This is a preview version.

To order the complete book,

please visit “Bookstore” of website: http://www.unibook.com
Or Click on:
http://www.unibook.com/unibook/site/bookdetail/?bookid=8371

PĀLI FOR BEGINNERS

Dr. ANKUR BARUA

MBBS, MD (Community Medicine), MBAIT, MBuddStud (Hong Kong)

Hong Kong, 2009

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 1

Background: The author had graduated with distinction from the University of Hong Kong (MBuddStud, 2009). He had also
completed two other Master Degrees, one from Sikkim Manipal University (MBAIT, 2007) while the other from Manipal
University (MBBS-2000, MD in Community Medicine - 2003) and presently working in professional field.

First Publication on 26th August 2009

Buddhist Door, Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Hong Kong

Copyright © Ankur Barua

Address for communication:

Dr. ANKUR BARUA
Block – EE, No.-80, Flat No.-2A,
Salt Lake City, Sector-2,
Kolkata - 700091, West Bengal, INDIA.
Email: ankurbarua26@yahoo.com
Mobile: +91-9434485543 (India), +852-96195078 (Hong Kong)

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 2

 Contents

Items Page No.

Acknowledgements 04
Preface 05
Pāli Alphabets 06
Pronunciation of Pāli Alphabets 08
Pāli Nouns, Pronouns and Adjectives 11
Declension of Nouns 22
Declension of Pronouns 54
Declension of Numerals 66
Pāli Verbs and Their Uses 72
Derivation of Pāli Verbs According to the Tenses and Voices in Third Person Singular Number 76
Pāli Indeclinables 81
Pāli Phrases From Texts 87
References 95

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 3

 Acknowledgements

I wish to express my sincere gratitude and indebtedness to Ven. Dr. Aniruddha, Visiting Professor of Buddhist Studies at the Centre of Buddhist Studies
in the University of Hong Kong for his constant encouragement, constructive criticism, personal attention and valuable guidance throughout this work.

I acknowledge gratefully Ven. Dr. Jing Yin, Professor of Buddhist Studies and Director of the Centre of Buddhist Studies in the University of Hong Kong
for his kind support, encouragement and timely advice during the compilation of this text book.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my beloved father Dr. Dipak Kumar Barua, who was the earlier Dean of the Faculty Council for
Postgraduate Studies in Education, Journalism & Library Science in the University of Calcutta (1987-1991) and the Director of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara,
Nalanda (1996-1999) for his technical guidance and valuable advice on various aspects of the Pāli language.

I would also like to convey my sincere thanks to my beloved mother Mrs. Dipa Barua and Ms. Mary Anne Basilio for their constant assistance, keen
interest and support during this study.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 4

 Preface

The orgin of the Pāli language is rooted in the Prakrits, the vernacular languages, used in northern India during the Middle period of Indian

linguistic evolution. Though Pāli is closely related to Sanskrit, but its grammar and structure are simpler. The Traditional Theravadins regard

Pāli as the language in which the Buddha (historical – Sakyamuni Buddha) had given his discourses. However, in the opinion of leading

linguistic scholars, Pāli was probably a synthetic language created from several vernaculars to make the Buddhist texts comprehensible to

Buddhist monks living in different parts of northern India. Pāli language was also used to preserve the Buddhist canon of the Theravada

Buddhist tradition, which is regarded as the oldest complete collection of Buddhist texts surviving in an Indian language. As Theravada

Buddhism spread to other parts of southern Asia, Pāli as the language of the Buddhist texts spread along with it. Thus, Pāli became a

sacred language in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Pāli has been used almost exclusively for Buddhist

teachings, although many other religious and literary works related to Buddhism were also written in Pāli . This book is designed to provide

the basics of Pāli grammar and vocabulary to enable the reader to understand the discourses of the Buddha in original form.

