: “Salutation to Mitra; to Ravi; to Sūrya; to Bhāskara” — four names of the one Sun, each in the dative, each a small act of thanks.

Where you'll meet it

Sanskrit, all around you

Greetings & prayers

“नमस्ते”, “गुरवे नमः”, “गणेशाय नमः” — salutations open prayers, classes and ceremonies everywhere in India. Knowing the dative tells you exactly whom each one honours.

Yoga & daily routine

The twelve Sun-salutation names are chanted during morning practice across the country. Understanding them turns chanting into meaning rather than just sound.

Reading inscriptions

Temple plaques and old manuscripts often begin with a salutation in the dative. Spotting the -आय / -वे ending before नमः lets you read who the work is dedicated to.

Check yourself

Competency quiz

A mix of vocabulary, grammar (नमः + चतुर्थी विभक्ति) and comprehension — MCQ, assertion–reason and a case study — testing whether you can use the ideas, not just recall them.

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