A Study of Nominative-Case in Pāli Grammarians:

With Special Reference to the Padarūpasiddhi and the Niruttidīpanī

Ven. Ariyavaṃsa
(Ph.D Candidate) Buddhist Studies (IBSC)MCU
ID: 5901106001
Abstract
Studying syntax involves learning how to structure sentences in
a certain language. Pāli language is a primary language of Theravāda
Buddhism and source of Buddhist Studies. Learning Pāli language, syntax
section is vital important role in sentences construction. Syntax is a general
terms of translation word for the term, ‘Kāraka’ or ‘Vibhatti’ in Pāli. It can
be divided into two types of ‘vibhatti’: nominal ending and verbal ending.
In this small paper, the researcher focus to explore one of the nominal
ending, focus on the ‘Nominative-Case’(Pathamā-vibhatti) giving special
reference to the Padarūpasiddhi and the Niruttidīpanī. This small research
paper has two main objectives: to know the meaning of ‘Vibhatti’ in Pāli
grammatical traditions and to compare the concept of using nominative
cases in different grammatical traditions: the Padarūpasiddhi from the
decedent of Kaccāyana and the Niruttidīpanī from the decedent of
Moggallānā grammarian school.

Key words: Nominative-Case, Kāraka, Padarūpasiddhi and Niruttidīpanī

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Introduction
The verb plays a central role of position in a sentence in the Pāli
language and Kāraka or cases are directly related to it. The verb and
Kārakas together performs a complete unit of a sentence. It can see that
Kāraka also plays a very important position in a sentence of Pāli language.
The inflections of verbs and nouns, however, are nearly all quite distinct.
Those of verbs are described according to tense (kāla), person (purisa) and
number (saṅkhyā), those of nouns according to number, gender (liṅga), and
case (kāraka). The various cases express relations between the noun and a
verb, or between the noun and another noun.1 Henceforth, the term
‘syntax’, herein, means Vibhatti in grammatical terms. Of that term, it can
be divided into two types of syntaxes: nominal inflection or nouns ending
and verbal inflection or verbs ending. It is going to be studies the meaning
of ‘vibhatt’, types of cases, the meaning to be applied the nominative case,
and the comparison of usage or the term for it with different texts of the
Padarūpasiddhi and the Niruttidīpanī.
Definition Vibhatti or the Meaning of Cases in Syntax
Before going to explore comparison the concept of two
grammarian treatises in nominative case, it should be more suitable to
know the definition of the term Vibhatti in the Pāḷi grammarian traditions.
In accordance with Kaccāyana tradition, Kaccāyana-vaṇṇanā
gives the definition of Vibhatti as follows:“Kammādivasena ca
ekattādivasena ca liṅgatthaṃ vibhajantī ti bhattiyo; atha vā vibhajjate
pāṭipadikattho etāyā ti vibhattiyo.” “Vibhatti are so called because they

1
A. K. Warder, Introduction to Pāli, (London: PTS, Messra. Luzac & Company,
Ltd. 1963). p. 8.
 3

distribute the meaning of a noun by means of syntactic relations, object,

etc. and singularity, etc. Or else, the meaning of a nominal stem is divided
by it.”2
Moggallāna grammarians gives the meaning of Vibhatti in the
sense of division. It is said “etāni satta dukāni sattavibhattiyo; vibhāgo
vibhattī’ it katvā”.3
“These seven pairs are called the seven cases as the term Vibhatti denotes
division”.
According to the Saddanīti, the term Vibhatti is defined as
follows:
Kammādivasena ekattādivasena ca vividhā bhajiyantī’ ti
vibhattiyo.4 “Vibhatti are so called as they are divided in many ways by
means of object, etc. and singularity, etc.”
Again, Saddanīti’s padamālā said “kammādayo vā kārake
ekavacanabahuvacanavasena vibhajatī’ti vibhatti”. “Or, it distributes and
divides the syntactic relations object, etc. by means of singular and plural.
Thus, it is so called Vibhatti.”5
In brief, the definition of Vibhatti in Pāli grammarians follows
the former Sanskrit grammarians. The definition of the term Vibhatti in
Kaccāyana and Saddanīti are identical with Śarva and Pāniṇī. However,
Moggallāna grammarian is followed Candragomin grammarian school.

2
ibid. p. 179.
3
Mogg 2.1.
4
Sadd. 198.
5
ibid. 14.15
 4

Cases of Nominal Ending

There are eight kinds of Vibhattis in the nominal inflection,
which is used as nouns ending or cases. The usage name of those nouns
ending are a little bit different from grammatical treatise and commentary
usages. They can be seen in the following chart.

