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Lesson 28

28.1. The Causative (णि, णिच्, कारित)

If one wants to express that someone or something causes or brings about that another person or thing does or experiences something expressed by a root (with or without prefix), the causative is used (णि, णिच्, कारित).

Example:
गम् "to go" » Causative: गमयति "he causes someone to go; he sends"
दृश् "to see" » Causative: दर्शयति "he causes to see = he shows"

28.2. Sentence Construction with the Causative (णि, णिच्, कारित)

Schema 1:

If the root underlying the causative (with or without prefix) is INTRANSITIVE (i.e., cannot take an accusative object) or expresses movement, knowledge, information, or eating:

Agent (कर्ता) of the causative in the Nominative (प्रथमा) — Agent of the caused action in the Accusative (द्वितीया) — (Goal of movement, object of knowledge, etc. in the Accusative = द्वितीया) — Verb in the Causative

Examples:

दुर्जनो रामं मोहयति = "an evil person causes Rāma to be confused = confuses Rāma = causes Rāma to err"
Result: रामो मुह्यति = "Rāma is confused / deluded / errs."

रामः शत्रून्स्वर्गं गमयति = "Rāma causes the enemies to go to heaven = sends the enemies to heaven"
Result: शत्रवः स्वर्गं गच्छन्ति = "the enemies go to heaven / come into heaven"

गुरू रामं वेदार्थं वेदयति = "The teacher causes Rāma to know the meaning of the Veda = explains / teaches Rāma the meaning of the Veda"
Result: रामो वेदार्थं वेत्ति = "Rāma knows / understands the meaning of the Veda"

स रामं वेदमध्यापयति = "he teaches Rāma the Veda"
Result: रामो वेदमधीते "Rāma studies the Veda"

रामो देवानामृतमाशयति = "Rāma causes the gods to eat nectar = gives the gods nectar to eat" (अश् 9 "to eat")
Result: देवा अमृतमश्नन्ति "The gods eat nectar"


Fig.: स नरान्प्रबन्धविज्ञानमध्यापयति
ISKCON Temple Bangalore.
(Bildekilde: Detaljer)

Constructed according to Schema 1, among others, is the root दृश्:

Exceptions to Schema 1 see under Schema 2

Example:
() रामं पुत्रं दर्शयति = "he shows the son to Rāma"

The following verse summarizes examples for the causative formation according to Schema 1 (the verbal forms are each in the 3rd person Imperfect Parasmaipada):

शत्रूनगमयत्स्वर्गं वेदार्थं स्वानवेदयत् । आशयच्चामृतं देवान् वेदमध्यापयद्विधिम् । आसयत्सलिलै पृथ्वीं यः स मे श्रीहरिगतिः ॥

My refuge and my goal is Hari,
Who sent the enemies to heaven,
Who taught his followers the meaning of the Veda,
Who fed the gods with nectar,
Who taught the Creator the Veda,
Who placed the earth in the water.


Fig.: स मे श्रीहरिगतिः
Jadavpur University Management building.
(Bildekilde: Detaljer)

Schema 2:

For transitive verbs (except those mentioned under Schema 1). Also for all verbs, when the action denoted by the causative is caused (i.e., when the causative is a causative of a causative):

Agent (कर्ता) of the causative in the nominative (प्रथमा) — Agent of the caused action in the instrumental (तृतीया) — Object of the caused action in the case it would take with the simple verb (i.e., usually in the accusative) — Verb in the causative

Examples:
() रामेण भार्यां त्याजयति = "He causes Rāma to abandon his wife"
Result: रामो भार्यां त्यजति = "Rāma abandons his wife"

विष्णुमित्रो रामेण गोविन्दं गमयति = "Viṣṇumitra causes Rāma to cause Govinda to go = Viṣṇumitra has Rāma send off Govinda"
Result: रामो गोविन्दं गमयति = "Rāma sends off Govinda"
Result of this result: गोविन्दो गच्छति = "Govinda goes"

Exceptions to Schema 1:

The following verbs also construct according to Schema 2:

Causative of:
नी "to lead"
वह् "to travel" (only when the agent of the caused action is not a driver)
स्मृ "to remember" (there are exceptions to this)
अद् "to eat"
खाद् "to chew"

Examples:

