8.2.60
ऋणमाधमर्ण्ये
Operational rule vidhi
The word ऋण is irregularly formed in the sense of 'debt.
Word by word (padaccheda)
Substitute / term ऋणम् prathamā · ekavacanaRight context आधमर्ण्ये saptamī · ekavacana
- Substitute / term Prathamā (1st case): in operational rules, the substitute or the thing introduced; in definitions, the term or its referent.
- 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
ऋणम् आधमर्ण्ये
Pāṇini leaves out words that carry over from earlier sūtras. Expand to see the rule as a reader actually understands it.
Commentary
The word ऋण is irregularly formed in the sense of 'debt.
It is derived from ऋ, the त is changed to न ॥ The word अधमर्ण is compounded from अधम ऋणे "he who in a debt transaction holds a lower position" - i.e. a debtor. This nipatana shows that such irregular Locative compounds may be formed; for here the first member is not in the Locative case, but the second member. The condition of being a debtor is आधमर्ण्यम् or "indebtedness:"
If this is so, then the word उत्तमर्णः 'creditor' cannot be formed? This is no valid objection. For अधमर्ण is illustrative only of something to be paid hereafter, in consideration of something formerly received; and thus includes उत्तमर्ण also; which also has been so employed by the author himself in धातेरुत्तमर्णः (1.4. 35).
The word ऋण we use in sentences like ऋणं ददति, ऋणं धारयति ॥
Why do we say when meaning 'debt'? Observe ऋतं वक्ष्यामि, नानृतम् ॥
Śrīśa Chandra Vasu, The Ashtadhyayi of Panini (1897), via ashtadhyayi.com.