Vibhatti Terminological Usage in Pāli Grammar

Terms
Pathamā Kattā, agent of Agent of transitive and instransitive
Nominative active verbs, verbs; makes the stem form accord
Kamma, object with the agent denoted by the
of passive verbs, verbal ending, and gives it gender.
Paccatta,
individual
separate
Dutiyā Kamma, object Direct object of transitive verbs;
Accusative of action, secondary object in double
Upayoga, accusatives with verbs of speaking,
application of etc.
action
Tatiyā Karaṇa, means, Agent of passive verbs; instrument
Instrumental instrument, of action; cause of reason (hetu) of
kattā, agent of action; accompaniment of action
passive verbs
Catutthī Sampadāna, Destination of action, indirect of
Dative giving over (to) object, purpose, suitable object,
 5

secondary object of verbs of

speaking, etc.
Pañcamī Apadāna, That from which action occurs,
Ablative origin, that from physically and conceptually;
which expresses cause, criterion, point of
something is view; object of comparison
removed;
avadhi, origin,
nissakka,
issuing from
Chaṭṭhī Sambandha, Expresss possessive or partitive
Genitive relation; sāmi, relation between two nouns; not
processor related to the verb; used in place of
instrumental, dative and ablative
Sattamī Adhikaraṇa, Point, literal or figurative, at which
Locative location; okāsa, or when action occurs; end result of
place; ādhāra, motion; used like partitive genitive
basis; bhumma,
ground
Aṭṭhamī Āmantaṇa, Regarded as a form or use of the
Vocative address; nominative
Sambodhana,
calling;
Ālapana,
address
 6

The commentator of commentary have resorted to a totally different

case terminology from Pāli grammarian. Usaually, in Pāli as well as
Sanskrit grammars, the seven cases are referred to by their numbers. It can
see the case terminology in Aṭṭhakathās and grammatical usages in the
following charts:6
Aṭṭhakathās Pāli Grammars Sanskrit Grammars English
Paccattavacana Paṭhamā Prathamā Nominative
Upayogavacana Dutiyā Dvitīyā Accusative
Karaṇavacana Tatiyā Tṛtīyā Instrumenta
l
Sampadānavaca Catutthī Caturthī Dative
na
Nissakkavacana Pañcamī Pañcamī Ablative
Sāmivacana Chaṭṭhī Ṣaṣṭhī Genitive
Bhummavacana Sattamī Saptamī Locative

Nominative Case and Kattu-kāraka

Among seven nominal ending cases (vibhatti), the first one is
nominative case or Paṭhamā Vibhitti in the technical term. In the
Padarūpasiddhi, the author gives the first rule as ‘liṅgatthe pathamā’. The
first case is applied in the meaning of stem. However, Nirutti-dīpani uses
‘paṭham’tthamatte’. In this case, Ledi Sayadaw give the definition of
‘atthamatta’, it means prevention from the meaning of subjective or

6
Mahesh A. Deokar, Technical Terms and Technique of The Pāli and The Sanskrit
Grammars, Varanasī: Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies Press, 2008. pp. 185-186.
 7

objective, it is just the meaning of stem. Henceforth, in this nominative

case, both of commentators are agree with one another.
In the Vibhattyattha,7 there is eleven meanings to be applied the
nominative case. They are as follows:
1) Liṅga (the stem): Buddho, Dasabalo, etc.
2) Hetu (the meaning of causes): Yo bodhirukkhaṃ ropeti,
3) Kattu (the meaning of subjective sense): Yoca pabbajito naro,
4) Kamma (the meaning of objective sense): Satthārā desito
dhammo,
5) Karaṇa (the meaning of instrumental case): Theyyacitta-
m’dinnañca,
6) Sampadāna (the meaning of the dative case): Kārako deti
vipāko,
7) Sāmi (the meaning of master or owner): Sabbe buddhā iti,
8) Avadhi (the meaning of limitation or boundary): Lobhā’dayo
ime dhammā,
9) Bhumma (the meaning of space or measurement): Buddho
dūrataro,
10) Disā (the meaning of distance): Bhagavā cittam’issaro, and
11) Ālapana (the meaning of vocative case).
Vibhatti or the case ending must not be confused with the Kāraka.
A karaka is one of the many cause that accounts for the use of a Vibhatti.

