3.3.118
पुंसि संज्ञायां घः प्रायेण
Operational rule vidhi
The affix घ generally comes in the sense of an instrument or location after a root, when the word to be formed is a name and is in the masculine gender.
Word by word (padaccheda)
Right context पुंसि saptamī · ekavacanaRight context संज्ञायाम् saptamī · ekavacanaSubstitute / term ः prathamā · ekavacanaWith / by प्रायेण tṛtīyā · 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").
- Substitute / term Prathamā (1st case): in operational rules, the substitute or the thing introduced; in definitions, the term or its referent.
- With / by Tṛtīyā (3rd case): accompaniment or means.
Dotted words are technical terms. Hover or tap one to see its card.
Pink letters are it-markers (anubandhas), tags dropped by 1.3.9. Hover or tap one for the rule that marks it, or try the it-letter finder.
Full reading
पुंसि संज्ञायाम् घः प्रायेण
Pāṇini leaves out words that carry over from earlier sūtras. Expand to see the rule as a reader actually understands it.
Commentary
The affix घ generally comes in the sense of an instrument or location after a root, when the word to be formed is a name and is in the masculine gender.
The force of the word प्रायेण 'generally' is to show that this rule is not a universal rule. Thus दन्तच्छदः 'the lip'. छादि 'to cover' + घ 6.4.96 = छद lit. 'that by which the teeth are covered'; so also उरच्छद 'a breast plate'; घटः । These denote instruments.
So also in denoting 'location'. Thus आ + कृ + घ = आकरः 'a mine', so named because men work (akurvanti) in it, आलयः 'a house' that in which men settle down.
Why do we say 'in the masculine gender'? Observe प्रसाधनम् 'a comb'; (lit. that by which men decorate). Here the affix is lyut.
Why do we say 'when the complete word so formed is merely an appellative'? Observe प्रहरणो दण्डः 'the beating stick'.
The indicatory घ् is merely qualifying; for the application of sutra 6.4.96 by which after the causative छादि, when घ is added, the long आ is shortened.
Śrīśa Chandra Vasu, The Ashtadhyayi of Panini (1897), via ashtadhyayi.com.