The New Pali Course Book 1

Different Conjugations

14. There are seven different conjugations in Pali; they are called dhaatuga.nas (= groups of roots). The Pali grammarians represent roots with a final vowel, but it is often dropped or changed before the conjugational sign. Each dhaatuga.na has one or more different conjugational signs, which come between the root and the verbal termination.

The seven conjugations and their signs are:

1. 1st Conjugation = Bhuvaadiga.na: a
2. 2nd Conjugation = Rudhaadiga.na: `m-a
3. 3rd Conjugation = Divaadiga.na: ya
4. 4th Conjugation = Svaadiga.na: .no, .nu, u.naa
5. 5th Conjugation = Kiyaadiga.na: .naa
6. 6th Conjugation = Tanaadiga.na: o, yira
7. 7th Conjugation = Curaadiga.na: e, aya

A great number of roots are included in the first and the seventh group. The roots paca and bhuu, given above, belong to the first conjugation. The last vowel of "paca" is dropped before the conjugation sign a.

The monosyllabic roots like bhuu do not drop their vowel. It is gu.nated or strengthened before the conjugational sign:

• i or ii strengthened becomes e
• u or uu strengthened becomes o

e.g. Nii + a becomes Ne + a;
Bhuu + a becomes Bho + a

Then e followed by a is changed into ay
and o followed by a is changed into av

e.g. Ne + a becomes naya;
Bho + a becomes bhava

It is not necessary for a beginner to learn how these bases are formed. But the bases will be given very often for the convenience of the students. The base is the root with its conjugational sign combined.

The Seventh Conjugation

15. The special feature of the first conjugation is that the last vowel of the base is strengthened before the First Personal endings.

The same rule is applied for the bases ending with a of the 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th conjugations, in addition to their special features.

The bases of the seventh conjugation are of two kinds as it has two conjugational signs, e.g. from the root paala two bases paale and paalaya are formed.

Conjugation of Paala (to protect or govern)

Indicative, Present, Active Voice

Base: Paale

Person	Singular	Plural
Third	paaleti	paalenti
Second	paalesi	paaletha
First	paalemi	paalema

Base: Palaya

Person	Singular	Plural
Third	paalayati	paalayanti
Second	paalayasi	paalayatha
First	paalayaami	paalayaama

Some of the similarly conjugated are:

• jaaleti = kindles
• maareti = kills
• oloketi = looks at
• coreti = steals
• deseti = preaches
• cinteti = thinks
• puujeti = offers, respects
• u.d.deti = flies
• pii.leti = oppresses
• udeti = (the sun or moon) rises
• paateti = fells down
• .thapeti = keeps

16. The conjugational sign .naa of the fifth group is shortened in the Third Person plural.

Base: Vikkina = To sell

Person	Singular	Plural
Third	vikki.naati	vikki.nanti
Second	vikki.naasi	vikki.naatha
First	vikki.naami	vikki.naama

The following are similarly conjugated:-

• ki.naati = buys
• jaanaati = knows
• su.naati = hears
• jinaati = wins
• mi.naati = measures
• ga.nhaati = takes
• ugga.nhaati = learns
• ocinaati = gathers (together), collects

Exercise 4

17. Masculine stems ending in i

Declension of Aggi (Fire)

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative, Vocative	aggi	aggi, aggayo
Accusative	aggi.m	aggii, aggayo
Instrumental	agginaa	aggiibhi, aggiihi
Dative, Genitive	aggino, aggissa	aggiina.m
Ablative	agginaa, aggimhaa, aggismaa	aggiibhi; aggiihii
Locative	aggimhi, aggismi.m	aggiisu

The following are similarly declined:-

• muni = monk
• kavi = poet
• isi = sage; hermit
• ari = enemy
• bhuupati = king
• pati = husband; master
• gahapati = householder
• adhipati = lord; leader
• atithi = guest
• vyaadhi = sickness
• udadhi = ocean
• viihi = paddy
• kapi = monkey
• ahi = serpent
• diipi = leopard
• ravi = sun
• giri = mountain
• ma.ni = gem
• ya.t.thi = stick
• nidhi = hidden treasure
• asi = sword
• raasi = heap
• paa.ni = hand
• kucchi = belly
• mu.t.thi = fist, hammer
• bodhi = Bo-tree

More verbs conjugated like pacati:

• kha.nati = digs
• chindati = cuts
• likhati = writes
• labhati = gets
• aagacchati = comes
• aahi.n.dati = wanders
• vandati = bows down
• paharati = beats
• .dasati = bites

Exercise 5

Past Tense

18. Conjugation of Paca (to cook)

Past Indefinite, Active

Person	Singular	Plural
Third	(So) apacii, pacii, apaci, paci = he cooked	(Te) apaci.msu, paci.msu, apacu.m, pacu.m = they cooked
Second	(Tva.m) apaco, paco = thou didst cook	(Tumhe) apacittha, pacittha = you cooked
First	(Aha.m) apaci.m, paci.m = I cooked	(Maya.m) apacimha, pacimha, apacimhaa, pacimhaa = we cooked

The following are similarly conjugated:-

• gacchi = went
• ga.nhi = took
• dadi = gave
• khaadi = ate
• hari = carried
• kari = did
• aahari = brought
• dhaavi = ran
• ki.ni = bought
• vikki.ni = sold
• nisiidi = sat
• sayi = slept
• aaruhi = ascended; climbed
• acari = walked; travelled

The prefix a is not to be added to the bases beginning with a vowel.

19. The verbs of the seventh group are differently conjugated:

Past Indefinite, Active

Paala (to protect)

Person	Singular	Plural
Third	paalesi, paalayi	paalesu.m, paalayu.m, paalayi.msu
Second	paalayo	paalayittha
First	paalesi.m, paalayi.m	paalayimha, paalayimhaa

The following are similarly conjugated:-

• maaresi = killed
• jaalesi = kindled
• desesi = preached
• aanesi = brought
• coresi = stole
• puujesi = offered; respected
• nesi = carried
• thapesi = kept
• cintesi = thought
• pii.lesi = oppressed
• kathesi = told
• paatesi = dropped down or felled

Exercise 6