संसकृतम ् विभक्ति (Sanskrit Cases)

There are (८ विभक्ति) eight cases in Sanskrit in which the noun-form words appear in a sentence—forms of function
they perform. These cases are as follows: Nominative (प्रथमा), Accusative (द्वितीया), Instrumental (तत
ृ ीया), Dative
(चतुर्थी), Ablative (पञ्चमी), Genitive (षष्ठी), Locative (सप्तमी), and Vocative (सम्बोधन). The following describes each
case and its associated gender (लिङ्ग) [masculine (पुंलिलग), neuter (नपुंसकलिंग) and feminine (स्त्रीलिंग)] and number
[singular (एकवचन), dual (द्विवचन), and plural (बहुवचन)].

Nominative case (प्रथमा विभक्ति) represents the noun-form to represent the “who” or “what” on the verb in the
sentence, i.e. the subject (कर्ता) of the sentence.
 In active voice statements the subject in the sentence is always in (प्रथमा विभक्ति) nominative case
 In passive voice statements the object follows the (प्रथमा विभक्ति) nominative case. The subject follows the
(तत
ृ ीया विभक्ति) instrumental case.

प्रथमा बिभक्ति
एकवचन द्विवचन बहुवचन
पुंलिलग (पुं) ◌: ौ ा:
नपुंसकलिंग (नपुं) ◌म ् े ानि
स्त्रीलिंग (स्त्री) Same word Drop the final ◌:
ा and add े

Accusative Case (द्वितीया विभक्ति) of noun-form represents the “to what” or “to whom” of the sentence, i.e. it
represents the object (कर्म) of the sentence.
 In active voice sentences the object is always in accusative case (द्वितीया विभक्ति).
 If the verb तिष ्ठति and वसति meaning lives or stays are prefixed with the preposition (उपसर्ग) अधि or उप,
then the word expressing the location will follow accusative case instead of locative case (द्वितीया विभक्ति).
 If the indeclinables अभित:, उभयत:, समया, निकषा, अन्तरा, and परित: etc., are in use then the word expressing
location will be in the accusative case (द्वितीया विभक्ति).
 When indeclinables अन,ु उपयप
ु रि, अधयधि, etc., are used, words governing by these will be in accusative case
(द्वितीया विभक्ति).
 Verbal Adjective (क्रियाविशेषण) expressing the character or attribute of the verb in the sentence will be in
accusative case (द्वितीया विभक्ति).
 When a word represents a spread of time or space then it takes the accusative case (द्वितीया विभक्ति).
 When words विना or ऋते meaning “without” is used, words governed by it will be in accusative case (द्वितीया
विभक्ति).
 Words governed by the following word धिक् , प्रति, यावत ् will be in the accusative case (द्वितीया विभक्ति).
 द्वितीया बिभक्ति
एकवचन द्विवचन बहुवचन
पुंलिलग (पुं) ◌म ् ौ ान ्
नपंस
ु कलिंग (नपं)ु ◌म ् े ानि
स्त्रीलिंग (स्त्री) ◌म ् Drop the final ◌:
ा and add े

Instrumental case (तत

ृ ीया विभक्ति) of noun-form that comes from the question “by what” or “with what” is the
instrument in the sentence. The instrument is with what the subject (कर्ता) is doing something. It is independent of the
number (वचन) and gender (लिङ्ग) of the subject (कर्ता) or object (कर्म).
 The word expressing “by what” or “with what” pertaining to the verb will be in the instrumental case (तत
ृ ीया
विभक्ति).
 If the indeclinables सह, साकम ्, सार्द्धं (n), समं (n) etc., meaning “with” or “along with”, are use then the words
governed by these will be in instrumental case (तत
ृ ीया विभक्ति).
 If the words अन्तरे ण or विना meaning “without” are used the words governed by it will be in instrumental case
(ततृ ीया विभक्ति).
 If any word expressing “lameness in any organ” or “body part” is used, then the word representing the organ or
body part will be in instrumental case (तत
ृ ीया विभक्ति).
 The word expressing the nature or characteristics of someone or something will be in instrumental case (तत
ृ ीया
विभक्ति).
 If words like पूर्व:, पर:, अवर:, etc., are used to express a comparison in time then the word expressing the
sense of time will be in instrument case (तत
ृ ीया विभक्ति).
 The word expressing any mark of identification of a person will be in instrumental case (तत
ृ ीया विभक्ति).
 The word expressing the cause of something will be in instrumental case (तत
ृ ीया विभक्ति).
 If words like अलम ्, किं , प्रयोजनम ्, etc., are used to express a “sense of need or necessity” then the word
representing the thing which is needed will be in instrumental case (तत
ृ ीया विभक्ति).
 If words like हीन, शून्य, ऊन:, etc., are used to mean lack of something or someone, then the word governed by
these will be instrumental case (तत
ृ ीया विभक्ति).
 If the sentences mean achievement of some result after sometime then the word expressing the time will be in
instrumental case (तत
ृ ीया विभक्ति).
 The word expressing the value or cost of something will be in instrumental case. (तत
ृ ीया विभक्ति).
 The word expressing the person to whom something is given to perform some immoral or indecent act will be
in instrumental case (तत
ृ ीया विभक्ति) and not in dative case (चतुर्थी विबक्ति).
 Words expressing the path that is followed will be in instrumental case (तत
ृ ीया विभक्ति).

