Pāṇini and Aṣṭādhyāyī Study
Learners who can already read basic Sanskrit and want to follow grammatical derivations. Share the sūtra range and commentary or classroom edition you use.
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Learn to identify the condition, operation and result of a rule. Start with a transparent sandhi derivation, then discuss how rule scope and inherited wording affect harder examples.
Three vowel sandhi derivations
For each boundary, identify the two sounds, state the relevant condition, then show what changes. In these examples the operation applies when sounds are pronounced together. Reference for the vowel sandhi rules.
6.1.77 · इको यणचि
Input. इति + आदि. The last vowel is i and the next is ā. The rule replaces i with its corresponding semivowel y. The following ā stays. Result. इत्यादि (ityādi).
6.1.87 · आद्गुणः
Input. महा + ईशः. At this boundary ā meets ī. The two vowels are replaced together by the guṇa vowel e. Result. महेशः (maheśaḥ).
6.1.101 · अकः सवर्णे दीर्घः
Input. गिरि + ईशः. Here i and ī are of the same vowel class, so the more specific savarṇa rule replaces both with long ī. Result. गिरीशः (girīśaḥ).
Derive each form and check the rule
- Join सु + आगतम्. Which sound stays?
Show worked answer
6.1.77 replaces u with v before ā. The ā remains, giving स्वागतम्.
- Join सूर्य + उदयः. Do you replace one sound or both?
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6.1.87 replaces a + u with a single o. The result is सूर्योदयः.
- Join विद्या + आलयः. Why is the result long?
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The boundary contains two vowels of the same class. Under 6.1.101, ā + ā gives one long ā, yielding विद्यालयः.
- Compare इति + आदि and गिरि + ईशः. Why do the two final i vowels behave differently?
Show worked answer
In इत्यादि, i meets a different vowel class, so i becomes y. In गिरीशः, i and ī are savarṇa, so the specific rule merges them.
In a derivation from your commentary, underline the rule words that identify the input and trigger. Check how inherited wording affects the rule before generalising from one example.
Try a worked example
इको यणचि · इति + आदि → इत्यादि
Which sound changes, and what triggers the change?
Show the worked answer
In this example, the final इ of इति becomes the corresponding य् before the following vowel आ. Aṣṭādhyāyī 6.1.77 is the starting rule for the worked derivation.
What should I know before starting?
Basic Devanagari reading and familiarity with vowel and consonant sounds help. Share what you already know and the commentary your course expects.
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