The New Pali Course Book 1
37. Feminine nouns ending in -u
Dhenu (cow [of any kind])
| Case |
Singular |
Plural |
| Nom., Voc. |
dhenu |
dhenuu, dhenuyo |
| Acc. |
dhenu.m |
dhenuu, dhenuyo |
| Abl., Ins. |
dhenuyaa |
dhenuubhi, dhenuuhi |
| Dat., Gen. |
dhenuyaa |
dhenuuna.m |
| Loc. |
dhenuya.m, dhenuyaa |
dhenuusu |
Some of the similarly declined are:-
- yaagu = rice gruel
- kaasu = pit
- vijju = lightning
- rajju = rope
- daddu = eczema
- kacchu = itch
- ka.neru = she-elephant
- dhaatu = element
- sassu = mother-in-law
38. Maatu is differently declined from the above.
Maatu (mother)
| Case |
Singular |
Plural |
| Nom. |
maataa |
maataro |
| Acc. |
maatara.m |
maatare, maataro |
| Abl., Ins. |
maataraa, (maatuyaa) |
maatarebhi, maaterehi, maatuubbhi, maatuuhi |
| Dat., Gen. |
maatuyaa |
maataraana.m, maataana.m, maatuuna.m |
| Loc. |
maatari |
maataresu, maatusu |
| Voc. |
maata, maataa, maate |
maataro |
Dhiitu (daughter) and duhitu (daughter) are declined like maatu.
39. Adverbs of Place
- tattha = there
- ettha = here
- idha = here
- upari = up, over
- tiriya.m = across
- kattha = where?
- tatra = there
- kuhi.m = where?
- anto = inside
- antaraa = between
- sabbattha = everywhere
- ekattha = in one place
- kuto = from where?
- tato = from there
Exercise 13
Translate into English
- Daasiyaa maataa dhenu.m rajjuyaa bandhitvaa aanesi.
- Mayha.m maatulaanii yaagu.m pacitvaa dhiitaraana.m dadissati.
- Ka.neruyo a.taviya.m aahi.n.ditvaa tattha kaasuusu pati.msu.
- Dhanavatiyaa sassu idha aagamma bhikkhuu vandissati.
- Raajiniyaa dhiitaro aaraama.m gantvaa satthaara.m maalaahi puujesu.m.
- Ka~n~naana.m pitaro dhiitaraana.m vuddhi.m icchanti.
- Kuto tva.m dhenuyo ki.nissasi?
- Kattha tava bhaginiyo nahaayitvaa pacitvaa bhu~nji.msu?
- Te gehassa ca rukkhassa ca antaraa kii.li.msu.
- Naariyaa duhitaro gehassa anto ma~ncesu sayissanti.
- Dhiituyaa ja`nghaaya.m daddu atthi.
- Yuvatii maalaa pilandhitvaa sassuyaa geha.m gamissati.
- Amhaaka.m maataraana.m gaaviyo sabbattha caritvaa bhu~njitvaa saaya.m ekattha sannipatanti*.
- Dhanavatiyaa nattaaro magge tiriya.m dhaavitvaa a.tavi.m pavisitvaa niliiyi.msu**.
- Asani rukkhassa upari patitvaa saakhaa chinditvaa taru.m maaresi.
* Sannipatati = assembles; comes together.
** Niliiyati = hides oneself.
Translate into Pali
- The girl's mother gave a garland to the damsel.
- Having tied the cows with ropes the woman dragged (them) to the forest.
- Having wandered everywhere in the island, the damsel's sister came home and ate (some) food.
- Where does your mother's sister live?
- My sister's daughters live in one place.
- When will they come to the river?
- The queen's mother-in-law came* here yesterday and went back** today.
- Having bathed in the tank, the daughters of the rich woman walked across the garden.
- Our aunts will cook* rice-gruel and drink it with women friends.
- The cows of the mother-in-law walk between the rock and the trees.
- When will your mothers and daughters go to the garden and hear the words of the Buddha?
- From where did you bring the elephant?
- Sons of the queen went* along the river*** to a forest and there fell in a pit.
- There is itch on the hand of the sister.
- The thunder-bolt fell* on a rock and broke it into two****.
* Use absolutives like gantvaa.