रामो भृत्येन भारं नाययति वाहयति वा = "Rāma has the servant lead or drive the burden"
Result: भृत्यो भारं नयति वहति वा = "The servant leads or drives the burden"

रामो बालेनान्नमादयति खादयति वा = "Rāma has the boy eat or chew food"
Result: बालो ऽन्नमत्ति खादति वा = "the boy eats or chews food"

() रामेण स्मारयति = "He causes Rāma to remember"
Result: रामः स्मरति = "Rāma remembers"

The following causatives can be constructed according to both Schema 1 and Schema 2:

हृ "to hold, to fetch"
कृ "to do, to make"
Ātmanepadakausativ to दृश्

Examples:

रामो भृत्यं कटं कारयति हारयति वा = "Rāma has the servant make or fetch a mat (कट m.)"
or:
रामो भृत्येन कटं कारयति हारयति वा
Result: भृत्यः कटं करोति हरति वा = "The servant makes or fetches a mat"

रामो बालं प्रतिमां दर्शयते = "Rāma has the boy see the portrait = shows the boy the portrait (for his own benefit)"
or:
रामो बालेन प्रतिमां दर्शयते
Result: बालः प्रतिमां पश्यति = "the boy sees the portrait"

When the causative is used in a passive construction, the following schema is almost always applied:

Schema A (Passive Construction):

Agent of the causative in the Instrumental (तृतीया) — Agent of the caused action in the Nominative (प्रथमा) — Object of the caused action in the case it would have according to the simple verb (i.e., usually in the Accusative) — Verb in the causative

Examples:

गुरुणा रामो ग्रामं गम्यते = "The master sends Rāma to the village"
Result: रामो ग्रामं गच्छति = "Rāma goes to the village"

रामेण भृत्यः कटं कार्यते = "Rāma has the servant make a mat"
Result: भृत्यः कटं करोति = "The servant makes a mat"

रामेण भृत्यो भारं हार्यते = "Rāma has the servant fetch the load"
Result: भृत्यो भारं हरति = "The servant fetches the load"

28.3. Formation of the Present Stem for the Causative (णि, णिच्, कारित)

The thematic endings of the present stem are added to the causative stem

There are various formation types:

Formation Type 1: (usually) guṇa-grade root + -aya-

Examples:

RootCausative 3rd sg. Indicative PresentMeaning
विश्वेशयतिhe/she/it causes to enter, leads in
लुभ्लोभयतिto cause desire, to make desirous, to entice
दृश्दर्शयतिto cause to see = to show
वृत्वर्तयतिto cause to turn, to turn (transitive), to roll (transitive), to set in motion

Formation Type 2: dīrgha-grade root + -aya-

Often with roots ending in a vowel, and with roots where a single final consonant follows -a-.

Examples:

RootCausative 3rd sg. Indicative PresentMeaning
भूभावयति
(aus: bhau-aya-ti)
to cause someone or something to become, to produce
आययति
(aus: ai-aya-ti)
to cause someone to go
नीनाययति
(aus: nai-aya-ti)
to cause to lead
कृकारयति
(kār-aya-ti)
to cause to do
वच्वाचयति
(vāc-aya-ti)
to cause to speak, to make speak, (to have a text spoken =) to read aloud

Formation Type 3: zero-grade root + -aya-

Occurs.

Example:

RootCausative 3rd sg. Indicative PresentMeaning
दुष्दूषयति
(dūṣ-aya-ti)
to corrupt (someone)

Formation Type 4: Root + -paya-

For roots ending in -ā and some other roots.

Examples:

RootCausative 3. sg. Indicative PresentMeaning
स्थास्थापयति
(sthā-paya-ti)
to make stand, to set up
+ अधि
"to study"
अध्यापयति
(out of: adhi+ā-paya-ti)
(for explanation see Thumb-Hauschildt Vol. I,2 p. 341)
to cause to study, to instruct

Irregular formations:

Native grammarians consider the following forms as causatives:

han : Caus. ghātayati¹ "to cause to strike, to kill"
2 "to guard": pālayati² "to bring across, to save, to protect"

Notes:

  1. ghātayati is in reality a verb derived from the noun ghāta m. "blow" (denominative) and is used instead of the causative of han.
  2. pālayati is a genuine causative, however from the root pṛ 3 "to bring across, to save, to protect": pārayati (pār-aya-ti) » pālayati (in some parts of India, r corresponds to l, and conversely in others, l corresponds to r).

