8.1.43
नन्वित्यनुज्ञैषणायाम्
Operational rule vidhi
The finite verb optionally retains its accent in connection with ननु when with this particle, permission is asked.
Word by word (padaccheda)
Indeclinable ननु avyayaIndeclinable avyayaRight context अनुज्ञैषणायाम् saptamī · ekavacana
- Indeclinable An avyaya such as च "and", वा "optionally", न "not".
- 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").
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Full reading
ननु अनुज्ञैषणायाम्
Pāṇini leaves out words that carry over from earlier sūtras. Expand to see the rule as a reader actually understands it.
Commentary
The finite verb optionally retains its accent in connection with ननु when with this particle, permission is asked.
The word एषणा means 'asking, praying'. The word अनुज्ञा means 'permission'. The compound अनुज्ञैषणा means 'asking of permission'. Thus ननु करो꣡मि भोः, "may I do it, sir"; ननु ग꣡च्छामि भोः 'can I go sir'. The sense is 'give me permission to do or to go'.
Why do we say when 'asking for permission'? Observe अकार्षी कटं देवदत्त ? ननु क॒रो॒मि॒ भोः 'Devadatta hast thou made the mat? Well, I am making it'. Here ननु has the force of an answering particle, and not used in asking permission and hence the verb loses its accent.
Śrīśa Chandra Vasu, The Ashtadhyayi of Panini (1897), via ashtadhyayi.com.