7
U Tun Thein, U Aung Mying, and U Tun Yin (eds.), Saddā Ngal Sal Ngar Saung
Pāth: Vibhattayattha, (Be), Yangon: Icchāsaya Press, 1954, p. 120.
 8

All the various causes and occasions that are required to complete
an action could be so called karakas. There are six karakas in Pāli. It is said
in the Saddanīti as follows:
Kiriyānimittaṃ kārakaṃ. Yaṃ sādhanasabhāvattā
mukhyavasena vā upacāravāsena vā kiriyābhipphattiyā nimittaṃ, taṃ
uatthukārakaṃ nāma bhavati; mukhopacāravasena hi kiriyaṃ karoti
kārakaṃ ... taṃ chabbhidaṃ: kattu, kamma, karaṇa,
sampadān’āpādān’okāsavasena. Kiriyābhisambandhalakkhaṇaṃ
kārakaṃ.8
A cause of action is so called karaka (doer). A certain thing,
which being by nature a means of realization, is an element in the
accomplishment of action directly or indirectly. It is so called a factor of
action or (doer) kāraka. It is six fold: agent (kattu: nominative), object
(kamma: accusative), means (karaṇa: instrumental), beneficiary
(sampadāna: dative or recipient), point of departure (apādāna: ablative),
place (okāsa: locative). The characteristic of connection to the action is so
called a doer of action or a factor of action (karaka). Sāmi or the Genitive
and Ālapana or the Vocative cases are not regarded as Kāraka, because
neither of them satisfies the required condition.
In this explanation, Padarūpasiddhi and Saddanīti are identical,
just a little bit different name of list Saddanīti gives ‘kattu-kāraka’ first,
but in Padarūpasiddhi lists ‘kamma-kāraka’ first. It is said in
Padarūpasiddhi thus:

8
Helmer Smith (ed.), Saddaniti La Grammaire Palie Daggavamsa, Vol. III.
(London: Oxford University Press, 1930). p. 691.
 9

Tattha kārakāṃ sādhakaṃ kriyānipphattiyā kāraṇa’muccate.

Taṃ pana kārakaṃ chabbidhaṃ: kammaṃ, kattāa, kāraṇaṃ,
sampadāna’m-apādana’mokāso cā’ti.9
The meaning of kattu-kāraka, Kaccāyana grammarian make a
rule of naming sutta ‘yo karoti sa kattā’,10 whoever does an action (or
whichever facilitates to happen), is called a ‘kattu or kattā’. By using the
word ‘kattā’ in this rule, it has benefit of easy to reference in later
expression such as the rule ‘kattari ca’ etc.
Saddanīti laid a rule to give the definition of kattā, ‘yo kurute yo
vā jāyati, so kattā’.11 ‘The one acts or the one that is being born, that
(karaka) is the kattā ‘agent’. In the following explanation, Venerable
Aggavaṃsa gives more detail account of kattā and etymological
explanation and types of ‘kattā’ and examples in the Pāli. It goes as
follows:
‘Yo attappadhāno hutvā gamana,pacanādikaṃ kiriyaṃ kute yo
vā jāyati, so kārako kattā nāma bhavati. Vā’saddo vikappanttho, tena
aññopi attho yejetabbo. Kiriyaṃ karotī ti kattā, so tividho: suddhakattā,
hetukattā, kammakattā ti.’
A certain one that has presumed predominance and performs an
action such as a going or a cooking, or the one that is being born, that
participant of an action is called the agent. The word ‘vā’ has the sense of
option, and through it even another sense is to be included. An agent, which
can performs an action is so called ‘kattā’. It is of three kinds: the pure

9
Rūp. 285.
10
Kacc. 281; Rūp. 294.
11
Sadd. 548.
 10

agent, the causal agent, and the object-agent. Then, Saddanīti gives two
more types of ‘kattā’.
Moreover, the agent specified (by a finite verb) and the agent not
specified (by a finite verb), there are these two and the other three, so the
teachers teach also the five-fold of agents.12 ‘Api ca abhihita-kattā,
anbhihita-kattā cā’ ti ime dve te ca tayo ti kattūnaṃ pañcavidhattaṃ api
icchant garū.’
Fivefold of kattā are identically described in the Padarūpasiddhi,
therefore, in this case, we can assume that Saddanīti follows Kaccārayana
grammarian.
However, regarding to types of kattā, the Niruttidīpanī describes
only three types: Sayaṃ-kattā, payojaka-kattā, and kamma-kattā. Out of
them, kamma-kattā can be also called ‘payojja-kttā’.13
Pāḷi grammatical treatises are generally later than Sanskrit
grammarians and most of them are partially or identically quoted in Pāli.
Therefore, it would not be completed meaning without saying about
Kāraka in Sanskrit grammarians.
In accordance with Pāṇinī, kartā or the agent is defined as
‘svatantraḥ kartā’.14
Kātyāyana, the author of the vāṛtikās apprehends some
inconsistency in the above definition and tries to supplement it by an
aphorism, ‘svātantrasya kartṛsaṅjñāyān hetumatyupas saṅkhyānaṅ

