Index

Lesson XX

Compounds (samàsa)

A Samàsa is a compound which is composed of two or more simple words.

As a rule only the final member of the compound takes the case terminations. The preceding members, with a few exceptions, drop their case endings and assume their bases.

The component parts of the compound are combined, wherever necessary, according to the rules of Sandhi.

In Pali there are five classes of compounds, viz:-

1. Adjectival Compounds (Kammadhàraya),
2. Case Compounds (Tappurissa),
3. Copulative Compounds (Dvanda),
4. Attributive Compounds(Bahubbãhi) and
5. Adverbial Compounds (Avyayãbhàva).

1. An Adjectival Compound (Kammadhàraya) is that which is formed by combining a substantive with an adjective, or a noun in apposition, or an indeclinable used in an adjectival sense, as its prior member.

In some instances the qualifying adjective follows the noun.

Examples : -

Taruõo-puriso

taruõapuriso

(m)

young man

Taruõã-ka¤¤à

taruõaka¤¤à

(f)

young maiden

Taruõaü-phalaü

taruõaphalaü

(n)

young fruit

Sumedho-paõóito

sumedhapaõóito

 

Sumedha the wise or wise Sumedha

Mukham'eva cando

mukhacando

 

moon-face

Sãlam'eva dhanaü

sãladhanaü

 

wealth of virtue

Su-jano

sujano

 

good man

Na-kusalaü

akusalaü

 

immoral or non-moral

Na-asso

anasso

 

non-horse (mule)

Na-manusso

amanuusso

 

non-man (a spirit)

"Na" followed by a consonant is changed into "a", and into "an" when followed by a vowel.

Those Adjectival Compounds that have a numeral as their first member are in Pàëi known as Digu Samàsa (Numerical Compounds).

They generally take the neuter singular when they imply an aggregate.

Examples : -

Dve-aïguliyo

dvaïgulaü

two-finger

Tayo-lokà

tilokaü

three-fold world

Catasso-disà

catuddisaü

four-fold direction

Cattàri-saccàni

catusaccaü

four-fold truth

Satta-ahàni

sattàhaü

week

They do not take the neuter singular when they do not imply an aggregate.

Examples :-

Eko-putto

ekaputto

one son

Tayo-bhavà

tibhavà

three existences

Cattasso-disà

catuddisà

four directions

2. A Case Compound* (Tappurisa) is that which is formed by combining a substantive with another substantive belonging to anyone of the oblique cases, by dropping its case endings.

In some exceptional cases the preceding members retain their case endings.

These compounds take the gender of the final member and are declined accordingly.

With the exception of the Nominative and Vocative cases all the other oblique cases go to form these compounds.

* According to Saüskrit grammarians this class of compounds is known as Determinative Compound.

Examples :-

1.

Dutiyà-Acc.

gàmaü-gato

= gàmagato,

he who has gone to the village.

 

 

sivaü-karo

= sivaükaro,*

blessings-bestower.

2.

Tatiyà-Abl. of

Buddhena-desito

= Buddhadesito,

Agentpreached by the Buddha.

3.

Karaõa-Instr.

Asinà-kalaho

= asikalaho,

sword-fight.

4.

Catutthã-Dat.

Lokassa-hito

= lokahito,

beneficial to the world.

5.

Pa¤camã-Abl.

Corasmà-bhayaü

= corabhayaü

fear from thief.

6.

Chaññhã- Gen.

Buddhassa-dhammo

= Buddhadhammo,

Buddha's Doctrine.

7.

Sattamã-Loc.

Vane-vàso

= vanavàso,

residence in the forest.

 

 

Ante-vàsiko

= antevàsiko

,* pupil (lit. he who lives near).

* The case endings are retained in these instances.

3. A Copulative Compound (Dvanda) is that which is formed by combining two or more substantives which, if not compounded, would be connected by the particle "ca".

(a) These compounds generally take the plural and the gender of the final member when the component members are viewed separately.

(b) If they collectively imply an aggregate, they take the neuter singular.

Examples :-

a.

Cando ca suriyo ca

= candasuriyà,*

moon and sun.

 

narà ca nàriyo ca

= naranàriyo,

men and women.

b.

Nàma¤ ca råpa¤ca

= nàmaråpaü,

mind and matter.

 

Sukha¤ ca dukkha¤ ca

= sukhadukkhaü,

happiness and pain.

 

Hatthi ca gavo ca assà ca

= hatthigavàssaü,

elephants, cattle, and horses.

*. Words with fewer syllables are often placed first.

4. An Attributive Compound* (Bahubbãhi) is that in which the component members collectively denote something else than what is originally expressed by them.

These compounds assume the gender of the implied object and are declined accordingly.

* Words with fewer syllables are often placed first.

Examples :-

Pãta means yellow. ambara, garment; but pãtambaro means he who has a yellow garment,

âgata, come; samaõa, ascetics; àgatasamaõo, the place to which ascetics have come, i.e., a monastery.

