Lesson 10

10.1. The Passive Sentence

Schema:
(Agent - kartṛ - in the Instrumental (tṛtīyā)) - (direct object - karman - in the Nominative) - passive verbal form

e.g. brāhmaṇena deva ijyate = ब्राह्मणेन देव इज्यते = "A Brahman worships a god with an offering" (literally: "A god is worshipped by a Brahman with an offering.")

This sentence is completely (!) identical in meaning to the sentence:
brāhmaṇo devaṃ yajati / yajate = ब्राह्मणो देवं यजति / यजते

In the passive sentence, the agent (kartṛ) stands in the Instrumental (tṛtīyā f. "third case ending"), the direct object (karman n.) in the Nominative (prathamā f.).
Passive sentences in which the agent is not specified usually have an impersonal meaning ("one"):
e.g. ijyate = इज्यते "One sacrifices" (literally: "it is worshipped with an offering").

Even if the corresponding active sentence would contain an accusative (dvitīyā) of purpose, this can be put into the nominative (prathamā) in the passive sentence:

To the active sentence rāmo grāmaṃ gacchati = रामो ग्रामं गच्छति = "Rāma goes to the village" correspond the passive sentences:
rāmeṇa grāmaṃ gamyate = रामेण ग्रामं गम्यते
alternatively: rāmeṇa grāmo gamyate = रामेण ग्रामो गम्यते

Intransitive verbs (verbs without a direct object) frequently have passive constructions, especially in polite requests:
praviśyatām = प्रविश्यताम् = "One may enter = Please come in = Come in!"
niṣadyatām = निषद्यताम् = "One may sit down = Please take a seat = Please be seated"

Sanskrit passive constructions are extremely common: the passive is, after all, easier to form than numerous present stems.

Sanskrit passive sentences should generally not be rendered in German using a passive construction, as the German passive serves a completely different stylistic function.

10.2. The Instrumental (tṛtīyā f. = तृतीया = "third case ending")

The regular endings of the Instrumental (tṛtīyā):
Singular: -ā
Plural: -bhis

Regular formations:

	Instrumental Singular	Instrumental Plural
Feminines in -i śruti श्रुति	śruty-ā श्रुत्या	śruti-bhis श्रुतिभिस्
Feminines in -ī devī देवी	devy-ā देव्या	devī-bhis देवीभिस्
Feminines in -u dhenu धेनु	dhenv-ā धेन्वा	dhenu-bhis धेनुभिस्

Irregular formations (Singular):

	Instrumental Singular	Instrumental Plural
Masculines in -i kavi कवि	kavi-n-ā कविना	kavi-bhis कविभिस्
Masculines in -u paśu पशु	paśu-n-ā पशुना	paśu-bhis पशुभिस्
Feminines in -ā devatā देवता	devat-ay-ā देवतया	devatā-bhis देवताभिस्

Masculines and Neuters in -a (irregular in Singular and Plural):

	Instrumental Singular	Instrumental Plural
Masculines in -a deva देव	devena देवेन	devais देवैस्
Neuters in -a phala फल	phalena फलेन	phalais फलैस्

Interrogative pronoun kim:

	Instrumental Singular	Instrumental Plural
Masculine / Neuter	kena केन	kais कैस्
Feminine	kayā कया	kābhis काभिस्

Demonstrative pronouns:

Pronoun	Gender	Instrumental Singular	Instrumental Plural
tad "he, she, it; the, that one" (mentioned) तद्	M/N	tena तेन	tais तैस्
	F	tayā तया	tābhis ताभिस्
etad "this, this one (very close to the speaker)" एतद्	M/N	etena / enena एतेन / एनेन	etais एतैस्
	F	etayā / enayā एतया / एनया	etābhis एताभिस्
idam "this, this one (near)" इदम्	M/N	anena / enena अनेन / एनेन	ebhis एभिस्
	F	anayā / enayā अनया / एनया	ābhis आभिस्

10.2.1. On the usage of the Instrumental (tṛtīyā = तृतीया)

The Instrumental (tṛtīyā) is primarily used in response to the questions:
By what?
With what?
With whom?