Dr. Ankur Barua

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 5

 PĀLI ALPHABETS

The Pāli Alphabet consists of 41 letters, 8 vowels and 33 consonants:

8 Vowels (Sara): a, aa, i, ii, u, uu, e, o.

33 Consonants (Vya~njana)

a) Gutturals [ka.n.thaja]: k, kh, g, gh, 'n

(ka group [ka vagga])
b) Palatals [taaluja]: c, ch, j, jh, ~n
(ca group [ca vagga])
c) Cerebrals [mu.dhaja]: .t, .th, .d, .dh, .n
(.ta group [.t vagga])
d) Dentals [dantaja]: t, th, d, dh, n
(ta group [ta vagga])
e) Labials [o.t.thaja]: p, ph, b, bh, m
(pa group [pa vagga])

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 6

The following consonants are known as semi-vowels:

Palatal [taaluja]: y

Cerebral [mu.dhaja]: r

Dental [dantaja]: l

Dental and Labial [danta o.t.thaja]: v

The special consonants:

Dental (sibilant) [dantaja]: s

Aspirate [kan.thaja]: h

Cerebral [mu.dhaja]: .l

Niggahita: .m

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 7

 PRONUNCIATION OF PĀLI ALPHABETS

Pāli is a phonetic language and each alphabet has its own characteristic sound.

Pāli Vowels:

8 Vowels (Sara): a, aa, i, ii, u, uu, e, o

a is pronounced like ‘u’ in but

aa is pronounced like ‘a’ in art

i is pronounced like ‘I' in pin

ii is pronounced like ‘I’ in machine

u is pronounced like ‘u’ in put

uu is pronounced like ‘u’ in rule

e is pronounced like ‘e’ in ten

ee is pronounced like ‘a’ in fate

o is pronounced like ‘o’ in hot

oo is pronounced like ‘o’ in note

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 8

Pāli Consonants
33 Consonants (Vya~njana)

k is pronounced like ‘k’ in key

g is pronounced like ‘g’ in get

'n is pronounced like ‘ng’ in ring

c is pronounced like ‘ch’ in rich

j is pronounced like ‘j’ in jug

~n is pronounced like ‘gn’ in signor

.t is pronounced like ‘t’ in not

.d is pronounced like ‘d’ in hid

.n is pronounced like ‘n’ in hint

p is pronounced like ‘p’ in lip

b is pronounced like ‘b’ in rib

m is pronounced like ‘m’ in him

y is pronounced like ‘y’ in yard

r is pronounced like ‘r’ in rat

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 9

l is pronounced like ‘l’ in sell

v is pronounced like ‘v’ in vile

s is pronounced like ‘s’ in sit

h is pronounced like ‘h’ in hut

.l is pronounced like ‘l’ in felt

.m is pronounced like ‘ng’ in sing

The vowels " e " and " o " are always long, except when followed by a double consonant; e.g., ettha, o.t.tha.

The fifth consonant of each group is called a "nasal".

There is no difference between the pronunciation of " 'n " and ".m". The former never stands at the end, but is always followed by a
consonant of its group.

The dentals " t " and " d " are pronounced with the tip of the tongue placed against the front upper teeth.

The aspirates " kh ", " gh ", ".th ", ".dh ", " th ", " dh ", " ph ", " bh ", are pronounced with " h " sound immediately following; e.g., in
blockhead, pighead, cat-head, log-head, etc., where the " h " in each is combined with the preceding consonant in pronunciation.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 10

 PĀLI NOUNS, PRONOUNS AND ADJECTIVES

In English there are 8 parts of speech. They are all found in Pāli , but the Pāli Grammararians do not classify them in the same way. Their general
classification is:

(1) Nāma = Noun / Pronoun / Adjective

(2) Ākhyāta = Verb

(3) Upasagga = Prefix

(4) Nipāta = Indeclinable Particle (conjunctions, prepositions, adverbs, present participle, past participle, future passive participle)

Pronouns and adjectives are included in the first group with the nouns. Adjectives are treated as nouns because they are declined like nouns.

Conjunctions, prepositions, adverbs and all other indeclinables are included in the fourth group.

Gender, Number and Case for all pronouns and adjectives should be in agreement with the corresponding noun.

There are in Pāli as in English three GENDERS and two NUMBERS. These are –

GENDER: (1) Pullioga = Masculine

(2) Itthilioga = Feminine

(3) Napuŋsakalioga = Neuter

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 11

NUMBER: (1) Ekavacana = Singular

(2) Bahuvacana = Pleural

InPāli , there are eight CASES namely:

(1) Pațhamā = Nominative = Subject

(2) Dutiyā = Accusative = Object (To / Towards the motion of movement)

(3) (A) Tatiyā = Ablative of Agent = By / With / Through

(B) Karaņa = Ablative of Instrument = By / With / Through

(4) Catutthī = Dative = For

(5) Pañcamī = Ablative of Separation = From

(6) Chațțhī = Possessive or Genetive = Of

(7) Sattamī = Locative = In / On / At / Upon

(8) Ālapana = Vocative = Oh!