28.4. Formation of the Passive (यक्) from the Causative

The passive of the causative is formed as follows:

Causative stem WITHOUT -aya- + Passive suffix -ya-

Examples:
bhāvyate (bhāv-ya-te) "he/she/it is caused to be"
sthāpyate (sthāp-ya-te) "he/she/it is caused to be set up"

While the passive of the original root is usually formed from the zero-grade root, one can generally recognize the passive of the causative by the fact that it is formed from the strong or lengthened-grade root.

28.5. Formation of the Future (ऌट्, भविष्यन्ती f.) for the Causative

The future of the causative is formed from the causative stem, whereby the final -a- of the causative suffix drops:

-ay-iṣya-

Example:
budh Future-Causative: bodhayiṣyati (bodh-ay-i-ṣya-ti): "he/she/it will awaken"

28.6. Formation of the PPP (क्त) for the Causative

Causative stem in -ay- (without final a) + -i- + -ta

Examples:
gamgamayatigamita (gam-i-ta) "sent" (PPP of the simple root: gata)
sthāsthāpayatisthāpita (sthāp-i-ta) "placed"

28.7. Formation of the Absolutives (क्त्वा . ल्यप्) for the Causative

The absolutives in -tvā are formed from the causative stem in -ay- (without final a):

Causative stem in -ay- + -i- + -tvā

Example:
sthāpayitvā (sthā-pay-i-tvā) "after having placed"

The absolutives in -ya usually attach to the causative stem WITHOUT -aya- for causatives with prefixes

Examples:
prabudhprabodhayatiprabodhya (pra-bodh-ya) "after having awakened"
ānīānayatiānāyya (ā-nāy-ya) "after having caused to lead up, after having caused to bring"

However, if the root syllable of the causative contains a short -a- before a single consonant, the -ya of the absolutives attaches to the causative stem in -ay- (without final a)

Example:
āgamāgamayatiāgamayya (ā-gamay-ya) "after having caused to come"

28.8. Formation of the Infinitive (तुमुन्) for the Causative

The infinitive for the causative is formed from the causative stem in -ay- (without final a):

Causative stem in -ay- + -i- + -tum

Example:
janjanayatijanayitum (janay-i-tum) "to produce"

28.9. The 10th Present Class (चुरादि = चुर् etc.)

In the same way as causatives, some roots of the 10th present class form their present (and other tenses) without being causatives.

Examples:

  1. Lengthened-grade root + -aya- : कम् 10A कामयते "to love"
  2. Guṇa-grade root + -aya- : cur 10U corayati "to steal"; Future: corayiṣyate; Passive: coryate

The forms of the causative for verbs of the 10th present class are identical to the forms of the simple verb. The decision as to whether a causative is present can only be made based on meaning or sometimes on construction.

28.10. Word List

विद् 2P वेत्ति, विदन्ति: to know, to recognize
Fut. vediṣyati
Pass. vidyate
Caus. vedayati
PPP vidita
Inf. vediṣyum
from which: vidyā f., veda m.

विद् 6U विन्दति (!): to find
Fut. vediṣyati / vetsyat
Pass. vidyate: there is, it exists
Caus. vedayati
PPP vinna / vitta
Inf. vediṣtum / vettum

i + adhi 2A adhīte, adhīyate: to study, to memorize
Caus. adhyāpayati: to cause to study, to teach
from which: adhyayana n.: study (esp. of the Veda); adhyāya m.: lesson, chapter (section for memorization)

कम् 10Ā कामयते: to love
Fut. kāmayiṣyate / kamiṣyate
Pass. kāmyate
Kaus. kāmayati
PPP kānta (!)
Inf. kāmayitum / kamitum


Fig.: कृष्णो राधां कामयति
Painting by राजा रवि वर्मा (1848 - 1906)
(Bildekilde: Detaljer)

चुर् 10 चोरयति: to steal
Fut. corayiṣyati
Pass. coryate
Kaus. corayati
PPP corita
Inf. coritum

Pay special attention to the meaning of the causatives for the following verbs:
dṛśdarśayati: to show
manmānayati: to esteem, to honor (but is probably a denominative from māna "honor")
vacvācayati: also: to read aloud (to cause someone to speak a text)
vadvādayati: also: to cause a musical instrument to speak = to play a musical instrument