It is used

1. in passive sentences: Agent (kartṛ) in the Instrumental
2. to indicate means or instrument with which something is accomplished
3. to indicate the path by which someone reaches somewhere
4. to express connection, union, or accompaniment with
5. with postpositions meaning "together with, with"; e.g., saha = सह = "with" :brfor example:br brāhmaṇena saha = ब्राह्मणेन सह = "together with the Brahmin"

Further uses of the instrumental (tṛtīyā) follow later.

10.3. The so-called Cerebralisationsgesetz for -n- (a word sandhi)

An -n-, followed by a vowel or n, m, y, v, is replaced by -ṇ- if ṛ, ṝ, r, ṣ precede the -n- in the word or if no other sound than vowels, gutturals, labials, y, v, h or anusvāra stands between these sounds and the following -n- in the word.

Therefore:

	Instrumental Singular
guru गुरु	guruṇā गुरुणा
śūdra शूद्र	śūdreṇa शूद्रेण
īśvara ईश्वर	īśvereṇa ईश्वरेण
kṣatriya क्षत्रिय	kṣatriyeṇa क्षत्रियेण
naraka नरक	narakeṇa नरकेण

Thus the -ṇ- is also to be explained in:

śravaṇa श्रवण

śṛṇoti शृणोति

kāraṇa कारण

brāhmaṇa ब्राह्मण

10.4. The Passive, Indicative Present (yak = यक्)

Formation:
(mostly) guṇa-grade root + -ya- + Ātmanepada ending

e.g.

Root धातु	3. sg. Pass. Pres. Ind. यक् लट्	3. pl. Pass. Pres. Ind. यक् लट्
nī 1 U (nayati)	nīyate (नीयते) "he is led"	nīyante (नीयन्ते)
man 4 Ā (manyate)	manyate (मन्यते) "it is thought"	manyante (मन्यन्ते)
viś 6 P (viśati)	viśyate (विश्यते) "it is entered"	viśyante (विश्यन्ते)

Note that for verbs of the 4th present class, the Ātmanepada and the passive have identical forms! Whether Ātmanepada or passive is present can only be inferred from the sentence construction in this case.

10.4.1. Special rules for forming the passive

1. Roots ending in -i or -u lengthen their vowel before the passive suffix -ya-:

• ji 1 P: jīyate, jīyante :brजीयते, जीयन्ते
• śru 5 P: śrūyate, śrūyante :brश्रूयते, श्रूयन्ते
• su 5 U: sūyate, sūyante :brसूयते, सूयन्ते

2. Roots with -a- between consonants (except nasals, y, r, v) remain in the strong grade:

• labh 1 Ā: labhyate, labhyante :brलभ्यते, लभ्यन्ते

3. Some roots form their passive in the strong grade (or in the ablaut stage of the present stem):

• āp 5 P: āpyate, āpyante :brआप्यते, आप्यन्ते
• khād 1 P: khādyate, khādyante :brखाद्यते, खाद्यन्ते
• smṛ 1 P: smaryate, smaryante :brस्मर्यते, स्मर्यन्ते

4. Weak grade of verbs beginning with ya, va, ra, or where these sounds follow another consonant (Samprasāraṇa = सम्प्रसारण):

Root धातु	Weak grade सम्प्रसारण	Passive यक्
yaj 1 U यज्	*yj » ij	ijyate इज्यते ijyante इज्यन्ते
vad 1 P वद्	*vd » ud	udyate उद्यते udyante उद्यन्ते
prach 6 P प्रच्छ्	*prcch » pṛcch	pṛcchyate पृच्छ्यते pṛcchyante पृच्छ्यन्ते

The traditional indigenous designation for this formation of the lower grade in verbs with ya or va is Samprasāraṇa (नपुंसकम् = सम्प्रसारण).

5. Final -ṛ after a single consonant is replaced by -ri- before the passive suffix -ya-:

• kṛ 8 U: kriyate, kriyante :brक्रियते, क्रियन्ते
• But: smṛ 1 P: smaryate :brस्मर्यते

6. Some roots in -an have alternatively two passive stem formations:

• a -an-ya
• a -ā-ya- (the long ā is a representative of a hypothetical long nasal)

e.g. tan 8 U.