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 12

The Ablative in English is here divided into Tatiyā, Karaņa and Pañchamī. But, as tatiyā and Karaņa always have similar forms both of them are shown

under “instrumental”. Where only the “Ablative” is given then it must be understand that all the three forms of the Ablative are included.

Nouns which denote males are masculine, those which denote females are feminine, but nouns which denote inanimate things and qualities are not

always neuter, e.g., rukkha (tree), canda (moon) are masculine. Nadī (river), latā (vine), pañña (wisdom) are feminine. Dhana (wealth), citta (mind) are

neuter. Two words denoting the same thing may be, sometimes, in different genders; pāsāņa and silā are both synonymopus for a stone, but the former

is masculine and the latter is feminine. One word, without changing its form, may possess two or more genders e.g., geha (house) is masculine and

neuter while kucchi (belly) is masculine and feminine. Noun (subject) and verb in a sentence should be in agreement in terms of “person” and “number”.

Therefore, it should be remembered that gender in Pāli is a grammatical distinction existing in words it is called GRAMMATICAL GENDER.

All the Nouns, Pronouns and Adjectives are declined according to their corresponding Gender, Number, Case and the stem ending form.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 13

 EXAMPLES OF NOUNS CORRESPONSING TO THEIR DECLENSIONS

STEM ENDING FORM NOUN EXAMPLE

a nara Gonā pāsāņe tițțhanti

i aggi Dīpayo girimhi vasanti

MASCULINE ī pakkhī Mantī hatthinaŋ āruhissati

u garu Garu mayhaŋ susūnaŋ ucchavo adadi

ū vidū Viduno kulavato gehaŋ gacchiŋsu

ā vanitā Vanitāyao nāvāhi gaogāyaŋ gacchantu

i bhūmi Yuvatīnaŋ pitaro ațaviyā āgamma bhuñjitvā sayiŋsu

FEMININE
ī ārī āriyo sakhīhi saha vāpiŋ gantvā nahāyissanti

u dhenu/ mātu Dāsiyā mātā dhenuŋ rajjuyā bandhitvā ānesi

a nayana Dhanavanto bhātarānaŋ dhanaŋ dātuŋ na icchanti

NEUTER i atthi Mayaŋ gāviyā khīraŋ, khīramha dadhiŋ, dadhimhā sappiñ ca labhāma

u cakkhu Amhākaŋ pitaro tadā vanamhā madhuŋ āharitvā dadhina saha bhuñjiŋsu

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 14

PRONOUNS

Pronouns in Pāli are also treated as Adjectives and they should be declined using the same Gender, Number and Case as the corresponding Noun.

Two personal pronouns like “Amha” and “Tumha” are declined separately because of their frequent usage. These are of the common gender and have
no vocative form. We need to keep in mind that “te”, “me”, “vo” and “no” should not be used at the beginning of a sentence. They can also sometimes
be used as adjectives while qualifying the nouns.

Example: Ayaŋ sīho tamhā vanamhā nikkhamma imasmiŋ magge țhatvā ekaŋ itthiŋ māresi.

EXAMPLES OF PRONOUNS CORRESPONSING TO THE DECLENSIONS OF NOUNS

STEM ENDING FORM NOUN EXAMPLE OF PRONOUNS

a nara So gonā imasmiŋ pāsāņe tițțhanti

i aggi
MASCULINE ī pakkhī
u garu
ū vidū
ā vanitā
i bhūmi
FEMININE
ī ārī
u dhenu/ mātu
Ime dīpayo tasmiŋ girismiŋ vasanti
Mantī yaŋ hatthinaŋ āruhissati?
Garu mayhaŋ susūnaŋ ucchavo adadi
Yo viduno taŋ gehaŋ gacchiŋsu?
Aññāyo vanitāyao nāvāhi itarāyaŋ gaogāyaŋ gacchantu
Katāmānāŋ Yuvatīnaŋ pitaro aparāya ațaviyā āgamma bhuñjitvā sayiŋsu
Āriyo sabbāhi sakhīhi saha aññataraŋ vāpiŋ gantvā nahāyissanti
Tassā dāsiyā mātā sabbaŋ dhenuŋ rajjuyā bandhitvā ānesi

