Pali For Beginners

This is a preview version. To order the complete book, please visit “Bookstore” of website: http://www.unibook.com Or Click on: http://www.unibook.com/unibook/site/bookdetail/?bookid=8371

PĀLI FOR BEGINNERS Dr. ANKUR BARUA MBBS, MD (Community Medicine), MBAIT, MBuddStud (Hong Kong)

Hong Kong, 2009 Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 1

Background: The author had graduated with distinction from the University of Hong Kong (MBuddStud, 2009). He had also completed two other Master Degrees, one from Sikkim Manipal University (MBAIT, 2007) while the other from Manipal University (MBBS-2000, MD in Community Medicine - 2003) and presently working in professional field.

First Publication on 26th August 2009 Buddhist Door, Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Hong Kong

Copyright © Ankur Barua

Address for communication: Dr. ANKUR BARUA Block – EE, No.-80, Flat No.-2A, Salt Lake City, Sector-2, Kolkata - 700091, West Bengal, INDIA. Email:

[email protected]

Mobile: +91-9434485543 (India), +852-96195078 (Hong Kong)

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 2

Contents Items

Page No.

Acknowledgements

04

Preface

05

Pāli Alphabets

06

Pronunciation of Pāli Alphabets

08

Pāli Nouns, Pronouns and Adjectives

11

Declension of Nouns

22

Declension of Pronouns

54

Declension of Numerals

66

Pāli Verbs and Their Uses

72

Derivation of Pāli Verbs According to the Tenses and Voices in Third Person Singular Number

76

Pāli Indeclinables

81

Pāli Phrases From Texts

87

References

95

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 3

Acknowledgements

I wish to express my sincere gratitude and indebtedness to Ven. Dr. Aniruddha, Visiting Professor of Buddhist Studies at the Centre of Buddhist Studies in the University of Hong Kong for his constant encouragement, constructive criticism, personal attention and valuable guidance throughout this work.

I acknowledge gratefully Ven. Dr. Jing Yin, Professor of Buddhist Studies and Director of the Centre of Buddhist Studies in the University of Hong Kong for his kind support, encouragement and timely advice during the compilation of this text book.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my beloved father Dr. Dipak Kumar Barua, who was the earlier Dean of the Faculty Council for Postgraduate Studies in Education, Journalism & Library Science in the University of Calcutta (1987-1991) and the Director of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda (1996-1999) for his technical guidance and valuable advice on various aspects of the Pāli language.

I would also like to convey my sincere thanks to my beloved mother Mrs. Dipa Barua and Ms. Mary Anne Basilio for their constant assistance, keen interest and support during this study.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 4

Preface

The orgin of the Pāli language is rooted in the Prakrits, the vernacular languages, used in northern India during the Middle period of Indian linguistic evolution. Though Pāli is closely related to Sanskrit, but its grammar and structure are simpler. The Traditional Theravadins regard Pāli as the language in which the Buddha (historical – Sakyamuni Buddha) had given his discourses. However, in the opinion of leading linguistic scholars, Pāli was probably a synthetic language created from several vernaculars to make the Buddhist texts comprehensible to Buddhist monks living in different parts of northern India. Pāli language was also used to preserve the Buddhist canon of the Theravada Buddhist tradition, which is regarded as the oldest complete collection of Buddhist texts surviving in an Indian language. As Theravada Buddhism spread to other parts of southern Asia, Pāli as the language of the Buddhist texts spread along with it. Thus, Pāli became a sacred language in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Pāli has been used almost exclusively for Buddhist teachings, although many other religious and literary works related to Buddhism were also written in Pāli . This book is designed to provide the basics of Pāli grammar and vocabulary to enable the reader to understand the discourses of the Buddha in original form. Dr. Ankur Barua

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 5

PĀLI ALPHABETS

The Pāli Alphabet consists of 41 letters, 8 vowels and 33 consonants: 8 Vowels (Sara):

a, aa, i, ii, u, uu, e, o.

33 Consonants (Vya~njana) a) Gutturals [ka.n.thaja]:

k, kh, g, gh, 'n

(ka group [ka vagga]) b) Palatals [taaluja]:

c, ch, j, jh, ~n

(ca group [ca vagga]) c) Cerebrals [mu.dhaja]:

.t, .th, .d, .dh, .n

(.ta group [.t vagga]) d) Dentals [dantaja]:

t, th, d, dh, n

(ta group [ta vagga]) e) Labials [o.t.thaja]:

p, ph, b, bh, m

(pa group [pa vagga])

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 6

The following consonants are known as semi-vowels:

Palatal [taaluja]:

y

Cerebral [mu.dhaja]:

r

Dental [dantaja]:

l

Dental and Labial [danta o.t.thaja]:

v

The special consonants: Dental (sibilant) [dantaja]:

s

Aspirate [kan.thaja]:

h

Cerebral [mu.dhaja]:

.l

Niggahita:

.m

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 7

PRONUNCIATION OF PĀLI ALPHABETS Pāli is a phonetic language and each alphabet has its own characteristic sound.