• tan-ya-te, tan-ya-nte :brतन्यते, तन्यन्ते
• tā-ya-te, tā-ya-nte :brतायते, तायन्ते (from *tn-ya-nte)

10.5. Vocabulary

Learn the following words:

gṛha n. गृह : house
grāma m. ग्राम : village
nagara n. नगर : city

For urban and village life, see Basham, Wonder, Chapter 6.

yajña m. यज्ञ : sacrifice

In India, the sacrifice is primarily a veneration of the deity as a guest. By this one obligates oneself to the deity.

Word formation: yaj 1 U + kṛt suffix -na-.

puṇya n. पुण्य : good deed, merit

By which one earns well-being and good rebirths.

pāpa n. पाप : evil deed, wickedness (opposite of puṇya)
satya n. सत्य : truth

In India, the true word was attributed with magical power; indeed, the entire cosmic order is maintained and created by the true word. For this important concept, see the fundamental work:

Lüders, Heinrich (1869–1943): Varuna / Heinrich Lüders. Edited from the estate by Ludwig Alsdorf. - Göttingen : Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. -- Vol. 2: Varuna and the Ṛta. -- 1959. -- XXIII pages, pp. 340 - 764

Fig.: वरुणः
(Bildekilde: Detaljer)

anṛta n. अनृत : untruth, lie (opposite of satya)

Word formation an- (“un-”) + ṛta n.

ṛta is a central concept in the Veda, whose translation is disputed: “truth” (Lüders, Thieme), “order” (Renou).

ṛṣi m. ऋषि : Vedic sage, author of Vedic hymns

The names of these ṛṣis are mentioned in the Brāhmaṇas as well as in separate lists of Vedic hymns. All Brahmins trace their origin to such ṛṣis, after whom their gotra (गोत्र) are named. For the concept gotra see Basham, Wonder, chap. 5.

Fig.: विश्वामित्रः
(Bildekilde: Detaljer)

vad 1 P (vadati) वद् वदति : to say, to speak
prach 6 P (pṛcchati !) प्रच्छ् पृच्छति : to ask (someone: Acc.; about something: Acc.)
saha सह : together with, jointly with (also in “to fight with” etc.) (Postposition with Instrumental)

10.6. Exercise

A) Form the passive for the following verb forms (with translation of the verb form):

1. sṛjati (सृजति)
2. yudhyate (युध्यते)
3. bhavanti (भवन्ति)
4. yajati (यजति)
5. nṛtyati (नृत्यति)
6. nayanti (नयन्ति)
7. smarati (स्मरति)
8. śṛṇvanti (शृण्वन्ति)
9. paśyati (पश्यति) (Passive is formed from dṛś!)
10. jayanti (जयन्ति)
11. kurvate (कुर्वते)
12. āpnuvanti (आप्नुवन्ति)
13. viśati (विशति)
14. khādanti (खादन्ति)
15. sunoti (सुनोति)
16. gacchati (गच्छति)
17. manyante (मन्यन्ते)
18. labhante (लभन्ते)
19. rakṣanti (रक्षन्ति)
20. vadanti (वदन्ति)
21. pṛcchanti (पृच्छन्ति)
22. tanvanti (तन्वन्ति) (2 forms!)

B) Form the instrumental singular and plural for all nouns learned so far.

C) Convert the following sentences into the passive voice and translate them:

