2.3.71
कृत्यानां कर्तरि वा
Operational rule vidhi
The 6th-Case-affix is optionally used in denoting the agent, (but not the object), when the word is governed by a Future Passive Participle (कृत्य).
Word by word (padaccheda)
Target ṣaṣṭhī · bahuvacanaRight context कर्तरि saptamī · ekavacanaIndeclinable वा avyaya
- Target Ṣaṣṭhī (6th case): names what gets replaced, "in place of X" (1.1.49 षष्ठी स्थानेयोगा).
- 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".
Dotted words are technical terms. Hover or tap one to see its card.
Full reading
कर्तरि वा
Pāṇini leaves out words that carry over from earlier sūtras. Expand to see the rule as a reader actually understands it.
Commentary
The 6th-Case-affix is optionally used in denoting the agent, (but not the object), when the word is governed by a Future Passive Participle (कृत्य).
By 2.3.65, verbal nouns, (krit-formed), always govern the Genitive in denoting agent or object. The present sutra declares an option as to agent only, in the case of those verbal nouns which are Future Passive Participles. Thus भवतः or भवता कटः कर्तव्यः 3.1.95.
Why do we say 'in denoting the agent'? In denoting the object, no option is allowed; the Genitive is compulsory. As गेयो माणवकः साम्नाम् ॥
Vart:- The prohibition of the Genitive should be stated in the case of the Future Passive Participles of those verbs which govern two objects. Thus क्रष्टव्या ग्रामं शाखा देवदत्तेन, नेतव्या ग्राममजा देवदत्तेन ॥
Śrīśa Chandra Vasu, The Ashtadhyayi of Panini (1897), via ashtadhyayi.com.