Shloka 3

Sup–Tiṅ Foundations: Prātipadika, Vibhaktis/Kārakas, and Lakāras

Tense–Mood System

Devanagari script

सम्बोधने च लिङ्गादावुक्ते कर्मणि कर्तरि / अर्थवत्प्रातिपदिकं धातुप्रत्ययवर्जितम्

Transliteration

sambodhane ca liṅgādāvukte karmaṇi kartari / arthavatprātipadikaṃ dhātupratyayavarjitam

Translation

Ce qui s’emploie dans l’adresse directe (sambodhana) et qui, lorsque le genre et autres traits sont énoncés, peut désigner soit l’objet (au sens passif) soit l’agent (au sens actif) : une telle base porteuse de sens est appelée prātipadika, dépourvue de racine verbale (dhātu) et de suffixes (pratyaya).

Word by Word

• सम्बोधने: in vocative address (sambodhana)
• सम्बोधने: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्बोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• लिङ्गादौ: in gender etc. (categories)
• लिङ्गादौ: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—(लिङ्गम् आदिः यस्मिन्/यत्र)

• उक्ते: when stated/when expressed
• उक्ते: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘उक्ते’ = उक्ते सति (when stated)

• कर्मणि: in the object-function (karma)
• कर्मणि: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्तरि: in the agent-function (kartṛ)
• कर्तरि: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अर्थवत्प्रातिपदिकम्: a meaningful prātipadika
• अर्थवत्प्रातिपदिकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थवत् + प्रातिपदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—(अर्थवत् प्रातिपदिकम्)

• धातुप्रत्ययवर्जितम्: devoid of verbal root and affix
• धातुप्रत्ययवर्जितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धातु + प्रत्यय + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक); वर्जित (मुख्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—(धातु-प्रत्ययाभ्यां वर्जितम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meaningful base-form (arthavat prātipadika) used in address and capable of denoting agent/object depending on construction; excludes dhātu and pratyaya.

Vedantic Theme: Distinguishing levels of language (base vs. inflected) parallels distinguishing appearance vs. function; precision in śabda supports precision in artha (meaning).

Application: In parsing verses, separate stem (prātipadika) from affixes; use context (kartṛ/karma, sambodhana) to infer intended role.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.205.3 (prātipadika definition; sambodhana; dhātu/pratyaya exclusion)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of prātipadika in Garuda Purana study?

This verse defines prātipadika (a meaningful nominal base), helping readers parse names, ritual terms, and doctrinal vocabulary accurately when interpreting Garuda Purana passages.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it provides grammatical groundwork so that later teachings on death rites, preta-state, and Yama’s realm are read with precision, avoiding misinterpretation of key terms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this rule to identify stem-forms in Sanskrit recitation and study—especially in mantra and śrāddha-related readings—so meanings are understood correctly before performing or advising rituals.