Pāli Vowels: 8 Vowels (Sara): a, aa, i, ii, u, uu, e, o a

is pronounced like

‘u’

in but

aa

is pronounced like

‘a’

in art

i

is pronounced like

‘I'

in pin

ii

is pronounced like

‘I’

in machine

u

is pronounced like

‘u’

in put

uu

is pronounced like

‘u’

in rule

e

is pronounced like

‘e’

in ten

ee

is pronounced like

‘a’

in fate

o

is pronounced like

‘o’

in hot

oo

is pronounced like

‘o’

in note

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 8

Pāli Consonants 33 Consonants (Vya~njana) k

is pronounced like

‘k’

in key

g

is pronounced like

‘g’

in get

'n

is pronounced like

‘ng’

in ring

c

is pronounced like

‘ch’

in rich

j

is pronounced like

‘j’

in jug

~n

is pronounced like

‘gn’

in signor

.t

is pronounced like

‘t’

in not

.d

is pronounced like

‘d’

in hid

.n

is pronounced like

‘n’

in hint

p

is pronounced like

‘p’

in lip

b

is pronounced like

‘b’

in rib

m

is pronounced like

‘m’

in him

y

is pronounced like

‘y’

in yard

r

is pronounced like

‘r’

in rat

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 9

l

is pronounced like

‘l’

in sell

v

is pronounced like

‘v’

in vile

s

is pronounced like

‘s’

in sit

h

is pronounced like

‘h’

in hut

.l

is pronounced like

‘l’

in felt

.m

is pronounced like

‘ng’

in sing

The vowels " e " and " o " are always long, except when followed by a double consonant; e.g., ettha, o.t.tha. The fifth consonant of each group is called a "nasal". There is no difference between the pronunciation of " 'n " and ".m". The former never stands at the end, but is always followed by a consonant of its group. The dentals " t " and " d " are pronounced with the tip of the tongue placed against the front upper teeth. The aspirates " kh ", " gh ", ".th ", ".dh ", " th ", " dh ", " ph ", " bh ", are pronounced with " h " sound immediately following; e.g., in blockhead, pighead, cat-head, log-head, etc., where the " h " in each is combined with the preceding consonant in pronunciation.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 10

PĀLI NOUNS, PRONOUNS AND ADJECTIVES

In English there are 8 parts of speech. They are all found in Pāli , but the Pāli Grammararians do not classify them in the same way. Their general classification is: (1) Nāma

=

Noun / Pronoun / Adjective

(2) Ākhyāta

=

Verb

(3) Upasagga

=

Prefix

(4) Nipāta

=

Indeclinable Particle (conjunctions, prepositions, adverbs, present participle, past participle, future passive participle)

Pronouns and adjectives are included in the first group with the nouns. Adjectives are treated as nouns because they are declined like nouns. Conjunctions, prepositions, adverbs and all other indeclinables are included in the fourth group.

Gender, Number and Case for all pronouns and adjectives should be in agreement with the corresponding noun.

There are in Pāli as in English three GENDERS and two NUMBERS. These are – GENDER:

(1) Pullioga

=

Masculine

(2) Itthilioga

=

Feminine

(3) Napuŋsakalioga

=

Neuter

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 11

NUMBER:

(1) Ekavacana

=

Singular

(2) Bahuvacana

=

Pleural

InPāli , there are eight CASES namely: (1) Pațhamā

=

Nominative

=

Subject

(2) Dutiyā

=

Accusative

=

Object (To / Towards the motion of movement)

(3) (A) Tatiyā

=

Ablative of Agent

=

By / With / Through

(B) Karaņa

=

Ablative of Instrument

=

By / With / Through

(4) Catutthī

=

Dative

=

For

(5) Pañcamī

=

Ablative of Separation

=

From

(6) Chațțhī

=

Possessive or Genetive

=

Of

(7) Sattamī

=

Locative

=

In / On / At / Upon

(8) Ālapana

=

Vocative

=

Oh!

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 12

The Ablative in English is here divided into Tatiyā, Karaņa and Pañchamī. But, as tatiyā and Karaņa always have similar forms both of them are shown under “instrumental”. Where only the “Ablative” is given then it must be understand that all the three forms of the Ablative are included.

