2.3.16
नमःस्वस्तिस्वाहास्वधालम्वषड्योगाच्च
Operational rule vidhi
The 4th case-affix is used in conjunction with the words नमः 'salutation', स्वस्ति 'peace', स्वाहा , स्वधा (terms used in offering oblations to Gods and पित्रि-s, respectively), अलम् , 'a match for', 'sufficient for' and वषट् , a term for oblation.
Word by word (padaccheda)
Left context नमः- स्वस्ति- स्वाहा- स्वधा- अलम्- वषट्- योगात् pañcamī · ekavacanaIndeclinable च avyaya
- Left context Pañcamī (5th case): "after X", the operation applies to what follows (1.1.67 तस्मादित्युत्तरस्य). Also used for limits and sources.
- Indeclinable An avyaya such as च "and", वा "optionally", न "not".
Full reading
नमः-
Pāṇini leaves out words that carry over from earlier sūtras. Expand to see the rule as a reader actually understands it.
Commentary
The 4th case-affix is used in conjunction with the words नमः 'salutation', स्वस्ति 'peace', स्वाहा , स्वधा (terms used in offering oblations to Gods and पित्रि-s, respectively), अलम् , 'a match for', 'sufficient for' and वषट् , a term for oblation.
Ex. नमो देवेभ्यः, स्वस्ति प्रजाभ्यः, स्वादाऽग्नये, स्वधा पितृभ्यः, अलं मल्लो मल्लाय 'Salutation to Gods'; 'peace to the people'; 'svaha to fire'; 'svadha to the Pitris'; 'an athlete is a match for an athlete' &c. The word अलं includes its synonyms also, as प्रभुः, शक्तः &c.; so वषडिन्द्राय, वषडग्नये.
The च indicates that the Dative will debar Genitive, in spite of 2.3.73, in the case of these words, though used benedictivley; as स्वस्ति गोभ्यो भूयात् ॥
Śrīśa Chandra Vasu, The Ashtadhyayi of Panini (1897), via ashtadhyayi.com.