a nayana Dhanavanto tassa ubhayānaŋ bhātarānaŋ imaŋ dhanaŋ dātuŋ na icchanti

NEUTER i atthi Mayaŋ sabbābhi gāvībhi khīraŋ labhāma

u cakkhu Amhākaŋ sabbo pitaro tadā vanamhā madhuŋ āharitvā pivatiŋsu

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 15

ADJECTIVES

Adjectives add special quality and qualify the Nouns. They are declined by using the same Gender, Number and Case as their cprresponding Noun.

In a given sentence, the Adjectives should be in agreement with the corresponding Noun in terms of Gender, Number and Case. Ordinary adjectives are
“seta” (white), “rassa” (short), “mahanta” (big) and so on.

Example: Ratto goņo rassāni tiņāni khādati

Setā kaññā nīlam vatthaŋ paridahati

NOUNS USED AS ADJECTIVES

The declension of verbal and pronominal adjectives and those ending in “vantu” and “mantu” are different from the other adjectives that qualify the
nouns. Adjectival Nouns ending in “vantu” and “mantu” are differently declined from the above masculine nouns ending in “u”. They are often used as
adjectives, but they become substantives when they stand alone in the place of the person or the thing they qualify. These are declined in all genders. In
the feminine, they change their final vowel, e.g., guņavatī, sīlavatī, guavantī, sīlavantī. Those ending in “mantu” should be declined as “cakkhumā”,
“cakkhumanto”, “cakkhumatā” and so on.

As the adjectives qualify nouns, which are of different genders and numbers, they must agree with their substantives in gender, number and case. All
adjectives are declined like nouns in various genders, numbers and cases according to their stem endings. For example, “dīgha”, “rassa” and others,
which are ending in “a” of the above list are declined in the masculine like “nara”, and in the neuter like “nayana”. In the feminine, they lengthen their
last vowel and are declined like “vanitā”. For example, “setā kaññā rattaŋ vatthaŋ paridahati” which means that “a fair girl wears a red cloth”. Here,
“setā” (white / fair) is the adjective of “kaññā”(girl) in feminine gender, singular number and nominative case; so “setā has to be declined like “kaññā”
using the same gender, number and case. Also, “rattaŋ”(red) is the adjective of “vatthaŋ”(cloth) in neuter gender, singular number and accusative case;
so “rattaŋ” has to be declined like “vatthaŋ” using the same gender, number and case.

Those ending in “u” such as “bahu” and “mudu” are declined like “garu”, “dhenu” and “cakkhu”. Sometimes these, ending in “u”, add “kā” in their
feminine stem and then they are declined like “vanitā” e.g., “mudu” = “mudukā, “bahu” = “bahukā”.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 16

The words ending in “ī”, like “mālī” (one who has a garland), take “ini” instead of “ī” while forming feminine stems e.g., “mālī” = “mālinī”. Here, “mālinī”
and such others are declined as “ārī”.

PRONOUNS USED AS ADJECTIVES

Pronouns can stand alone and replace nouns as substantives and they are also sometimes used as adjectives to qualify nouns in a sentence. When they
are used as Adjectives they should be declined using the same Gender, Number and Case as the corresponding Noun.

Example: Sabbesaŋ nattāro paññavanto na bhavanti.

Aparo aññissaŋ vāpiyaŋ nahātvā pubbāya disāya nagaraŋ pāvisi.

PARTICIPLES USED AS ADJECTIVES

Participles are also sometimes used as adjectives to qualify nouns in a sentence. But unlike normal adjectives, which are derived from nouns, Participles
are adjectives made out of a verb roots. There are Present Prticiples, Past Participles and Future Passive Participles which are used as adjectives. As they
are used as Adjectives, they are also declined using the same Gender, Number and Case as the corresponding Noun.