Nouns which denote males are masculine, those which denote females are feminine, but nouns which denote inanimate things and qualities are not always neuter, e.g., rukkha (tree), canda (moon) are masculine. Nadī (river), latā (vine), pañña (wisdom) are feminine. Dhana (wealth), citta (mind) are neuter. Two words denoting the same thing may be, sometimes, in different genders; pāsāņa and silā are both synonymopus for a stone, but the former is masculine and the latter is feminine. One word, without changing its form, may possess two or more genders e.g., geha (house) is masculine and neuter while kucchi (belly) is masculine and feminine. Noun (subject) and verb in a sentence should be in agreement in terms of “person” and “number”.

Therefore, it should be remembered that gender in Pāli is a grammatical distinction existing in words it is called GRAMMATICAL GENDER. All the Nouns, Pronouns and Adjectives are declined according to their corresponding Gender, Number, Case and the stem ending form.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 13

EXAMPLES OF NOUNS CORRESPONSING TO THEIR DECLENSIONS

MASCULINE

STEM ENDING FORM

NOUN

EXAMPLE

a

nara

Gonā pāsāņe tițțhanti

i

aggi

Dīpayo girimhi vasanti

ī

pakkhī

u

garu

Garu mayhaŋ susūnaŋ ucchavo adadi

ū

vidū

Viduno kulavato gehaŋ gacchiŋsu

ā

vanitā

Vanitāyao nāvāhi gaogāyaŋ gacchantu

i

bhūmi

Yuvatīnaŋ pitaro ațaviyā āgamma bhuñjitvā sayiŋsu

ī

ārī

āriyo sakhīhi saha vāpiŋ gantvā nahāyissanti

u

dhenu/ mātu

Dāsiyā mātā dhenuŋ rajjuyā bandhitvā ānesi

a

nayana

i

atthi

u

cakkhu

Mantī hatthinaŋ āruhissati

FEMININE

NEUTER

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Dhanavanto bhātarānaŋ dhanaŋ dātuŋ na icchanti Mayaŋ gāviyā khīraŋ, khīramha dadhiŋ, dadhimhā sappiñ ca labhāma Amhākaŋ pitaro tadā vanamhā madhuŋ āharitvā dadhina saha bhuñjiŋsu

Page 14

PRONOUNS Pronouns in Pāli are also treated as Adjectives and they should be declined using the same Gender, Number and Case as the corresponding Noun. Two personal pronouns like “Amha” and “Tumha” are declined separately because of their frequent usage. These are of the common gender and have no vocative form. We need to keep in mind that “te”, “me”, “vo” and “no” should not be used at the beginning of a sentence. They can also sometimes be used as adjectives while qualifying the nouns. Example: Ayaŋ sīho tamhā vanamhā nikkhamma imasmiŋ magge țhatvā ekaŋ itthiŋ māresi.

EXAMPLES OF PRONOUNS CORRESPONSING TO THE DECLENSIONS OF NOUNS

MASCULINE

FEMININE

NEUTER

STEM ENDING FORM

NOUN

a

nara

So gonā imasmiŋ pāsāņe tițțhanti

i

aggi

Ime dīpayo tasmiŋ girismiŋ vasanti

ī

pakkhī

u

garu

Garu mayhaŋ susūnaŋ ucchavo adadi

ū

vidū

Yo viduno taŋ gehaŋ gacchiŋsu?

ā

vanitā

Aññāyo vanitāyao nāvāhi itarāyaŋ gaogāyaŋ gacchantu

i

bhūmi

Katāmānāŋ Yuvatīnaŋ pitaro aparāya ațaviyā āgamma bhuñjitvā sayiŋsu

ī

ārī

u

dhenu/ mātu

a

nayana

i

atthi

u

cakkhu

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

EXAMPLE OF PRONOUNS

Mantī yaŋ hatthinaŋ āruhissati?

Āriyo sabbāhi sakhīhi saha aññataraŋ vāpiŋ gantvā nahāyissanti Tassā dāsiyā mātā sabbaŋ dhenuŋ rajjuyā bandhitvā ānesi Dhanavanto tassa ubhayānaŋ bhātarānaŋ imaŋ dhanaŋ dātuŋ na icchanti Mayaŋ sabbābhi gāvībhi khīraŋ labhāma Amhākaŋ sabbo pitaro tadā vanamhā madhuŋ āharitvā pivatiŋsu