तृतीया बिभक्ति

एकवचन द्विवचन बहुवचन

()
पुंलिलग पुं
ेन ाभ्याम्
ै :
ेन ाभ्याम्
( )
नपुंसकलिंग नपुं ै :
 ( )
स्त्रीलिंग स्त्री
◌या ◌भ्याम् ◌भि:

Dative Case (चतुर्थी विबक्ति) of noun-form represents the “to whom” or “for whom” of a sentence. It expresses
 the person to whom something is given
 the purpose for which certain action is taken or something is needed
 the object into which another object transforms, e.g. शक्ति: परोपकाराय भवतु । Let power be for other’s good.
 the person (or thing) against whom (or which) anger or hatred is shown
 the person to whom it is a matter of liking (verbs meaning liking) are used
 when the words नम: (salute), सवस्ति (let good happen), स्वाहा (offered), अलं (to express the need or
necessity of something), and वषट् (offered) are used expressing the object of their reference
 when something is borrowed from other the person from whom the thing is borrowed
 the person with whom the subject relates something through his/her action
NOTES:
1. When verbs meaning “going” or “coming” are used the words expressing the destination will be either in the
accusative or dative case.
2. The word expressing the person to whom something is given to perform some immoral or indecent act will be in
instrumental case and not in dative case

तत
ृ ीया बिभक्ति
एकवचन द्विवचन बहुवचन
पंलि
ु लग (पं)ु ाय ाभ्याम ् ेभ्य:
नपुंसकलिंग (नपुं) ाय ाभ्याम ् ेभ्य:
स्त्रीलिंग (स्त्री) ◌यै ◌भ्याम ् ◌भ्य:

Ablative case (पञ्चमी विभक्ति) of noun-form represents the “from whom/what” of the sentence.

 when an object is separated from another the word expressing the object from which the separation happens
will be in the ablative case (पञ्चमी विभक्ति).
 When someone or something is coming from a place the word expressing the source will be in ablative case
(पञ्चमी विभक्ति).
 The word expressing the origin or source of something will be in the ablative case (पञ्चमी विभक्ति)
 The word expressing the source of fear will be in the ablative case (पञ्चमी विभक्ति)
 The word expressing something or someone from which something or someone is protected will be in the
ablative case (पञ्चमी विभक्ति).
 The word expressing the thing from which defeat is accepted, unable to tolerate or face it, with the use of
preposition or उपसर्ग परा before the verb जयते (पराजयते) will be in ablative case (पञ्चमी विभक्ति).
[NOTE: if defeat is accepted after facing it bravely, then the word will be accusative case (द्वितीया विभक्ति)].
 The word expressing something from which someone or something is opposed or restrained will be in ablative
case (पञ्चमी विभक्ति).
 The word expressing someone or something from which one is hiding from will be in the ablative case (पञ्चमी
विभक्ति).
 The word expressing the cause of something will be in the ablative case (पञ्चमी विभक्ति).
[NOTE: if the subject is in feminine gender, then it can also be in instrumental case].
 The word expressing the source of creation will be in the ablative case (पञ्चमी विभक्ति).
  The word expressing something to which hate or dislike is expressed will be in the ablative case (पञ्चमी
विभक्ति).
 When superlative or comparative adjectives such as श्रेषठ:, पुर्व:, पर, etc., are used the word expressing the
thing to which the comparison is being made will be in ablative case (पञ्चमी विभक्ति).

