Agni Purana
by N. Gangadharan | 1954 | 360,691 words | ISBN-10: 8120803590 | ISBN-13: 9788120803596
This page describes Different kinds of compounds which is chapter 355 of the English translation of the Agni Purana, one of the eighteen major puranas dealing with all topics concerning ancient Indian culture, tradition and sciences. Containing roughly 15,000 Sanskrit metrical verses, subjects contained in the Agni-Purana include cosmology, philosophy, architecture, iconography, economics, diplomacy, pilgrimage guides, ancient geography, gemology, ayurveda, etc.
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Chapter 355 - Different kinds of compounds
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Skanda said:
1. I shall describe the six kinds of compounds. They are again divided into twentyeight kinds. They are twofold being divided as eternal and non-etemal,those which drop(the suffixes) and those which do not drop.
2-3a. (The following are examples of) eternal (compounds): ܳ� [ܳ] (a potter), � [] (goldsmith) etc. Rājña� ܳ or Rājaܳ (a person with royal authority). This also is an eternal compound. ṣṭśٲ� [ṣṭśٲ] (kaṣṭena śٲ�) (joined with difficulty) (is an example of) dropping (the suffix). ṇṭ� [ṇṭ] etc. (kaṇṭhe+�) (black-necked) (are examples) for not dropping (the suffix).
3b-7. ղٱܰṣa (Determinative compound) is of eight kinds. The first one is that where the words when compounded with substantives are placed first. This is the first (variety) of ղٱܰṣa. ū� Kāyasya when (the compound is) dissolved (becomes) ʳܰⲹ� [ʳܰⲹ][1] (the upper part of the body), 貹ⲹ� [貹ⲹ] (lower part of the body), Adharottara-kāyaka� [dzٳٲⲹ첹]. (the lower and higher part of the body). � Kaṇāyā� (becomes) Ardhakaṇāḥ (half of a grain). Bhikṣātūrya�[2] (begging alms a fourth time)is also of this type(signifying the whole of which they are parts) (optionally placed first). Ā貹ԲԲī첹� [Ā貹ԲԲī첹][3] (貹ԲԴ ī�) is similar (in the second case). Adharāśٲ� [śٲ] (� āśٲ�—one who has resorted to a lower person). Varṣam-Dzⲹ�. (or) VarṣaDzⲹ� [ղṣaDzⲹ]. (to be enjoyed for a year). (An instance of compounding) with (nouns in) the third case: ٳԲٳ� [ٳԲٳ] (Dhānyena ٳ�) (wealth obtained by means grain). (The noun) would be in the fourth case (when compounded with the word bali): վṣṇܲ� [վṣṇܲ] (Viṣṇave �). ṛkīپ� [ṛkīپ][4] (ṛk īپ�, fear from a wolf) (is an example for compounding with a noun in) the fifth case. (An example for) sixth case (is) Rājña� ܳ (an officer of a king) (becoming) Rājaܳ. Similarly (we have) ṛkṣa� [ṛkṣa] (the fruit of a tree). The seventh case (is used in the following): This one (is) Akṣaśauṇḍa[5] (ṣeṣu śṇḍ�) (skilled in dice). ٲ� (not beneficial) (is an example) for Negative ղٱܰṣa.
8-12. ⲹ (appositioned compound) is sevenfold[6]. īdzٱ貹 (ī� ca tad ܳٱ貹� ca) etc. are known (to be the examples) for compounding the adjective and the noun it qualifies). (l) The qualifying word is placed first or (2) the word that is qualified is placed afterwards. (Words expressive of the persons or things condemned are placed first): ղ첹ṇaū� [ղ첹ṇaū] (a bad grammarian) (an example for first kind). Śīٴṣn� [Śīٴṣn] (cold and hot) and ٱī貹岹� [ٱī貹岹] (two words) (are examples for the second). (3) Expressive of standard of comparison placed as first member: Śaṅkhapāṇḍara (white as the conch) (śṅk� iva ṇḍ�). (4) The standard of comparison placed as the second member: ʳܰṣa岵� [ʳܰṣa岵] (a man like a tiger) (puruṣo 岵� iva). (5) Words of respect placed first: ҳṇaṛd� [ҳṇaṛd] dissolved as ṇa� iti ṛd� (elongation). ܳṛd and Subandhu (are examples). (6) The word signifying prominence is placed as the first member (岹 eva 貹峾� = 岹-貹峾�). ܱī (attributive compound) is sevenfold. (The following are examples) for the ܱī having two words: ūḍhԴ Բ� (A man who has stepped into a house).
13. These brahmins are about ten (ie., nine or eleven). upadaśā� (= daśānā� samīpe ye santi te) is (an example of ܱī having the) numeral as the second member. (Examples of ܱī) having both (the members) as numerals are such as 屹ٰ (two or three), dvyekatraya (two or one or three) men.
14. The particle saha (may be compounded) when it becomes the first member. The tree has been pulled out together with its root (ū) (is an example). Those having the characteristic of reciprocity: (a battle in which the warriors fight) seizing each other’s hair, (śśī) fighting one another with nail (ԲԲī).
15. (A ܱī compound may be formed) to denote a direction (in between two directions): 岹ṣiṇaū (the point of direction in between the south and east). A Dvigu (having a number as the first member in a compound) is said to be twofold. It becomes singular (when denoting an aggregate), ‘having two peaks� ‘having five roots'. It is possible in many ways.
16. A Dvandva (copulative compound) is twofold itaretarayoga and (the members are treated separately, and an aggragete of the things enumerated constituing a complex (idea). (An example for the first is) Rudraviṣṇū (Rudra and վṣṇ). (An example for the second is) Bherīpaṭaha. (It is always singular.)
17-18. ⲹī屹 (compound consisting of two members, the first of which is, mostly, an indeclinable) is said to be of two kinds. An example for one having a noun as the first member (is): ś첹ⲹ ٰ (very little vegetable) = śākaprati. An example for one with the first member as an indeclinable (is): ܱ貹ܳ� [upakumbha] (near a pot) and ܱ貹ٳⲹ� [uparathya] (near a chariot). The compounds are fourfold on account of the prominence (of one member)—that which has the second member prominent and Dvandva, where both (the members) are prominent. ⲹī屹 has the first member prominent and ܱī (in which the importance lies) externally.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
See Pa, II. 2. 1. They are not strictly Genitive ղٱܰṣa. But called by some as Prathamā ղٱܰṣa.
[2]:
See Pa. II. 2.3.
[3]:
See Pa. II. 1. 24.
[4]:
See Vārttika under Pa. II. 1.37.Pa. II. 1.40.
[5]:
Pa. II. 1.40.
[6]:
But it is actually sixfold.