Page 15

ADJECTIVES Adjectives add special quality and qualify the Nouns. They are declined by using the same Gender, Number and Case as their cprresponding Noun. In a given sentence, the Adjectives should be in agreement with the corresponding Noun in terms of Gender, Number and Case. Ordinary adjectives are “seta” (white), “rassa” (short), “mahanta” (big) and so on. Example: Ratto goņo rassāni tiņāni khādati Setā kaññā nīlam vatthaŋ paridahati

NOUNS USED AS ADJECTIVES The declension of verbal and pronominal adjectives and those ending in “vantu” and “mantu” are different from the other adjectives that qualify the nouns. Adjectival Nouns ending in “vantu” and “mantu” are differently declined from the above masculine nouns ending in “u”. They are often used as adjectives, but they become substantives when they stand alone in the place of the person or the thing they qualify. These are declined in all genders. In the feminine, they change their final vowel, e.g., guņavatī, sīlavatī, guavantī, sīlavantī. Those ending in “mantu” should be declined as “cakkhumā”, “cakkhumanto”, “cakkhumatā” and so on. As the adjectives qualify nouns, which are of different genders and numbers, they must agree with their substantives in gender, number and case. All adjectives are declined like nouns in various genders, numbers and cases according to their stem endings. For example, “dīgha”, “rassa” and others, which are ending in “a” of the above list are declined in the masculine like “nara”, and in the neuter like “nayana”. In the feminine, they lengthen their last vowel and are declined like “vanitā”. For example, “setā kaññā rattaŋ vatthaŋ paridahati” which means that “a fair girl wears a red cloth”. Here, “setā” (white / fair) is the adjective of “kaññā”(girl) in feminine gender, singular number and nominative case; so “setā has to be declined like “kaññā” using the same gender, number and case. Also, “rattaŋ”(red) is the adjective of “vatthaŋ”(cloth) in neuter gender, singular number and accusative case; so “rattaŋ” has to be declined like “vatthaŋ” using the same gender, number and case. Those ending in “u” such as “bahu” and “mudu” are declined like “garu”, “dhenu” and “cakkhu”. Sometimes these, ending in “u”, add “kā” in their feminine stem and then they are declined like “vanitā” e.g., “mudu” = “mudukā, “bahu” = “bahukā”.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 16

The words ending in “ī”, like “mālī” (one who has a garland), take “ini” instead of “ī” while forming feminine stems e.g., “mālī” = “mālinī”. Here, “mālinī” and such others are declined as “ārī”.

PRONOUNS USED AS ADJECTIVES Pronouns can stand alone and replace nouns as substantives and they are also sometimes used as adjectives to qualify nouns in a sentence. When they are used as Adjectives they should be declined using the same Gender, Number and Case as the corresponding Noun. Example: Sabbesaŋ nattāro paññavanto na bhavanti. Aparo aññissaŋ vāpiyaŋ nahātvā pubbāya disāya nagaraŋ pāvisi.

PARTICIPLES USED AS ADJECTIVES Participles are also sometimes used as adjectives to qualify nouns in a sentence. But unlike normal adjectives, which are derived from nouns, Participles are adjectives made out of a verb roots. There are Present Prticiples, Past Participles and Future Passive Participles which are used as adjectives. As they are used as Adjectives, they are also declined using the same Gender, Number and Case as the corresponding Noun. Example: (a) Tițțhanto goņo tiņaŋ khādati, (b) Rukkhato otiņņā pakkhī, (c) Tumhehi dānāni dātabbāni honti

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 17

Example of Present Participle used as Adjective:

Gāmaŋ gacchanto dārako ekaŋ goņaŋ disvā bhāyi.

Example of Past Participle used as Adjective:

Hīyo araññaŋ gato so puriso ahinā dațțho mari.

Example of Future Passive Participle used as Adjective: Dāsena harīyamāno asso vāņijānaŋ vikkiņitabbo hoti.

NUMERICALS USED AS ADJECTIVES Numerical are often used as adjectives in qualifying nouns. In most of the time numericals are used in pleural form and they agree in terms of cases with the corresponding nouns. There are a few exceptions like “Eka” (one), “Ti” (three) and “Catu” (four) which are declined according to different genders. Example: (a) Ayaŋ sīho tamhā vanamhā nikkhamma imasmiŋ magge țhatvā ekaŋ itthiŋ māresi. (b) Gacchantesu dasasu purisesu sattamo vāņijo hoti.

Ordinal numerical are used as adjectives for qualifying nouns in a sentence. Example: Dvinnaŋ dhanavantānaŋ dutiyo tiŋsatiyā yācakānaŋ dānaŋ adāsi.

GENETIVE CASE (SINGULAR NUMBER) USED AS ADJECTIVES Genetive Singulars are also can be used as adjectives in qualifying nouns. These are exceptions and do not follow the general rule of nouns and adjectives. Here, the adjectives do not agree with their corresponding nouns in terms of gender, number and case. Example: Rajassa putto (son of the King).