Fig.: वीणां वादयति
Vīṇā-Spielerin.
(Bildekilde: Detaljer)

भार m.: burden


Fig.: बाला भारं हरति
Girl carrying burden. Near Ahmedabad.
(Bildekilde: Detaljer)

भृत्य m.: subordinate, servant

28.11. Exercise

A) Form the causative of the following verb forms and participial forms, and provide their meaning:

1. With strong-grade root:

  1. अर्हन्ति
  2. प्राप्य
  3. एषिष्यन्ति
  4. कुप्यति
  5. कर्क्ष्यति
  6. क्रुध्यन्ती
  7. चोर्यते
  8. गन्तुम्
  9. जातः
  10. देक्ष्यन्ति
  11. दोग्धि
  12. माद्यन्
  13. द्रक्ष्यति
  14. द्वेष्टि
  15. नर्तितुम्
  16. भोत्स्यन्ते
  17. मुञ्चन्ति
  18. पृच्छन्ति
  19. मुह्यति
  20. योत्स्यन्
  21. रक्ष्यते
  22. रोदिति
  23. लुब्धा
  24. प्रविश्य
  25. वर्तते
  26. सिक्त्वा
  27. स्रक्ष्यति
  28. लिम्पन्ति
  29. वृद्धाः

2. With root in the strengthened grade:

  1. अत्ति
  2. अस्यन्ति
  3. एष्यति
  4. संस्कृतम्
  5. चरति
  6. तनोति
  7. खाद्यते
  8. धक्ष्यति
  9. उपानैष्यति
  10. पच्यते
  11. पतन्ति
  12. पत्स्यते
  13. भक्तः
  14. भवति
  15. मंस्यन्ते
  16. म्रियते
  17. इज्यते
  18. वक्ति
  19. प्रोद्य
  20. शृणोति
  21. सुन्वन्ति
  22. स्तौति
  23. विस्मृत्य
  24. उषितः
  25. वसिता
  26. अश्नुते
  27. आस्ते
  28. त्यक्ष्यता
  29. धृतेन
  30. म्रियन्ते
  31. यजतः
  32. उक्ते
  33. उद्यन्ते
  34. शक्नुवन्ति
  35. श्रोष्यन्तः
  36. सीदति
  37. सोढायाः
  38. हरन्ती
  39. ऊढया

3. Causative in -पय

  1. स्थित्वा

4. Pay special attention to and learn the following causative formations

  1. दुष्दूषयति
  2. पा 1 ("to drink") — पाययति
  3. पा 2 ("to protect") — पालयति
  4. लभ्लम्भयति
  5. हन्घातयति
  6. जिजापयति
  7. जीव्जीवयति

B. Translate the following sentences, resolve the compounds into Sanskrit, and form sentences using the simple verbs that express what happens when the action denoted by the causative is brought about:

Example: रामो दासं भारं हारयति » दासो भारं हरति शत्रुजयाय क्षत्रियो ब्राह्मणेन हरिहरं याजयित्वारीन्योत्स्यते ॥१॥ गुरुर्बालान्वेदमध्याप्य गृहं गतः ॥२॥ गर्भगृहे देवीप्रतिमा दृश्यते ॥३॥ यजन्नग्निनान्नमादयति पानं च पाययति ॥४॥ पुत्रे जाते ब्राह्मणी दासं ब्राह्मणं गमयति । ब्राह्मणस्तं दासं गृहं प्रवेश्य पुत्रं पृच्छति । सुभगः पुत्र इति दासो वक्ति । तच्छ्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणो सुखतां गच्छति ॥५॥ स्तुवता नरेण देवा महाकवेः स्तोत्राणि श्राविताः ॥६॥ आर्ययोधैर्महायुद्धे ऽरयो मार्यन्ते ॥७॥ सत्क्षत्रिया ब्राह्मणेनेष्टदेवतापूजां कारयति । स ब्राह्मणः पूजां कृत्वा क्षत्रियाया धनमेषिष्यति ॥८॥ धनं जेतुं महाक्षत्रियो योधव्याघ्रैर्व्रतानि चारयिष्यति ॥९॥ पापान्मोक्षार्थेन सुगत आर्यजनानार्यसत्यानि बोधयति ॥१०॥

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