Example: (a) Tițțhanto goņo tiņaŋ khādati, (b) Rukkhato otiņņā pakkhī, (c) Tumhehi dānāni dātabbāni honti

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 17

Example of Present Participle used as Adjective: Gāmaŋ gacchanto dārako ekaŋ goņaŋ disvā bhāyi.

Example of Past Participle used as Adjective: Hīyo araññaŋ gato so puriso ahinā dațțho mari.

Example of Future Passive Participle used as Adjective: Dāsena harīyamāno asso vāņijānaŋ vikkiņitabbo hoti.

NUMERICALS USED AS ADJECTIVES

Numerical are often used as adjectives in qualifying nouns. In most of the time numericals are used in pleural form and they agree in terms of cases
with the corresponding nouns. There are a few exceptions like “Eka” (one), “Ti” (three) and “Catu” (four) which are declined according to different
genders.

Example: (a) Ayaŋ sīho tamhā vanamhā nikkhamma imasmiŋ magge țhatvā ekaŋ itthiŋ māresi. (b) Gacchantesu dasasu purisesu sattamo vāņijo hoti.

Ordinal numerical are used as adjectives for qualifying nouns in a sentence.

Example: Dvinnaŋ dhanavantānaŋ dutiyo tiŋsatiyā yācakānaŋ dānaŋ adāsi.

GENETIVE CASE (SINGULAR NUMBER) USED AS ADJECTIVES

Genetive Singulars are also can be used as adjectives in qualifying nouns. These are exceptions and do not follow the general rule of nouns and
adjectives. Here, the adjectives do not agree with their corresponding nouns in terms of gender, number and case.

Example: Rajassa putto (son of the King).

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 18

 EXAMPLES OF SOME COMMON ADJECTIVES

CATEGORY ADJECTIVES MEANING EXAMPLE

Gambhīra Deep Kumāriyo gambhīraŋ vāpiŋ gantvā nahāyissanti

Uttāna Shallow Yuvatīyo uttāna vāpiŋ gantvā nahāyissanti

Vitthata Wide / Broad Vanitāyo nāvāhi vitthatayaŋ gaogāyaŋ gacchantu

Khuddaka Small Kassako khuddake gehe vasati

Mahanta Big / Large Vāņijo mahante vihāre vasati

Dīgha Long Dāsiyā mātā dhenuŋ dīghayā rajjuyā bandhitvā ānesi

Rassa Short / Dwarf Dhenu rassaŋ tinaŋ bhuñjati

Dimension & Quantity
Ucca High / Tall Dīpayo uccamhi girimhi vasanti

Nīca Low / Vulgar Mañcassa nīce sunakho sayati

Majjhima Medium Majjhimo bhātā pāto pāțhasālāŋ gacchati

Appaka Few / Little Dhanavanto appakaŋ dhanaŋ dātuŋ na icchanti

Bahu / Bahuka Many / Much Vānaro pāsāņe nisiditvā bahukā ambā khadati

Santika Near Yuvatīyo santikaŋ vāpiŋ gantvā nahāyissanti

Vidūra Far Suriyo girismā vidūre pācine ākāse udeti

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 19

 EXAMPLES OF SOME COMMON ADJECTIVES (continued)

CATEGORY ADJECTIVES MEANING EXAMPLE

Seta White Setayo gavīyo pāsāņe tițțhanti

Nīla Blue Nīle ākāse setā pakkhino uddenti

Colour Ratta Red Mātā rattaŋ dhenuŋ rajjuyā bandhitvā ānesi

Kāļa Black Kāļo gono khette tinaŋ bhuñjati

Pīta Yellow Pītayo dīpayo girimhi vasanti

Khara Rough / Course Gonā khare pāsāņe tițțhanti

Mudu Soft Pitaro muduŋ odanaŋ bhuñjiŋsu

Bāla Foolish / Young Dhaņavā bālānaŋ bhātarānaŋ dhanaŋ dātuŋ na icchati

Paņdita Wise Paņdito Garu susūnaŋ ucchavo adadi

Balavantu Powerful Mantī balavantaŋ hatthinaŋ āruhissati

Texture & Quality Dubbala Feeble Yuvatīyā dubbalo pitaro mañce sayiŋsu

Surūpa / Dassanīya Beautiful / Handsome Surūpāyo Vanitāyo nāvāhi gaogāyaŋ gacchantu