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 18

EXAMPLES OF SOME COMMON ADJECTIVES CATEGORY

ADJECTIVES

MEANING

EXAMPLE

Gambhīra

Deep

Uttāna

Shallow

Vitthata

Wide / Broad

Khuddaka

Small

Kassako khuddake gehe vasati

Mahanta

Big / Large

Vāņijo mahante vihāre vasati

Dīgha

Long

Rassa

Short / Dwarf

Ucca

High / Tall

Dīpayo uccamhi girimhi vasanti

Nīca

Low / Vulgar

Mañcassa nīce sunakho sayati

Majjhima

Medium

Appaka

Few / Little

Dhanavanto appakaŋ dhanaŋ dātuŋ na icchanti

Bahu / Bahuka

Many / Much

Vānaro pāsāņe nisiditvā bahukā ambā khadati

Santika

Near

Vidūra

Far

Kumāriyo gambhīraŋ vāpiŋ gantvā nahāyissanti Yuvatīyo uttāna vāpiŋ gantvā nahāyissanti Vanitāyo nāvāhi vitthatayaŋ gaogāyaŋ gacchantu

Dāsiyā mātā dhenuŋ dīghayā rajjuyā bandhitvā ānesi Dhenu rassaŋ tinaŋ bhuñjati

Dimension & Quantity

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Majjhimo bhātā pāto pāțhasālāŋ gacchati

Yuvatīyo santikaŋ vāpiŋ gantvā nahāyissanti Suriyo girismā vidūre pācine ākāse udeti

Page 19

EXAMPLES OF SOME COMMON ADJECTIVES (continued) CATEGORY

Colour

Texture & Quality

ADJECTIVES

MEANING

Seta

White

Nīla

Blue

Nīle ākāse setā pakkhino uddenti

Ratta

Red

Mātā rattaŋ dhenuŋ rajjuyā bandhitvā ānesi

Kāļa

Black

Pīta

Yellow

Pītayo dīpayo girimhi vasanti

Khara

Rough / Course

Gonā khare pāsāņe tițțhanti

Mudu

Soft

Bāla

Foolish / Young

Paņdita

Wise

Paņdito Garu susūnaŋ ucchavo adadi

Balavantu

Powerful

Mantī balavantaŋ hatthinaŋ āruhissati

Dubbala

Feeble

Yuvatīyā dubbalo pitaro mañce sayiŋsu

Surūpa / Dassanīya

Beautiful / Handsome

Āma

Unripe

Pakka

Ripe

Dahara

Young

Mahallaka

Elderly / Old

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

EXAMPLE Setayo gavīyo pāsāņe tițțhanti

Kāļo gono khette tinaŋ bhuñjati

Pitaro muduŋ odanaŋ bhuñjiŋsu Dhaņavā bālānaŋ bhātarānaŋ dhanaŋ dātuŋ na icchati

Surūpāyo Vanitāyo nāvāhi gaogāyaŋ gacchantu Sushu pasane nisiditvā amani phalāni khadati Vānaro pakkani ambe bhuñjati Daharāya Yuvatīyā pitaro odanaŋ bhuñjitvā sayiŋsu Mahallakā Viduno mahantaŋ gehaŋ gacchiŋsu

Page 20

EXAMPLES OF ADJECTIVES CORRESPONSING TO THE DECLENSIONS OF NOUNS

MASCULINE

STEM ENDING FORM

NOUN

EXAMPLE OF ADJECTIVES

a

nara

Setā gavīyo khare pāsāņe tițțhanti

i

aggi

Pītayo dīpayo uccamhi girimhi vasanti

ī

pakkhī

u

garu

Paņdito Garu surūpaŋ susūnaŋ ucchavo adadi

ū

vidū

Surūpā mahallakā Viduno mahantaŋ gehaŋ gacchiŋsu

ā

vanitā

Surūpāyo Vanitāyo nāvāhi vitthatayaŋ gaogāyaŋ gacchantu

i

bhūmi

Daharāya Yuvatīyā dubbalo pitaro muduŋ odanaŋ bhuñjitvā sayiŋsu

ī

ārī

u

dhenu/ mātu

a

nayana

i

atthi

Setayā gāviyā khīraŋ ca sappiñ ca labhāma

u

cakkhu

Mahallakā pitaro setaŋ dadhiŋ bhuñjiŋsu

Mahallako mantī balavantaŋ hatthinaŋ āruhissati

FEMININE

NEUTER

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Āriyo santikaŋ gambhīraŋ vāpiŋ gantvā nahāyissanti Mahallikāya Dāsiyā mātā rattaŋ dhenuŋ dīghayā rajjuyā bandhitvā ānesi Dhanavanto bālānaŋ bhātarānaŋ appakaŋ dhanaŋ dātuŋ na icchanti