Diññho, seen; dhammo, Truth; diññhadhammo, by whom the Truth has been seen, i.e., a Saint.

Ni, free from; taõhà craving; nittaõho, he who is free from craving, i.e., an Arahant.

5. An Adverbial Compound (Avyayãbhàva) is that which has as its first member a prefix (upasagga) or an indeclinable (nipàta), not used in an adjectival sense,* but used in determining the sense of the final member.

The Adverbial Compounds generally take the neuter gender and are indeclinable. They are treated like the nominative singular of neuter substantives.

If the final member of these compounds ends in " a " of " à ", the neuter termination " ü " is affixed; otherwise the final vowel is retained except in cases of long vowels which are shortened.

* See Adjectival Compounds.

Examples :-

Prefixes :-

Anu-pubba

= anupubbaü,

in due course, in regular succession.

Adhi-itthã

= adhitthi,

in a woman or relating to a woman.

Upa-gaïgà

= upagaïgaü,

near a river (riverside place).

Upa-naggra

= upanagaraü,

near a city, i.e., a suburb.

Indeclinables :-

Yathà-bala

= ythàbalaü,

according to strength.

Yathà-kama

= yathàkkamaü,

according to order.

Yathà-vuddha

= yathàvuddhaü,

according to seniority.

Yathà-satti

= yathàsatti,

according to one's ability.

Yàva-attha

= yàvadatthaü,

as one wishes, as much as required.

Yàva-jãva

= yàvajãvaü,

till life lasts.

Pacchà-bhatta

= pacchàbhattaü,

after meal, i.e., after-noon.

Mixed Compounds

When a compound is further compounded with another single word or compound it is treated as a mixed compound.

Examples :-

Setaü-vatthaü

= setavatthaü,

white cloth-adj. comp.

Pituno-setavatthaü

= pitusetavatthaü,

father's white cloth-case comp.

Puttà ca dhãtaro ca

= puttadhãtaro,

sons and daughters-copulative comp.

Mahantani gharàni

= mahàgharàni,

big houses-adj. comp.

Puttadhãtarànaü mahàgharàni

= puttadhãtumahàgharàni,

the big houses of sons and daughters-case comp.

Exercise xx

A

  1. " Sabbadànaü dhammadànaü jinàti. "
  2. " Ahaü te saddhiü puttadhãtàhi dàsã bhavissàmi. "
  3. " Tisaraõena saddhiü pa¤casãlaü detha me bhante. "
  4. " Iti'pi so Bhagavà arahaü, sammà-sambuddho,.....satthà devamanussànaü....."
  5. " Màtàpità disà pubbà, àcariyà dakkhiõà disà. "
  6. Paralokaü gacchantaü puttadhãtaro và bhàtaro và hatthigavàssaü và na anugacchanti (follow).
  7. Eho taruõavejjo vejjakammaü karonto gàmanagaresu vicarati.
  8. Dàrakadàrikàyo tesaü màtàpitunnaü ovàde ñhatvà ki¤ci'pi pàpakammaü na karonti.
  9. Sãtodakaü và uõhodakaü và àhara.
  10. Amhàkaü Buddho pana pubbe Sumedhapaõóito nàma ahosi.
  11. Sattasu dhanesu saddhàdhanaü pana pañhamaü; sãladhanaü dutiyaü, pa¤¤àdhanaü sattamaü.
  12. Dvipadesu và catuppadesu và sadà mettacittena vasitabbaü.
  13. Ahaü kh´ õàsave và na diññhapubbo, satthudhammaü và na sutapubbo.
  14. Itthipurisà sukhadukkhaü bhu¤jamànà tibhave vicaranti.
  15. Amaccaputtà ràjabhayena mahàpàsàdato nikkhamiüsu.
  16. Mayhaü antevàsikesu dve brahmacàrino saddhàcetasà Buddhadesitaü dhammaü sutvà samaõadhammaü katvà diññhadhammà ahesuü.

B

  1. The boys and girls are studying diligently.
  2. The monks and nuns heard the Teacher's Doctrine and gained their Deliverance.
  3. Sons and daughters should respect their parents.
  4. Little children wash their hands and feet with hot water.
  5. young men! You should not associate with evil friends.
  6. Sun and Moon shine in the sky
  7. My brother's son is a pupil teacher in a village-school.
  8. Great beings are born amongst men for the good of the world.
  9. In this vessel is well-water and in that is sea-water.
  10. The lion is the king of quadrupeds.
  11. His pupils gave the three Refuges and the eight precepts to the male and female devotees.
  12. These chairs and beds were washed by the servants and maid-servants to-day.
  13. May I understand the four-fold Truth Preached by the Buddha and be a Desireless One!
  14. There is no fear of death to the Saints.
  15. Never before have I seen white elephants or blue horses.
  16. By this gift of Truth may I be an all-knowing Buddha!