8.2.101
चिदिति चोपमाऽर्थे प्रयुज्यमाने
Operational rule vidhi
The end vowel at the end of a sentence becomes अनुदात्त and प्लुत when the particle चित् is used, denoting comparison.
Word by word (padaccheda)
Indeclinable चित् avyayaIndeclinable avyayaIndeclinable च avyayaRight context उपमाऽर्थे saptamī · ekavacanaRight context प्रयुज्यमाने 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
चित् च उपमाऽर्थे प्रयुज्यमाने
Pāṇini leaves out words that carry over from earlier sūtras. Expand to see the rule as a reader actually understands it.
Commentary
The end vowel at the end of a sentence becomes अनुदात्त and प्लुत when the particle चित् is used, denoting comparison.
The word अनुदात्तं is understood here. This sutra ordains pluta as well and not merely accent.
Thus अग्निचिद् भाया॒३त् 'may he shine as fire'. So also राजचिद् भाया॒३त् 'may be shine as a King'.
Why do we say 'when the sense is that of comparison'? Observe कथं चिद् आहुः ॥ Here चिद् has the force of 'littleness or difficulty'.
Why do we say प्रयुज्यमाने 'when expressly employed'? Observe अग्नि र्माणवको भायात् 'Let the boy shine like fire'. Here चित् is understood, hence the rule does not apply.
Śrīśa Chandra Vasu, The Ashtadhyayi of Panini (1897), via ashtadhyayi.com.