Sup–Tiṅ Foundations: Prātipadika, Vibhaktis/Kārakas, and Lakāras
Tense–Mood System
टाभ्यांभिसस्तृतीया स्यात्करणे कर्तरीरिता / येन क्रियते करणं तत्कर्ता यः करोति सः
ṭābhyāṃbhisastṛtīyā syātkaraṇe kartarīritā / yena kriyate karaṇaṃ tatkartā yaḥ karoti saḥ
El tercer caso (tṛtīyā, instrumental) se enseña con los afijos ṭā, bhyām y bhis; se prescribe para expresar el instrumento (karaṇa) y—como se ha dicho—también el agente (kartṛ). Aquello por lo cual se realiza la acción es el instrumento; quien la realiza es el hacedor, el agente.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, as part of an explanatory discourse)
Concept: Instrumental (tṛtīyā) with ṭā-bhyām-bhis expresses karaṇa (instrument) and sometimes kartṛ (agent); defines instrument vs doer.
Vedantic Theme: Discriminating kartṛ (doer) from karaṇa (means) supports deeper inquiry into agency—useful for later karma/mokṣa reflection though here purely grammatical.
Application: In sentences, identify whether tṛtīyā marks the tool/means (‘by X’) or the agent in passive constructions; avoid misreading who acts vs what is used.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.205.5 (tṛtīyā—karaṇa/kartṛ; ṭā-bhyām-bhis)
This verse clarifies how actions are linguistically and philosophically framed—who performs (kartā) and by what means (karaṇa)—which supports accurate understanding of karma and ritual statements in the text.
Indirectly: by defining agency and instrumentality, it helps interpret karmic responsibility—an essential foundation for later discussions on consequences of deeds, merit, and sin described in the Garuda Purana.
Use it to reflect clearly on responsibility: identify the doer (you) and the means (tools, speech, resources) behind actions, encouraging mindful, ethical conduct.