8.4.64
हलो यमां यमि लोपः
Operational rule vidhi
A यम्-letter sandwiched between a हल्-letter (on left) and the same यम्-letter (on right) is optionally removed.
Word by word (padaccheda)
Left context pañcamī · ekavacanaTarget ṣaṣṭhī · bahuvacanaRight context saptamī · ekavacanaSubstitute / term prathamā · ekavacana
- Left context Pañcamī (5th case): "after X", the operation applies to what follows (1.1.67 तस्मादित्युत्तरस्य). Also used for limits and sources.
- Target Ṣaṣṭhī (6th case): names what gets replaced, "in place of X" (1.1.49 षष्ठी स्थानेयोगा).
- 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").
- Substitute / term Prathamā (1st case): in operational rules, the substitute or the thing introduced; in definitions, the term or its referent.
Dotted words are technical terms, dashed ones pratyāhāras (names for classes of sounds or affixes). Hover or tap one to see its card.
Full reading
Pāṇini leaves out words that carry over from earlier sūtras. Expand to see the rule as a reader actually understands it.
→ /
Replace yamām with lopaḥ when it comes after halaḥ when yami follows. Inherited words (anuvṛtti) may add further conditions.
Commentary
After a consonant, the following semi-vowel or a nasal is elided optionally, when the same letters follow it
The word अन्यतरस्याम् should be read into the sutra. Thus शय्य्या or शय्या, the middle य् being elided. In शय्या there are two यs, one of the affix क्यप् 3.3.99; and the second of अयङ् 7.4.22, and the third arises by doubling 8.4.47. आदित्य्य (formed by doubling य by the Vartika under 47 ante), or आदित्य 'son of Aditi' In आदित्य्य there are two यs, one of ण्य 4.1.85, and the second arises by doubling.
Similarly आदित्य देवता अस्य स्थाली पाकस्य = आदित्य्य ॥ Then by 8.4.47, there is a third य, as अदित्य्य ॥ Here also we may elide the one middle य or both the middle य's. Thus आदित्यः or आदित्य्य ॥
Why do we say हलः 'preceded by a consonant'? Observe अन्नम् when म् is preceded by a vowel.
Why do we say यमाम् "of यम् letters"? Observe अग्ग्निः, अर्घ्यम् 5.4.25 where घ is not a य ॥
Why do we say यमिं "when यम् follows" ? Observe शार्ङ्गम् here ङ् is not followed by a यम् ॥
Śrīśa Chandra Vasu, The Ashtadhyayi of Panini (1897), via ashtadhyayi.com.