1. brāhmaṇo devīm yajati. (ब्राह्मणो देवीं यजति)
2. sādhuḥ svargaṃ gacchati. (साधुः स्वर्गं गच्छति)
3. śūdraṃ jayati. (शूद्रं जयति)
4. guruḥ phalāni khādati. (गुरुः फलानि खादति)
5. gurūñchṛṇoti. (गुरूञ्छृणोति)
6. ko 'gniṃ paśyati. (को ऽग्निं पश्यति)
7. ayaṃ kavirmantraṃ smarati. (अयं कविर्मन्त्रं स्मरति)
8. iyaṃ devī kṣatriyā rakṣati. (इयं देवी क्षत्रिया रक्षति)
9. kṣatriyā viṣṇuṃ yajante. (क्षत्रिया विष्णुं यजन्ते) (2 possibilities)
10. brāhmaṇo 'gniṃ karoti. (ब्राह्मणो ऽग्निं करोति)
11. vaiśyā imaṃ grāmaṃ gacchanti. (वैश्या इमं ग्रामं गच्छन्ति) (2 possibilities)
12. ete gurūṃstu śṛṇvanti. (एते गुरूंस्तु शृण्वन्ति)
13. sādhuḥ svargamāpnoti. (साधुः स्वर्गमाप्नोति)
14. brāhmāṇāḥ somaṃ sunvanti. (ब्राह्मणाः सोमं सुन्वन्ति)
15. paśūllabhate. (पशूल्लभते)
16. ke yodhāḥ kṣatriyaiḥ saha yudhyante. (के योधाः क्षत्रियैः सह युध्यन्ते)

D) Translate into Sanskrit:

1. A Brahman goes to the village with a Vaiśya.
2. He venerates Viṣṇu with a sacrifice. (Express "sacrifice" as yajña!)
3. The Veda is called śruti. (vad)
4. One sets up the warp of a loom. (2 possibilities)

Fig.: तन्तुवायः
(Bildekilde: Detaljer)

5. The teachers ask. (Passive construction)
6. The eye leads. (Passive construction)
7. The poet sees a deity. (Passive construction)
8. Who (fem.) tends the girl? (Passive construction)
9. The Kṣatriya venerates the LORD with a sacrifice. (Passive construction, without using the word yajña)
10. Through generosity, a follower of the Buddha attains heaven.

10.7. Word List 2

makṣikā f. मक्षिका : fly, bee
vraṇa m. व्रण : wound, fault, damage
dhana n. धन : reward, money, wealth, property
iṣ 6 P (icchati) इष् इच्छति : to wish
pārthiva m. पार्थिव : king
nīca 3 नीच : low, deep
kalaha m. कलह : dispute, quarrel
śānti f. शान्ति : cessation, peace, tranquility
śam 4 P (śāmyati !) शम् शाम्यति : to be calm, to become calm
nara m. नर : man, human being
lubh 4 P (lubhyati) लुभ् लुभ्यति : to desire
sūkta 3 सूक्त : well said, beautifully spoken; n. song
śiṣya m. शिष्य : student
atra अत्र : here
tatra तत्र : there
bhānu m. भानु : radiance, sun
vand 1 Ā (vandate) वन्द् वन्दते : to greet, to honor
vṛṣ 1 P (varṣati) वृष् वर्षति : to rain
nṛpa m. नृप : king, prince
kṣīra n. क्षीर : milk
mārga m. मार्ग : path
evam एवम् : thus
iha इह : here
śubh 1 Ā (śobhate) शुभ् शोभते : to be beautiful, to shine

10.8. Reading and Translation Exercise

Read and translate, then convert to the passive voice:

क १.

मक्षिका व्रणमिच्छन्ति धनमिच्छन्ति पार्थिवाः ।
नीचाः कलहमिच्छन्ति शान्तिमिच्छन्ति साधवः ॥

२. नरान्सृजति देवः । |
३. कवयो धनं लुभ्यन्ति । |
४. ऋषयः सूक्तानि पश्यन्ति । |
५. विष्णुमृषिर्यजति । |
६. गुरूञ्शिष्यांश्च पश्यति । |
७. स्वर्गं लभन्ते । |
८. अत्रर्षिर्भानुं वन्दते । |
९. ग्रामं गच्छन्ति । |
१०. दानानि वर्षन्ति नृपाः ॥

ख

१. सदा देवान्स्मरन्ति । |
२. ऋषिभी रामो वसति । |
३. हरिं क्षीरेण यजति । |
४. मार्गेण ग्रामं गच्छन्ति । |
५. धनेन सुखमिच्छन्ति नराः । |
६. एवं वदन्ति । |
७. शान्त्यर्षय इह शोभन्ते । |
८. कपयः फलानि खादन्ति । |
९. गजो गच्छति । |
१०. हरिर्गृहं गच्छति । |
११. सारथी रथं नयति ॥