Page 21

DECLENSION OF NOUNS Masculine Noun Stems ending in ‘a’ DECLENSION ACCORDING TO VARIOUS CASES

PREPOSITION

SINGULAR (suffix)

PLEURAL (suffix)

NOMINATIVE (SUBJECT)

Subject

o

ā

ACCUSATIVE (OBJECT)

To (Towards direction of action)

ŋ

e

INSTRUMENTAL

By / with / through

ena

ebhi / ehi

DATIVE

For / to

āya / ssa

ānaŋ

ABLATIVE

From

ā / mhā / smā

ebhi / ehi

GENETIVE

Of

ssa

ānaŋ

LOCATIVE

In / on / at / upon

e / mhi / smiŋ

esu

VOCATIVE

Oh!

a/ā

ā

Here, Nominative Pleural form (subject) is similar to Vocative Pleural form (oh!) Here, Instrumental Pleural form (by / with / through) is similar to Ablative Pleural form (from) Here, Dative form (for / to) is similar to Genetive form (of) Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 22

DECLENSION OF NOUNS Masculine Noun Stems ending in ‘a’ (Declension of “nara” meaning “man”) DECLENSION ACCORDING TO VARIOUS CASES

PREPOSITION

SINGULAR

PLEURAL

NOMINATIVE (SUBJECT)

Subject

Naro

Narā

ACCUSATIVE (OBJECT)

To (Towards direction of action)

Naraŋ

Nare

INSTRUMENTAL

By / with / through

Narena

Narebhi / narehi

DATIVE

For / to

(Narāya /) narassa

Narānaŋ

ABLATIVE

From

Narā / naramhā / narasmā

Narebhi / narehi

GENETIVE

Of

Narassa

Narānaŋ

LOCATIVE

In / on / at / upon

Nare / naremhi / narasmiŋ

Naresu

VOCATIVE

Oh!

Nara / narā

Narā

Here, Nominative Pleural form (subject) is similar to Vocative Pleural form (oh!) Here, Instrumental Pleural form (by / with / through) is similar to Ablative Pleural form (from) Here, Dative form (for / to) is similar to Genetive form (of)

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 23

Some of the stems similarly declined like “nara” are – PĀLI NOUN STEMS

MEANING

PĀLI NOUN STEMS

MEANING

PĀLI NOUN STEMS

MEANING

Purisa

Man

Buddha

The Enlightened One

Dāsa

Slave

Manussa

Human being

Dhamma

Doctrine

Assa

Horse

Hattha

Hand

Saogha

The community

Bhūpala

King

Pāda

Leg / foot

Āloka

Light

Gona

Ox

Kāya

Body

Loka

World

Kassaka

Farmer

Rukkha

Tree

Ākāsa

Sky

Sunakha

Dog

Pāsāņa

Rock / stone

Suriya

Sun

Lekhaka

Clerk / Writer

Gāma

Village

Canda

Moon

Varāha

Pig

Magga

Path

Vihāra

Monastery

Deva

God / deity

Putta

Son

Dīpa

Island / lamp

Sakuņa

Bird

Āra / Kumāra

Boy

Mañca

Bed

Vānara

Monkey

Vāņija

Merchant

Āharā

Food

Aja

Goat

Cora

Thief

Sīha

Lion

Kāka

Crow

Mitta

Friend

Miga

Deer

Ārāma

Garden / Park

Geha

House

Hattha

Hand

Magga

Path

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 24

DECLENSION OF PRONOUNS Personal Pronoun Stems ending in ‘a’ (Declension of “amha” meaning “myself”) DECLENSION ACCORDING TO VARIOUS CASES

PREPOSITION

NOMINATIVE (SUBJECT)

Subject

SINGULAR

PLEURAL

Ahaŋ

Mayaŋ / amhe

(I)

(we)

To (Towards direction of action)

Maŋ / mamaŋ

Amhe / amhākaŋ / no

(me)

(us)

INSTRUMENTAL

By / with / through

Mayā / me

Amhebhi / amhehi

DATIVE

For / to

Mama / mayhaŋ / me/ mamaŋ

Amhaŋ / amhākaŋ

ABLATIVE

From

Mayā

Amhebhi / amhehi

GENETIVE

Of

Mama / mayhaŋ / me/ mamaŋ

Amhaŋ / amhākaŋ

LOCATIVE

In / on / at / upon

Mayi

Amhesu

VOCATIVE

Oh!

