5.3.32
पश्चात्
Operational rule vidhi
The word पश्चात् is anomalous in the sense of अस्ताति.
Word by word (padaccheda)
Indeclinable पश्चात् avyaya
- 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
पश्चात्
Pāṇini leaves out words that carry over from earlier sūtras. Expand to see the rule as a reader actually understands it.
Commentary
The word पश्चात् is anomalous in the sense of अस्ताति।
The word is formed by changing अपर into पश्च, and adding the affix आति ॥ As अपरस्यां दिशि वसति = पश्चाद्वसति, आगतः, रमणीयम् &c.
Vart:- So also when अपर is preceded by another word denoting direction, it is changed into pascha and ati is added. As दक्षिणपश्चात् उत्तरपश्चात् ॥
Vart:- So also when अर्ध follows such a compound, apara is changed into pascha; as, दक्षिणपश्चार्धः, उत्तरपश्चार्धः ॥
Vart:- Apara is changed into pascha, when followed by ardha, and not preceded by any other word. As, पश्चार्धः ॥
Śrīśa Chandra Vasu, The Ashtadhyayi of Panini (1897), via ashtadhyayi.com.