** Went back = pa.tinivatti or paccaayami.
*** Along the river = nadi.m anu or nadii passena.
**** Breaks into two = dvidhaa bhindati.
Neuter Gender
40. Declension of neuter nouns ending in -a
Nayana (eye)
| Case |
Singular |
Plural |
| Nom. |
nayana.m |
nayanaa, nayanaani |
| Acc. |
nayana.m |
nayanaa, nayanaani |
| Ins. |
nayanena |
nayanebhi, nayanehi |
| Dat. |
nayanaaya, nayanassa |
nayanaana.m |
| Abl. |
nayanaa, nayanamhaa, nayanasmaa |
nayanebhi, nayanehi |
| Gen. |
nayanassa |
nayanaana.m |
| Loc. |
nayane, nayanamhi, nayanasmi.m |
nayanesu |
| Voc. |
nayana, nayanaa |
nayanaani |
The following are declined similarly:-
- dhana = wealth
- phala = fruit
- daana = charity, alms
- siila = precept, virtue
- pu~n~na = merit, good action
- paapa = sin
- ruupa = form, image
- sota = ear
- ghaana = nose
- pii.tha = chair
- vadana = face, mouth
- locana = eye
- mara.na = death
- ceti = shrine
- paduma = lotus
- pa.n.na = leaf
- susaana = cemetery
- aayudha = weapon
- amata = ambrosia
- ti.na = grass
- udaka = water
- jala = water
- pulina = sand
- sopaa.na = stair
- hadaya = heart
- ara~n~na = forest
- vattha = cloth
- suva.n.na = gold
- sukha = comfort
- dukkha = trouble, pain
- muula = root, money
- kula = family, caste
- kuula = bank (of a river, etc.)
- bala = power, strength
- vana = forest
- puppha = flower
- citta = mind
- chatta = umbrella
- a.nda = egg
- kaara.na = reason
- ~naa.na = wisdom
- khiira = milk
- nagara = city
The Infinitive
41. The sign of the infinitive is -tu.m. It is used as in English:
- pacitu.m = to cook
- pivitu.m = to drink
- bhottu.m or bhu~njitu.m = to eat
- laddhu.m or labhitu.m = to get
- daatu.m = to give
- paatu.m = to drink
- gantu.m = to go
- kaatu.m = to do
- haritu.m = to carry
- aaharitu.m = to bring
Tu.m is simply added to the roots of one syllable to form the
infinitive. An extra -i- is added before tu.m in the case of the bases
consisting of more than one syllable.
Exercise 14
Translate into English
- Dhanavanto bhaataraana.m dhana.m daatu.m na icchanti.
- Daana.m datvaa siila.m rakkhitvaa sagge* nibbattitu.m** sakkonti***.
- Kumaarii alaata.m aanetvaa bhatta.m pacitu.m aggi.m jaalessati.
- Naariyo nagaraa nikkhamma udaka.m paatu.m vaapiyaa kuula.m gacchi.msu.
- Nattaaro ara~n~naa phalaani aaharitvaa khaaditu.m aarabhi.msu****.
- Siilavaa isi dhamma.m desetu.m pii.the nisiidi.
- Coro aayudhena paharitvaa mama pituno a`nguli.m chindi.
- Yuvatiyo padumaani ocinitu.m***** nadi.m gantvaa kuule nisiidi.msu.
- Maya.m chattaani aadaaya susaana.m gantvaa pupphaani ocinissaama.
- Ka~n~naa vattha.m aanetu.m aapa.na.m gamissati.
- Tumhe vana.m gantvaa gaaviina.m daatu.m pa.n.naani aaharatha.
- Maya.m locanehi ruupaani passitvaa sukha.m dukkha.m ca labhaama.
- Tva.m sotena su.nitu.m ghaa.nena ghaayitu.m****** ca sakkosi.
- Kukku.tiyaa a.n.daani rukkhassa muule santi.
- Viduno amata.m labhitvaa mara.na.m na bhaayanti.
- Manussaa cittena cintetvaa******* pu~n~naani karissanti.
- Tumhe dhamma.m sotu.m aaraama.m gantvaa puline nisiidatha.
- Dhanavanto suva.n.na.m datvaa ~naa.na.m laddhu.m na sakkonti.
- Daarako chatta.m ga.nhitu.m******** sopaa.na.m aaruhi.
- Mama bhaginii pu~n~na.m labhitu.m siila.m rakkhissati.
* Sagga = heaven.
** To be born.
*** Are able.
**** Began.
***** To gather, to collect.
****** To smell.
******* Having thought.
******** To take.
Translate into Pali
- The boys went to the foot of the tree to eat fruits.
- The maiden climbed the tree to gather flowers.
- I went into the house to bring an umbrella and a cloth.
- The girl asked for a fire-brand to make a fire.
- We are able to see objects (=forms) with our eyes.
- You smell with your nose and hear with your ears.
- Having gone to hear the doctrine, they sat on the sand.
- People are not able to purchase wisdom with (their) gold.
- Having divided* his wealth the rich man gave (them) to his sons and daughters.
- The maidens went out of the city (in order) to bathe in the river.
- There were umbrellas in the hands of the women on the road.
- Having struck her with a weapon, the enemy wounded** the hand of my mother-in-law.
- Having gone to the garden they brought flowers and fruits for the boys.
- He will go to the forest in order to bring leaves and grass for the cows.
- The girls and boys brought lotuses from the pond (in order) to offer to the shrine.
- Having bathed in the tank, our sisters and brothers came home to eat and sleep.