पञ्चमी बिभक्ति
एकवचन द्विवचन बहुवचन
पुंलिलग (पुं) ात ् ाभ्याम ् ेभ्य:
नपुंसकलिंग (नपुं) ाय ाभ्याम ् ेभ्य:
स्त्रीलिंग (स्त्री) ◌या: ◌भ्याम ् ◌भ्य:

Genitive case (षष्ठी विभक्ति) of noun-form represents the “whose” of the sentence.
 The word denoting a person or thing whose relationship with another is being expressed.
 If a comparison in a group is being made, then the word expressing the group will be in genitive case (षष्ठी
विभक्ति) for alternative in locative case (सप्तमी विभक्ति).
 Use of words तुला, उपमा, etc., for comparison are used then the word expressing the person or thing being
compared will be in the genitive case (षष्ठी विभक्ति).
 If the words पुर:, पुरस्तात ्, पुरत:, अग्रत:, पष्ठ
ृ त:, अध:, अधस्तसत ्, etc., are used to express direction or location
of an abject in relation to another, the word expressing the object will be in genitive case (षष्ठी विभक्ति).

षष्ठी बिभक्ति
एकवचन द्विवचन बहुवचन
पुंलिलग (पुं) ◌स्य ◌यो: ानाम्

नपुंसकलिंग (नपुं) ◌या: ◌यो: ◌नाम ्

स्त्रीलिंग (स्त्री) ◌स्य ◌यो: ◌नाम ्

Locative case (सप्तमी विभक्ति) of noun-form represents the “where” of the sentence.
 The word expressing the location of something or someone will be in the (सप्तमी विभक्ति).
 The word expressing something on which someone or something sits or stands, etc., will be in the locative case
(सप्तमी विभक्ति).
 The word expressing the time of action in response to the question on verb as “when” will be in locative case
(सप्तमी विभक्ति).
 When the action of one results in the action of another, the thing whose action occurs first will be in the
locative case (सप्तमी विभक्ति).
 If a comparison in group is being made then the word expressing the group will be in locative case (सप्तमी
विभक्ति).
 If a part of body held separately then the word expressing the part will be in locative case (सप्तमी विभक्ति).
 If verbs meaning trust, fondness, love, anger, worship, etc., are used, the person in whom such trust of
fondness is shown will be in the locative case (सप्तमी विभक्ति).
 सप्तमी बिभक्ति
एकवचन द्विवचन बहुवचन
पुंलिलग (पुं) े ◌यो: ेषु

नपुंसकलिंग (नपुं) े ◌यो: ेषु

स्त्रीलिंग (स्त्री) ◌याम ् Drop final  ◌सु

and add ◌यो:

Vocative case (सम्बोधन विभक्ति) of noun-form represents the word used to address or call someone or something.
NOTE: असमद् (I) and युसमद् (You) words do not have any vocative case.

सम्बोधन बिभक्ति
एकवचन द्विवचन बहुवचन
पंलि
ु लग (पं)ु Actual word ◌ौ ◌:

नपुंसकलिंग (नपुं) ◌म ् े ानि

स्त्रीलिंग (स्त्री) े े ा:

number (वचन)
A summary of all the case endings (बिभक्ति) by gender (लिङ्ग) and number (वचन) are presented below.

अकारान्त पुंल्लिंग बिभक्ति अकारान्त नपुंसकलिंग बिभक्ति आकारान्त स्त्रीलिंग बिभक्ति

(अ-ending Masculine Gender) (अ-ending Neuter Gender) (आ-ending Feminine Gender)
विभक्ति एकवचन द्विवचन बहुवचन एकवचन द्विवचन बहुवचन एकवचन द्विवचन बहुवचन
(
प्रथमा ः ौ ◌म ् े ानि Original Drop final 
ा: ◌:
word
and add े
द्वितीया ौ ान ् ◌म ् े ानि ◌म ् Drop final 
◌म ् ◌:
and add े
तति
ृ या ेन/ेण ाभ्याम ् ै: These cases are the same Insert य ◌भ्याम ् ◌भि:
as for the masculine
before ा
चतुर्यी ाय ाभ्याम ् ेभ्य: ◌यै ◌भ्याम ् ◌भ्य:
पञ्चमी ात ् ाभ्याम ् ेभ्य: ◌या: ◌भ्याम ् ◌भ्य:
षष्ठी ◌स्य ◌यो: ानाम ् ◌या: अयो: ◌नाम ्
सप्तमी े ◌यो: ेषु ◌याम ् अयो: ◌सु
सम्बोधन हे ौ े ानि Drop final Drop final 
ा: ◌:
 and add and add े
े

The following is a working draft, any correction(s), suggestion(s) are welcome.