पत्रलेखनम् · प्रार्थनापत्रम्
Sanskrit Application & Patra Format
How to write an application (प्रार्थनापत्रम्) or a letter (पत्रम्) in Sanskrit — the exact format exams expect, the phrases you need, and ready-to-use samples with their Hindi meaning.
Ready-to-use Sanskrit applications and letters
Each one with a Hindi meaning, the key words explained, and the changes for a girl student.
Leave Application (1, 2, 3 days)
अवकाशार्थं प्रार्थनापत्रम् — family function, travel, 1 to 3 days.
Sick Leave Application
रुग्णतायाः कारणात् — fever, headache, stomach ache.
Application for Urgent Work
आवश्यककार्यार्थम् — urgent piece of work at home.
Fee Concession Application
शुल्कमुक्त्यर्थम् — full or part fee waiver.
Letter to Father
पितरं प्रति पत्रम् — informal letter from hostel.
Letter to Friend
मित्रं प्रति पत्रम् — congratulating a friend.
Two kinds of patra: formal and informal
Sanskrit letter-writing (पत्रलेखनम्) has two kinds. An औपचारिकम् पत्रम् (formal letter) is written to a principal, teacher or official — a प्रार्थनापत्रम् (application) is the most common. An अनौपचारिकम् पत्रम् (informal letter) is written to family and friends. Exams test both, and the format marks matter as much as the language.
Format of a Sanskrit application, step by step
- सेवायाम् — "To", on the first line, followed by the receiver: श्रीमन्तः प्रधानाचार्यमहोदयाः and the school's name and place.
- दिनाङ्कः — the date.
- विषयः — one line saying what the application is for, ending in …प्रार्थनापत्रम्.
- सम्बोधनम् — महोदयाः (Sir) or महोदये (Madam).
- The body — begin with सविनयं निवेदनम् अस्ति यत्, say who you are, give the reason, then the request with अतः प्रार्थना अस्ति यत्…
- Closing — धन्यवादाः, then भवताम् आज्ञाकारी शिष्यः (boy) or शिष्या (girl), your name, class and roll number.
Phrases every Sanskrit application uses
| Sanskrit | Hindi | English |
| सेवायाम् | सेवा में | To (opening line) |
| प्रधानाचार्यमहोदयाः | प्रधानाचार्य महोदय | The Principal |
| दिनाङ्कः | दिनांक | Date |
| विषयः | विषय | Subject |
| महोदयाः / महोदये | महोदय / महोदया | Sir / Madam |
| सविनयं निवेदनम् अस्ति यत् | सविनय निवेदन है कि | I humbly submit that |
| अतः | अतः, इसलिए | Therefore |
| प्रार्थना अस्ति यत् | प्रार्थना है कि | I request that |
| अवकाशं प्रदाय माम् अनुगृह्णन्तु | अवकाश देकर मुझ पर कृपा करें | Kindly grant me leave |
| धन्यवादाः | धन्यवाद | Thank you |
| भवताम् आज्ञाकारी शिष्यः / शिष्या | आपका आज्ञाकारी शिष्य / आपकी आज्ञाकारी शिष्या | Your obedient student |
| अत्र कुशलं तत्रास्तु | यहाँ कुशल है, वहाँ भी कुशल हो | All is well here; may it be so there (informal letters) |
Number of days and class names in Sanskrit
The two things you change most often in a leave application.
| Days (Sanskrit) | Hindi | English |
| एकदिवसस्य | एक दिन का | 1 day |
| दिवसद्वयस्य | दो दिन का | 2 days |
| दिवसत्रयस्य | तीन दिन का | 3 days |
| दिवसचतुष्टयस्य | चार दिन का | 4 days |
| सप्ताहस्य | एक सप्ताह का | 1 week |
| कक्षा — Class | Hindi | English |
| षष्ठी | छठी | 6th |
| सप्तमी | सातवीं | 7th |
| अष्टमी | आठवीं | 8th |
| नवमी | नौवीं | 9th |
| दशमी | दसवीं | 10th |
| एकादशी | ग्यारहवीं | 11th |
| द्वादशी | बारहवीं | 12th |
In the body, the class is joined to the word कक्षा: अष्टमकक्षायाः छात्रः = "a student of class 8". For more numbers see Sanskrit numbers 1–100.
Five mistakes that cost marks
- Forgetting सेवायाम् or the विषयः line — both carry format marks.
- Writing छात्रः / शिष्यः / पीडितः when the writer is a girl. Use छात्रा / शिष्या / पीडिता.
- Mixing Hindi words into the body. Keep every word Sanskrit: अवकाशः (not छुट्टी), विद्यालयः (not स्कूल).
- Missing the full stop । (पूर्णविरामः) at the end of each sentence.
- Leaving out the request sentence — अतः प्रार्थना अस्ति यत्… is the heart of the application.
Also asked in exams: Sanskrit essays (nibandh) with Hindi meaning.
Frequently asked questions
How do you start an application in Sanskrit?
With सेवायाम् (To), then the receiver — श्रीमन्तः प्रधानाचार्यमहोदयाः — and the school's name. Then write दिनाङ्कः (date), विषयः (subject) and the address महोदयाः.
What is 'application' called in Sanskrit?
प्रार्थनापत्रम् (prārthanāpatram). A letter in general is पत्रम्, and letter-writing is पत्रलेखनम्.
What is 'leave' in Sanskrit?
अवकाशः (avakāśaḥ). 'For leave' is अवकाशार्थम्, and '2 days' leave' is दिवसद्वयस्य अवकाशः.
How does a girl end a Sanskrit application?
With भवताम् आज्ञाकारिणी शिष्या (or simply भवदीया शिष्या), followed by her name, class and roll number.