- Having seen a leopard the boy ran across the garden and crossed*** the river.
- You get merit through charity and virtue.
- Having grazed (eaten grass) in the cemetery, my aunt's cows went to the tank in order to drink water.
- The maidens bought flowers in order to make**** garlands for (their) sisters.
* Bhaajetvaa.
** Va.nita.m akasi.
*** Tari.
**** Kaatu.m; pa.tiyaadetu.m.
42. Neuter nouns ending in -i
A.t.thi (bone, seed)
| Case |
Singular |
Plural |
| Nom., Voc. |
a.t.thi |
a.t.thii, a.t.thiini |
| Acc. |
a.t.thi.m |
a.t.thii, a.t.thiini |
| Ins. |
a.t.thinaa |
a.t.thiibhi, a.t.thiihi |
| Dat., Gen. |
a.t.thino, a.t.thissa |
a.t.thiina.m |
| Abl. |
a.t.thinaa, a.t.thimhaa, a.t.thismaa |
a.t.thiibhi, a.t.thiihi |
| Loc. |
a.t.thini, a.t.thimhi, a.t.thismi.m |
a.t.thisu, a.t.thiisu |
The following are similarly declined:
- vaari = water
- akkhi = eye
- sappi = ghee
- dadhi = curd
- acci = flame
- satthi = thigh
43. Neuter nouns ending in -u
Cakkhu (eye)
| Case |
Singular |
Plural |
| Nom., Voc. |
cakkhu |
cakkhuu, cakkhuuni |
| Acc. |
cakkhu.m |
cakkhuu, cakkhuuni |
| Ins. |
cakkhunaa |
cakkhuubhi, cakkhuuhi |
The rest are similar to those of garu.
The following are declined similarly:-
- aayu = age
- dhanu = bow
- madhu = honey
- assu = tear
- jaanu, ja.n.nu = knee
- daaru = firewood
- ambu = water
- tipu = lead
- vasu = wealth
- vapu = body
- vatthu = ground, base
- jatu = sealing wax
44. Some more particles
Particles, named avyaya in Pali, consists of adverbs, conjunctions,
prepositions, indeclinable past participles ending in tvaa, tvaana,
tuuna and ya, and infinitives.
- aama = yes
- eva.m = thus, yes
- addhaa = certainly
- vaa, athavaa = or
- puna = again
- tathaa = in that way
- saki.m = once
- sanika.m = slowly
- siigha.m = quickly, soon
- purato = in the front of, before
- yaava, taava = till then, so long
- naanaa = separately
- vinaa = without
- katha.m = how?
- kasmaa = why?
Exercise 15
Translate into English
- Maya.m gaaviyaa khiira.m, khiiramhaa dadhi.m, dadhimhaa sappi~n ca labhaama.
- Maataa dhiituyaa akkhiisu assuuni disvaa (tassaa)* vadana.m vaarinaa dhovi.
- Kasmaa tva.m ajja vaapi.m gantvaa puna nadi.m gantu.m icchasi?
- Katha.m tava bhaataro nadiyaa padumaani ocinitvaa aaharissanti?
- Addhaa te dhanuuni aadaaya vana.m pavisitvaa miga.m maaretvaa aanessanti.
- Amhaaka.m pitaro tadaa vanamhaa madhu.m aaharitvaa dadhinaa saha bhu~nji.msu.
- Maya.m suve tumhehi** vinaa ara~n~na.m gantvaa daaruuni bha~njissaama***.
- Kumaaraa siigha.m dhaavitvaa vaapiya.m kiilitvaa sanika.m gehaani agami.msu.
- Tumhe khiira.m pivitu.m icchatha, athavaa dadhi.m bhu~njitu.m?
- Yaava mayha.m pitaa nahaayissati taava aha.m idha ti.t.thaami.
- Yathaa bhuupati aa.naapeti tathaa tva.m kaatu.m icchasi?
- Aama, aha.m bhuupatino vacana.m atikkamitu.m**** na sakkomi.
* Of her.
** Ablative must be used with "vinaa".
*** Bha~njati = breaks.
**** To surpass.
Translate into Pali
- Do you like to drink milk or to eat curd?
- First* I will drink gruel and then eat curd with honey.
- Go quickly to the market to bring some ghee.
- Having bathed in the sea why do you like to go again there now?
- Do you know how our fathers gathered honey from the forests?
- I will stay on the river bank till you cross the river and come back.
- My mother-in-law went to the city without her retinue and returned with a sister.
- The millionaire fell on (his) knees** before the king and bowed down at his feet.
- Is your horse able to run fast?
- Yes, certainly it will run fast.
- Having gone to the forest, with bows in hands, our brothers killed an elephant and cut its tasks.
- Why does your father walk slowly on the sand?
* Pa.thama.m, adv.
** Jaanuuhi patitvaa (don't use the locative).
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