2.3.33
करणे च स्तोकाल्पकृच्छ्रकतिपयस्यासत्त्ववचनस्य
Operational rule vidhi
When expressing an instrument-कारक, optionally after the words स्तोक 'little', अल्प 'little', कृच्छ्र 'difficulty' and कतिपय 'some', the 5th case-affix is used, when they do not denote material objects.
Word by word (padaccheda)
Right context saptamī · ekavacanaIndeclinable च avyayaTarget स्तोक- अल्प- कृच्छ्र- कतिपयस्य ṣaṣṭhī · ekavacanaTarget असत्त्व- वचनस्य ṣaṣṭhī · ekavacana
- 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").
- Indeclinable An avyaya such as च "and", वा "optionally", न "not".
- Target Ṣaṣṭhī (6th case): names what gets replaced, "in place of X" (1.1.49 षष्ठी स्थानेयोगा).
Dotted words are technical terms. Hover or tap one to see its card.
Full reading
च स्तोक-
Pāṇini leaves out words that carry over from earlier sūtras. Expand to see the rule as a reader actually understands it.
Commentary
When expressing an instrument-कारक, optionally after the words स्तोक 'little', अल्प 'little', कृच्छ्र 'difficulty' and कतिपय 'some', the 5th case-affix is used, when they do not denote material objects.
Ex. स्तोकात् स्तोकेन वा मुक्तः and अल्पान्मुक्तः or अल्पेनमुक्तः &c, 'he got off easily &c. But स्तोकेन विषेन हतः, अल्पेन मधुना मत्तः &c. 'killed by a little poison.' No option allowed, as it qualifies a substance. So also स्तोकं मुञ्चति 'he loosens a little.' Here स्तोक is used as an adverb and not as an instrument (करण).
Śrīśa Chandra Vasu, The Ashtadhyayi of Panini (1897), via ashtadhyayi.com.