anskrit Case Functions Key to the examples in these notes: * Sandhis have been broken to clearly illustrate cases. ‘© The English word that is in the case being illustrated is underlined * Italics indicate an English phrase required to translate the declined sanskrit word 1. gant ferrfaat Nominative: naming. a). Subject of the actively used verb in a clause or sentence Ye: AMET | The teacher speaks. b). Subjective complement (a noun connected to the subject by the verbs be or become: WA: A orfet | Rama is king. Gat: are: WaT | The sons become heroes, ©). Noun in apposition to the subject (noun modifying the subject noun} aw: afte: Sefer | Rama, the hero, conquers. d). Adjectives modifying a noun in the nominative case. FI Ae: set | The beautiful bov comes, e.) Neuter nominative singular can function as indeclinable adverb. eg: BA = happily. 2. fgetrat ferifert Accusative: direct object. a). Direct object of a transitive (active) verb, (the thing acted upon): TH ara: 1 We know Rima, b), Objective Complement - a noun connected to the direct object by the verbs "be" or "become" TH att | We know Rama to be a hero. ¢). Destination of verbs of motion: WH: ae Tearfet | Rama goes to the forest. 4). Occasionally with some prepositions: (eg above, below, near, around, etc)3. qatar fartfaa Instrumental: agent or instrument. “by” or “with a). To indicate an instrument used in the action HTT TAT | Me kills with an arrow, b). Agent (doer) of a passive participle or passive verb HP GEL He was killed by the kine c). To indicate accompaniment, usually with “H®". AAA", or “ATA” (with) wa: aaa Resta | or TH: ea BE Te | Rama goes with Sita 4). “AAT without") usually takes instrumental. wr: ataat AT at Teel | Rama goes to the forest without Sita e). To indicate cause or reason (G)-"because or owing to afta: GeSA TAT: |The jiva is bound by (owing to) sorrow. 1). With * Aga, "TSA (equal to, same") g). Instrumental noun can be used adverbially: GAT h). In expressions like “by name,” “by nature. i), With S167] and ARTY (“enough”): AS {xa - “enoughwith sorrow, i). fA + noun in instrumental = “what is the use (purpose) of ? fee UF ~ what is the use of wealth? 4. agai ferafat Dative: indirect object. “for” or “for the sake of" a), Indirect object of verbs like “give, send, show.” etc. The one ” to or for whom" the action of these verbs is done ‘ge: fee: gereprt qearkt 1 The teacher gives the books to the students, b). To indicate the person or thing for whose advantage the action is done (for the sake of): TST FPR: THe HAP | The king cules for (the sake of) the people. ©). To express the purpose of an action Fa Teal | He goes for war. (with a purpose to fight). 4). The object of verbs showing malice or anger feat gart AAT | The father is angry with the so e). With particles showing reverence: 7H: and =afea: SAF AA: | “Salutations 10 Hvar 1), “fAAT Cwithout”) sometimes takes dative5. qeadt ffs Ablative: origin, source. “of” or “fron a). To indicate the place or time from which the action originates PY: TAT Mea |The sage goes from the forest b). The object of verbs meaning “to desist from,” “to protect,” “to fear.” Sem FTA BATE RH | God protects men from misery ¢). To express cause or motive (similar to instrumental): arated, aH FaAT 1 Out of anger he strikes the boy. 4). With a comparative: STHA: SFA: (other than Atma) e). With some prepositions (before, east of, after, until, ete.) 6. wet frit Genetive: Possessive. “of” or “for a). To indicate possession. The possessor is placed in the genetive: Ramals book, - WHET GET (The book of Rama) b). To replace the English verb "to have" Rima hasawite. = WHET ATH PT t (OF Rama there is a wife). Note: the genetive has no relation to the verb. It indicates the relationship between two nouns. The genetive (possessor) is placed before the noun possessed c). Sometimes used in place of the dative with verbs to give, show, etc. 4). Often used in place of dative to give sense of “for” (eg, qualified for). €). As the subject or object of an “ing word" (noun derived from verb). ART TH: TEOML wey TLL His grasping of the cope saved him 7. aca fara —Locative: Location in space or time. “in, on, at etc.) a). To indicate the location in time or space where the action takes place. (in, at, on, upon, among ete.): AA Aaa | He lives in the Lorest b). In the sense of “with reference to” or “with regard to” in terms of subject matter. ©). The object of love or devotion is placed in locative case. Tat TA free | The king loves Rama 4), In absolute construction (Aft AafH), indicates simultaneous action 8. WaT Vocative: Direct address a). When directly addressing someone: # TH! Oh Ramal