12
E. G. Kahrs, Exploring the Saddanīti, JPTS. Vol. XVII. Oxford: PTS, 1992. pp.
31-32.
13
Ledi Sayadaw, Nirutti-dīpanī (Be), Yangon: Asspciation of Myanamr
Buddhasāsaā Press.1970. p.178. (Kattu’karane su tatiyā)
14
Pāṇ. I. 4. 54. स्वतन्त्र: कतता
 11

kartavyaṃ.’ It means that if the agent (kartā) is defined as ‘svatantra’ or

independent, in that case, the definition will not apply to that particular
agent who acts under the direction of some other agent. So, it must
specifically mention that such an agent is also a case of ‘svatantra’.15
Prof. Umā Śaṅkar Śarma Ṛṣi divides Kartā into three, viz.,
Śuddha-kartā, Hetu-kartā, or Prayojaka-kartā, and Karma-kartā.16 Again,
Hetukartā is also divided into three: preṣaka-kartā, addhyeṣka-kartā, and
ānukūlyabhāgī-kartā.
The nominative in Sanskrit is simply the naming case, that which
is concerned in Abhidhāna or predication. According to Pāṇinī the
Nominative case (prathama vibhakti) is used to denote the crude form or
base of a word, gender, measure and number only; as, uccaiḫ (PM 28),
nīcaiḫ (PM 11), kṛṣṇaḫ (PM 21), śrīḫ (PM 253), jñānam (PM 17) etc.
Where the verbal ending expresses kartṛ or karman, the noun which
indicate what is that kartṛ or karman is simply given in the Nominative
Case.17
Comparison of Nominative Case in Different Grammar
Schools
The base text of Padarūpasiddhi is Kaccāyana-vyākarana, and the
base text of Nirutti-dīpanī is Moggallāna-vutti. First of all, the arrangement
of Kāraka-kanḍa in Kaccāyana-vyākarana is primary construction on the
basic of six-fold of ‘kāraka’ beginning with ‘yasamā’dapeti bayamā’datte

15
Apurba Chandra Barthakuria, A Critical Study of Kāraka, Calcutta: Calcutta
University, 1957, p. 15.
16
ibid, p.60.
17
ibid.75
 12

vā’. However, the rearrangement of Padarūpasiddhi is special focus on the

term of ‘vibhatti’ usage. It begins with ‘liṅgatthe pathamā’.18
Likewise, the Nirutti-dīpanī rearranges onto the Moggallāna-
vutti. It is also followed the arrangement of Padarūpasiddhi. At the
beginning of Kāraka-kanḍa in the Nirutti-dīpanī, it begins with the rule
‘Paṭhama’ttam’ atthe’ and ‘Āmantane’.19
The main differences for the nominative case in two texts are
their own following usage of Sanskrit grammarian. For example, the usage
of ‘liṅga’ to be the same meaning of ‘pādipaṭika’ is used in the Sanskrit
Pāṇinī grammar and Mahābhāśa commentary.
However, regarding to types of ‘kāraka’, the Nirutti-dīpanī
follows the name from Pāninī directly. But the Padarūpasiddhi has two
types more and they are mentioned in the Mahābhāśa, commentary on the
Pāninī.
The last one is of giving two rules in the Nirutti-dīpanī for the
first nominative case, but in the Padarūpasiddhi mentioned only one rule
for it. Regarding to the Vocative case, the researcher would like to explore
after the seven cases. It seems to be that both of the Padarūpasiddhi and the
Nirutti-dīpanī do not want to mention a particular case for vocative case.
Henceforth, they describe ‘paṭhamā-vibhatyattha-bheda’ in the Padarūpa-
siddhi and ‘paṭhamāvibhatti-rāsi’ in the Nirutti-dīpanī.
In that sense, both of Kaccāyana and Moggallāna grammarians
are differ from the Pāninī and Saddanīti, because they used vocative case
as ‘Aṭṭhamī-vibhatti’ or the eighth case.