NA

NA

ACCUSATIVE (OBJECT)

Here, Instrumental form (by / with / through) is similar to Ablative form (from). The Nominative Pleural form is similar to the Accusative Pleural form. Here, Dative form (for / to) is similar to Genetive form (of) Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 25

DECLENSION OF NUMERALS (Declension of “eka” meaning “one”, which is declined like relative pronoun “ya” in three genders, singular form) DECLENSION ACCORDING TO VARIOUS CASES

PREPOSITION

MASCULINE

NEUTER

FEMININE

NOMINATIVE (SUBJECT)

Subject

Eko

Ekaŋ

Ekā

ACCUSATIVE (OBJECT)

To (Towards direction of action)

Ekaŋ

Ekaŋ

Ekaŋ

INSTRUMENTAL

By / with / through

Ekena

Ekena

Ekāya

DATIVE

For / to

Ekassa

Ekassa

Ekassā / Ekāya

ABLATIVE

From

Ekamhā / Ekasmā

Ekamhā / Ekasmā

Ekāya

GENETIVE

Of

Ekassa

Ekassa

Ekassā / Ekāya

LOCATIVE

In / on / at / upon

Ekamhi / Ekasmiŋ

Ekamhi / Ekasmiŋ

Ekassaŋ / Ekāyaŋ

VOCATIVE

Oh!

NA

NA

NA

Here, Nominative form is similar to Accusative form and Instrumental form (by / with / through) is similar to Ablative form (from) Here, Dative form (for / to) is similar to Genetive form (of) Among the Numerals, only “Eka”, “Ti” and “Catu” are declined differently in all genders. Here, “Eka” is singular but “Ti” and “Catu” are pleural.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 26

PĀLI VERBS AND THEIR USES Conjugations of verbs: There are three tenses, two voices, two numbers and three persons in the conjugation of Pāli verbs. The third person in English is equivalent to the first person in Pāli . The numbers are similar to those of the English nouns like “singular” and “pleural”. There is no attempt to conjugate the continuous, perfect and Perfect Continuos Tenses in Pāli . Therefore, only the indefinite forms are used in place of continuous forms in Pāli . Details are as follows: TENSES (1) Vattamānakāla

=

Present Tense

(2) Atītakāla

=

Past Tense

(3) Anāgatakāla

=

Future Tense

(1) Kattukāraka

=

Active Voice

(2) Kammakāraka

=

Passive Voice

(1) Pațhamapurisa

=

Third Person

(2) Majjhimapurisa

=

Second Person

(3) Uttamapurisa

=

First Person

(1) Ekavacana

=

Singular

(2) Bahuvacana

=

Pleural

VOICE

PERSON

NUMBER

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 27

There are seven different conjugations in Pāli . They are called dhātugaņas (groups of roots). The verbal root with the conjugation forms the “verbal base”. The “verbal base” with the suffix forms the different tenses in Pāli grammer. Each dhātugaņa has one or more different conjugational signs, which come between the root and the verbal termination. The seven conjugations and their signs are: 1st conjugation = Bhuvādigaņa → “a” 2nd conjugation = Rudhādigaņa → “m -a” 3rd conjugation = Divādigaņa → “ya” 4th conjugation = Svādigaņa → “ņo” / “ņu” / “uņā” 5th conjugation = Kiyādigaņa → “ņā” 6th conjugation = Tanādigaņa → “o” / “yira” 7th conjugation = Curādigaņa → “e” / “aya” A great number of roots are included in the first and the seventh group. The roots “paca” and “bhū” given above, belong to the first conjugation. The last vowel of “paca” is dropped before the conjugational sign “a”. The monosyllabic roots like “bhū” do not drop their vowel. It is “guņated” or strengthened before the conjugational sign: (1) If “i” / “ī” is strengthened, then it becomes “e” (2) If “u” / “ū” is strengthened, then it becomes “o”

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Example, (nī + a) → (ne +a) Example, (bhū + a) → (bho +a)

Page 28

Then these forms undergo further change in the following manner to form the verbal base: (1) Then “e” followed by “a” is further changed into “ay”

Example, (ne + a) → (naya)

(2) Then “o” followed by “a” is further changed into “av”

Example, (bho + a) → (bhava)

The “verbal root” with its conjugational sign thus forms what is called the “verbal base”. In the first example, “nī” is the verbal root and “naya” is the verbal base. In the second example, “bhū” is the verbal root and “bhava” is the verbal base.

