6.2.112
कर्णो वर्णलक्षणात्
Operational rule vidhi
In a बहुव्रीहि समास the word कर्ण standing as second member has acute accent (उदात्त) on the first syllable when it is preceded by a word denoting colour or mark.
Word by word (padaccheda)
Substitute / term कर्णः prathamā · ekavacanaLeft context वर्णलक्षणात् pañcamī · ekavacana
- Substitute / term Prathamā (1st case): in operational rules, the substitute or the thing introduced; in definitions, the term or its referent.
- Left context Pañcamī (5th case): "after X", the operation applies to what follows (1.1.67 तस्मादित्युत्तरस्य). Also used for limits and sources.
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Full reading
कर्णः वर्णलक्षणात्
Pāṇini leaves out words that carry over from earlier sūtras. Expand to see the rule as a reader actually understands it.
Commentary
In a बहुव्रीहि समास the word कर्ण standing as second member has acute accent (उदात्त) on the first syllable when it is preceded by a word denoting colour or mark.
Thus with color we have शुक्लक꣡र्णः, कृष्णक꣡र्ण, and with mark-name, we have दात्राक꣡र्णः शङ्कूक꣡र्णः, the lengthening of दात्र and शंकु takes place by 6.3.115. The marks of 'scythe', 'arrow' &c, are made on the ears of cattle to mark and distinguish them. It is such a 'mark' which is meant here, therefore, the rule does not apply to स्थूलकर्णः ॥ Why do we say कर्ण? Observe श्वेतपादः, कूटशृङ्गः here श्वेत being formed by अच् 2.1.134 is end-acute, and कूट being formed by क 3.1.135 is also end-acute and these accents are retained in the compound. Why do we say "when preceded by a word denoting color or mark"? Observe शोभनपादः where शोभन being formed by युच् 2.2.149 is end-acute and this accent is retained 6.2.1.
Śrīśa Chandra Vasu, The Ashtadhyayi of Panini (1897), via ashtadhyayi.com.