18
Kacc. 284.
19
Mogg. 2.37.
 13

In brief, kattu-kāraka can be divided into various ways in Pāli

grammatical traditions. First of all, it can divide into two: vutta-kattu and
avutta-kattu. Of them, a karaka, which directly indicates or relates with
Samāsa (Compound), Taddhita (Secondary-derivative), Ākhyāta (Verb),
and Kita (Parimary-derivative), etc. is so called ‘vutta-kattu’. For example;
‘puriso maggaṃ gacchati’. In this case, puriso is vutta-kattu, because it
indicate directly to the main verb ‘ti’ in the ‘gacchati’. On the contrary, if
Samāsa, etc. are not directly indicated to the agent, it is so called ‘avutta-
kattu’. i.e. ‘purisena odano paccate.’ In this case, ‘purisena’ is not directly
require for the main verb ‘te’.
Kattu-kāraka can be divided into another three: Sayaṃ-kattā,
Hetu-kattā, and Kamma-kattā. In these types, a kattā makes to
accomplishment an action itself, it is so called ‘sayaṃ-kattā’. i.e. ‘puriso
odanaṃ pacati’. A karaka, which makes the other doer to accomplish an
action is so called ‘hetu-kattā’. i.e. ‘sāmiko purisaṃ odanaṃ pācāpeti’.
Kamma-kattā means an agent itself is the sense of object, but it makes
accomplishment of an action by itself. i.e. ‘kusūlo bhijjate sayaṃ’.
Again, it can divide into two kinds: sappadhāna-kattā and
payojaka-kattā. These two are a different naming of ‘sayaṃ-kattā and
payojaka-kattā’. Out of them, payojaka-kattā has three sub-divisions:
pesaka-kattā, ajjesaka-kattā, and anukūla-kattā. Among them, without
giving respect and ask to make an action by the other doer is so called
‘pesaka-kattā’, i.e. ‘sāmiko purisaṃ odanaṃ pācāpeti’. Having respect and
ask to accomplish an action is so called ‘ajjesaka-kattā’, i.e. ‘bhikkhu
buddhaṃ dhammaṃ desāpeti’. Without giving any stimulation by the
other, but seem to have an exhortation is so called ‘anukūla-kattā’, i.e.
‘bhikkā bhikkuṃ vāsāpeti’.
 14

To assume up the usage of the nominative case in the Pāli

grammarian, it can be seen in the following chart:
Grammatical Usage Example
The Subject or Subjects of a finite Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṃ viharati.
verb
The Predicate of the Verb Aggo’ham’smi lokassa.
The Title of Books or Of Paṭhamo Paricchedo
Chapters
Direct Speech with ‘iti’ Nisīdatu bhante bagavā’ti.
Apposition Raṭṭhapālo kulaputto
Nominative Absolute Gacchanto Bhāradvājo so, addasā
ajjhutaṃ isiṃ.
Under syntax in Pāli, the scope of study is very wide covering
seven eight cases (including vocative case) of nouns, and pronouns,
participates and gerundial formations including infinitive mood and tenses
and moods of verbs and also indeclinable, such as adverbs, particles,
conjunctions and so on. Among them, the chief area is the study of Kāraka
(case) relation where grammar and practical usage meet. Kāraka relation
is the core heart of syntax in all inflectional languages and in Pāli as well.20
Conclusion
As a conclusion of this small paper, the researcher have already
explored the meaning of ‘vibhatti’ in the Pāli grammarian tradititons:
Kaccāyana, Moggallāna and Saddnīti. Then, the original quotation of their
former works of Sanskrit grammarians are explored. As a final evaluation

20
K. Manohar Gupta. Linguistic in Pāli, India, New Delhi: Sundeep Prakashan,
2003. p. 201
 15

of both texts, after having explored in detail and comparison, it can be

found that both texts are simply followed the former Sankrit grammarians
from India for this nominative case. Even the rule are a little bit differences
between the Padarūpasiddhi and the Niruttidīpanī. The vutti or explanation
are identically the same as Pāṇinī’s rule ‘prātipadikārthaliṅgaparimāṇa-
vacanamātre prathamā’. It has already studied the meaning of ‘vibhatt’,
types of cases, the meaning to be applied the nominative case, and the
comparison of usage or the term for it with different texts of the
Padarūpasiddhi and the Niruttidīpanī.
 16

References
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Buddhappiyācariyatthera, Bhadanta. Padarūpasiddhi (Burmese Script),
Yangon. The Department of Religious Affair Press. 2003.
Devmitta There, H. (ed), Mogallāna Vyākaraṇa (Sinhalese Script),
Colombo. The Lankabhinava Visruta Printing Press. 1890.
Kaccāyana,Thera, Kaccāyana Grammar (Burmese Script), Yangon..
Khin Cho Tun Printing Press. 4th ed. 2007.
Sayadaw, Ledi .Niruttidīpanī (Burmese Script), Yangon. The Union of
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Tun Thein, U, Aung Mying, U, and Tun Yin, U (eds.), Saddā Ngal Sal
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