Sanskrit Learning Books

Since 1975 eleven different Sanskrit text books covering the Junior & Senior School curricula have been written and used successfully in the classroom by teachers at St James schools, London. There is now a set of 7 Junior School text books, a fast-track introductory course book, and 3 text books based on the Mahābhārata for the Senior School curriculum.  All books are published by Motilal Banarsidass a famous Indian publisher and the most reliable vendor. The latest editions of each textbook are available from their website. Specific links are given below.

To view the books from the inside follow these links to our YouTube and pdf presentations.

Read Professor Richard Gombrich’s forward to the St. James Sanskrit Course for Children curriculum.

Junior School Books

Sanskrit is Fun, Parts 1-3


A4 with black and white illustrations

Part One of the Sanskrit, junior level course deals with learning the Sanskrit alphabet and is aimed at around five years of age, and is also suitable for students of any age who wish to study the Sanskrit alphabet in a fun and accessible way. Part one has 77 pages.

Part Two continues with teaching the Sanskrit alphabet and is aimed at around five to six years of age, but is suitable for students of all ages. Part two has 78 pages.

Part Three concludes the study of the alphabet with conjunct consonants. Reading advances to first sentences and stories. Part 3 has 63 pages.

Careful pronunciation of the sounds is most important and audio files are available on the ISER website. These provide a helpful accompaniment to each book.

The large size of the script in the Sanskrit is Fun books also gives beginners the opportunity to see the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet clearly, with plenty of space for copying. Page layout is pleasing and the many playful drawings introduce an amusing element. The writing of the Devanagari letters is, of course, a source of the greatest satisfaction.

By the end of Part Three, the student will be reading and writing Sanskrit words. For extra study support use the free videos on the ISER website – Series One, videos 1 to 5.

The latest editions of these books can be purchased directly from the publisher, Motilal.

Sanskrit is Fun Part 1  ISBN (Paperback):  978-93-90064-23-6

Sanskrit is Fun Part 2  ISBN (Paperback):  978-93-90064-23-3

Sanskrit is Fun Part 3  ISBN (Paperback):  978-93-90064-25-0

Sanskrit is Fun is followed by The Stories of Krishna.

Sanskrit is Fun, Part 1
Sanskrit is Fun, Part 2
Sanskrit is Fun, Part 3

The Stories of Krishna, Parts 1-2


A4 with black and white illustrations

Part One is designed for children around the age of seven who are fairly fluent in reading Sanskrit script. The stories of Krishna’s boyhood are derived from the Srimad Bhagavatam. It covers some of the basic parts of a sentence; the first four case endings; three stories; practice for reading the script. Part one of the Stories of Krishna is 162 pages long. The Stories of Krishna Part One is a workbook in which a pupil may write the answers.

Part Two starts with a brief revision of the main grammatical points covered in the first volume and then presents the final three case endings; an introduction to all the forms of a typical noun in each of the three genders; an introduction to all the forms of a typical verb in the present, future and past tenses; nine further stories based on the early life of Krishna. Part two of the Stories of Krishna is 189 pages long. It is designed for pupils around the age of eight who have completed Part One. The stories of Krishna’s boyhood are derived from the Srimad Bhagavatam. Please note – Part two is not in workbook format.

The latest editions of these books should be purchased directly from the publisher Motilal Banarsidass:

The Stories of Krishna (Parts I – II Bound Together)  ISBN(Hardbound):  8120835980, 9788120835986

The Stories of Krishna, Part 1  ISBN (Paperback):  978-93-90064-27-4 Motilal

The Stories of Krishna, Part 2  ISBN (Paperback):  978-93-90064-28-1 Motilal

The Stories of Krishna is followed by The Stories of Rāma

The Stories of Krishna, Part 1
The Stories of Krishna, Part 2

The Stories of Rāma, Parts 1-2


A4 with black and white illustrations

The Story of Rāma is aimed at children between eight and ten years of age. The two parts together relate in 16 episodes the story of the Rāmāyaṇa.

Part one contains the first eight stories of Rāma. It begins with a revision of the grammar learned in The Stories of Krishna and then goes on to introduce the standard method of transliteration of the Sanskrit script; the gerund (‘having done something’); various Sanskrit idioms; and the declension of the Sanskrit word ‘that’ in all three genders.

Part two of The Story of Rāma contains the final eight stories, beginning with a revision of the grammar learned so far, and then going on to cover an introduction to the imperative mood; other important noun and pronoun declensions; gerund with prefixes; the past passive participle; the conjugation of the middle voice and the verb ‘to be’ in present, future and past; the completion of the standard method of transliterating Sanskrit script.

The latest editions of these books can be purchased directly from the publisher, Motilal Banarsidass:

The Story of Rāma Part  1  ISBN (Paperback):  978-93-90064-29-8 Motilal

The Story of Rāma Part 2  ISBN (Paperback):  978-93-90064-30-4 Motilal

The Stories of Rāma, Part 1
The Stories of Rāma, Part 2

Senior School Books

Sanskrit: An Introductory Course

This book introduces the alphabet and combinations of letters. It includes the basic forms

of nouns and verbs and simple sentence construction. Plentiful exercises aid learning, and

captivating stories demonstrate Sanskrit in action.

This alternative introductory course aims to fast-track 11-year-old beginners, or adults, preparing them for the ‘Stories from the Mahābhārata’.

The latest edition of this book can be purchased directly from the publisher, Motilal Banarsidass.

ISBN: 978-93-90064-74-8 (PB) Motilal

Sanskrit: An Introductory Course

Stories from the Mahābhārata

Stories from the Mahābhārata, retells the ‘Mahābhārata’ epic in simple Sanskrit episodes. In each chapter, a theme which appears in the Sanskrit epic is discussed.

In these volumes, Stories from the Mahābhārata, (Parts 1, 2 and 3), new grammar topics are introduced in a systematic way, including complementary sentences, question words, indefinite expressions, relationship nouns and passive verbs. Later in the course, more noun and verb forms are introduced, including nouns ending in consonants and the imperative. Other topics taught are prefixes, the main types of Sanskrit compounds, and the sandhi rules concerning the joining of Sanskrit words.

There are also crossword puzzles testing grammar and vocabulary. The course provides varied material to keep the learning experience enjoyable and fun. Most of the grammar needed as preparation for the IGCSE, as well as to provide access to original Sanskrit texts, is covered in these books.

The latest edition of these books can be purchased directly from the publisher, Motilal Banarsidass.

Stories from the Mahābhārata, part 1 ISBN: 978-93-90064-34-2 Motilal

Stories from the Mahābhārata, part 2 ISBN: 978-93-90064-35-9 Motilal

Stories from the Mahābhārata, part 3 ISBN: 978-93-90064-36-6 Motilal

Stories from the Mahābhārata, set ISBN: 978-93-90064-52-6

Please note that the free videos available on the ISER site accompany all these textbooks.

Stories from the Mahābhārata, Part 1
Stories from the Mahābhārata, Part 2
Stories from the Mahābhārata, Part 3