विभाषा गुणेऽस्त्रियाम्

Operational rule vidhi

The 5th case-affix is used optionally when the noun expresses an attribute, being the cause of an action and not being of the feminine gender.

Word by word (padaccheda)

Substitute / term prathamā · ekavacanaRight context saptamī · ekavacanaRight context अस्त्रियाम् saptamī · ekavacana

Substitute / term Prathamā (1st case): in operational rules, the substitute or the thing introduced; in definitions, the term or its referent.
Right context Saptamī (7th case): "when X follows", the operation applies to what precedes (1.1.66 तस्मिन्निति निर्दिष्टे पूर्वस्य). Also a condition or domain ("in the sense of").

Dotted words are technical terms. Hover or tap one to see its card.

Full reading

अस्त्रियाम्

Pāṇini leaves out words that carry over from earlier sūtras. Expand to see the rule as a reader actually understands it.

Commentary

The 5th case-affix is used optionally when the noun expresses an attribute, being the cause of an action and not being of the feminine gender.
Ex. जाड्येन जाड्यताम् वा बद्धः 'he has been bound by reason of his dullness.' पांडित्येन or पांडित्याद् मुक्तः 'saved through learning.'

Guna-vachana nouns are generally abstract nouns. Therefore not here धनेन कुलम्. If an abstract noun is of feminine gender, this rule will not apply, as वुद्ध्या or प्रज्ञया मुक्तः 'he was set at liberty on account of his skill or wisdom.'

Śrīśa Chandra Vasu, The Ashtadhyayi of Panini (1897), via ashtadhyayi.com.