The seventh conjugation The special feature of the first conjugation is that the last vowel of the base is lengthened before the First Personal endings. The same rule is applied for the bases ending with “a” of the 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th conjugations, in addition to their special features. The bases of the seventh conjugation are of two kinds as it has two conjugational signs, eg., from the root “pāla” two bases “pāle” and “pālaya” are formed. They are derived in the present tense 3rd person singular as “pāleti” and “pālayati” respectively. The conjugational sign “ņa” of the fifth group is shortened in the 3rd person pleural, eg., “vikkiņanti”, where the singular form is “vikkiņāti”.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 29

DERIVATION OF PĀLI VERBS IN THREE TENSES (VERB ROOT + CONJUGATION SIGN = VERBAL BASE) (VERBAL BASE + SUFFIX = DERIVATION IN PERSON AND NUMBER)

(A)

PRESENT TENSE SUFFIXES THRID PERSON SECOND PERSON FIRST PERSON

(B)

SINGULAR (so) ti (tvaŋ) si (ahaŋ) mi

PLEURAL (te) (tumhe) (mayaŋ)

anti tha ma

PAST TENSE SUFFIXES THRID PERSON SECOND PERSON FIRST PERSON

SINGULAR (so) i (tvaŋ) o (ahaŋ) iŋ

PLEURAL (te) iŋsu (tumhe) ittha (mayaŋ) imha / imhā

SINGULAR (so) issati (tvaŋ) issasi (ahaŋ) issāmi

PLEURAL (te) issanti (tumhe) issatha (mayaŋ) issāma

(C) FUTURE TENSE SUFFIXES THRID PERSON SECOND PERSON FIRST PERSON

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 30

PĀLI INDECLINABLES PĀLI CONJUNCTIONS (indeclinables) (1) Conjunction for Instrumental case to show association with living beings is often used as “saha” or “saddhim” in Pāli . (2) Conjunction “and” is used as “ca” / “api” / “pi” in Pāli . (3) Conjugation “or” is used as “vā” in Pāli . ENGLISH CONJUNCTIONS

PĀLI CONJUNCTIONS

WITH

Saha / Saddhim

AND

Ca / Api / Pi

OR

Vā / Athavā

IF

Sace / Yadi / Ce

BUT

Tathā pi

NEITHER - NOR

Vā - na

EITHER - OR

Vā

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 31

PĀLI PHRASES FROM TEXTS Sl. No.

PĀLI PHRASE

ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF PĀLI PHRASE

1

Tassa evaŋ hoti

This idea comes to him

2

Tassa etadahosi

This idea came to him

3

Tassa evamassa

This idea would come to him

4

Muhuttam āgamehi

Wait (for) a moment

5

Nālaŋ dārabharaņāya

Unfit for keeping up a family

6

Mamaccayena

After me

7

Samahite citte (locative absolutive)

In the concentrated mind

8

Upamā maŋ pațibhāti

A simile came to me

9

Nāti dūre nāccāsanne

Neither too far not too near

10

Kālaŋ karoti

Dies

11

Appaŋ vā bahuŋ vā

A little or a lot / Less or more

12

Rattindivaŋ

Day and night

13

Khaņe khaņe

Moment by moment

14

Saddhaŋ patilabhati

Gains faith

15

Sato Sampajāno

Being mindful and aware

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 32

References

1. Collins, S. 2006. Pāli Grammar for Students. Silkworm Books. (ISBN 978-974-9511-13-8). 2. Gair, J., Karunatilleke, W.S. 1998. A New Course in Reading Pāli : Entering the Word of the Buddha. Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. (ISBN 81-208-1440-1). 3. Buddhadatta, A.P. 2006. The New Pāli Course: Parts I & II. Dehiwala, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Cultural Centre. 4. Bodhi, B. 2009. A Course in the Pāli Language. Lafayette, NJ, USA: Bodhi Monastery. 5. Bullitt, J.T. 2009. A Guide to Learning the Pāli Language. Electronic source: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bullitt/learningPāli .html. 6. Warder, A.K. 1991. Introduction to Pāli . London: Pāli Text Society. 7. De Silva, L. 1994. Pāli Primer. Igatpuri, India: Vipassana Research Institute. 8. Johansson, Rune E.A. 1998. Pāli Buddhist Texts: An Introductory Reader and Grammar. Scandinavian Institute of Asian Studies Monograph Series, No. 14. London: Routledge/Curzon. 9. Muller, E. 1986. Pāli Language. Delhi: Bharatiya Book Corporation. 10. Vidyabhushan, N.C., Ghose, M.K. 1982. A Pāli Grammar. Calcutta: Kiron Moy Ghose.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua

Page 33