Āma Unripe Sushu pasane nisiditvā amani phalāni khadati

Pakka Ripe Vānaro pakkani ambe bhuñjati

Dahara Young Daharāya Yuvatīyā pitaro odanaŋ bhuñjitvā sayiŋsu

Mahallaka Elderly / Old Mahallakā Viduno mahantaŋ gehaŋ gacchiŋsu

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 20

 EXAMPLES OF ADJECTIVES CORRESPONSING TO THE DECLENSIONS OF NOUNS

STEM ENDING FORM NOUN EXAMPLE OF ADJECTIVES

a nara Setā gavīyo khare pāsāņe tițțhanti

i aggi Pītayo dīpayo uccamhi girimhi vasanti

MASCULINE ī pakkhī Mahallako mantī balavantaŋ hatthinaŋ āruhissati

u garu Paņdito Garu surūpaŋ susūnaŋ ucchavo adadi

ū vidū Surūpā mahallakā Viduno mahantaŋ gehaŋ gacchiŋsu

ā vanitā Surūpāyo Vanitāyo nāvāhi vitthatayaŋ gaogāyaŋ gacchantu

i bhūmi Daharāya Yuvatīyā dubbalo pitaro muduŋ odanaŋ bhuñjitvā sayiŋsu

FEMININE
ī ārī Āriyo santikaŋ gambhīraŋ vāpiŋ gantvā nahāyissanti

u dhenu/ mātu Mahallikāya Dāsiyā mātā rattaŋ dhenuŋ dīghayā rajjuyā bandhitvā ānesi

a nayana Dhanavanto bālānaŋ bhātarānaŋ appakaŋ dhanaŋ dātuŋ na icchanti

NEUTER i atthi Setayā gāviyā khīraŋ ca sappiñ ca labhāma

u cakkhu Mahallakā pitaro setaŋ dadhiŋ bhuñjiŋsu

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 21

 DECLENSION OF NOUNS
Masculine Noun Stems ending in ‘a’

DECLENSION ACCORDING TO SINGULAR PLEURAL

PREPOSITION
VARIOUS CASES (suffix) (suffix)

NOMINATIVE (SUBJECT) Subject o ā

To
ACCUSATIVE (OBJECT) ŋ e
(Towards direction of action)

INSTRUMENTAL By / with / through ena ebhi / ehi

DATIVE For / to āya / ssa ānaŋ

ABLATIVE From ā / mhā / smā ebhi / ehi

GENETIVE Of ssa ānaŋ

LOCATIVE In / on / at / upon e / mhi / smiŋ esu

VOCATIVE Oh! a/ā ā

Here, Nominative Pleural form (subject) is similar to Vocative Pleural form (oh!)

Here, Instrumental Pleural form (by / with / through) is similar to Ablative Pleural form (from)

Here, Dative form (for / to) is similar to Genetive form (of)

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 22

 DECLENSION OF NOUNS
Masculine Noun Stems ending in ‘a’

(Declension of “nara” meaning “man”)

DECLENSION ACCORDING TO
PREPOSITION SINGULAR PLEURAL
VARIOUS CASES

NOMINATIVE (SUBJECT) Subject Naro Narā

To
ACCUSATIVE (OBJECT) Naraŋ Nare
(Towards direction of action)

INSTRUMENTAL By / with / through Narena Narebhi / narehi

DATIVE For / to (Narāya /) narassa Narānaŋ

ABLATIVE From Narā / naramhā / narasmā Narebhi / narehi

GENETIVE Of Narassa Narānaŋ

LOCATIVE In / on / at / upon Nare / naremhi / narasmiŋ Naresu

VOCATIVE Oh! Nara / narā Narā

Here, Nominative Pleural form (subject) is similar to Vocative Pleural form (oh!)

Here, Instrumental Pleural form (by / with / through) is similar to Ablative Pleural form (from)

Here, Dative form (for / to) is similar to Genetive form (of)

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 23

 Some of the stems similarly declined like “nara” are –

PĀLI NOUN STEMS MEANING PĀLI NOUN STEMS MEANING PĀLI NOUN STEMS MEANING

Purisa Man Buddha The Enlightened One Dāsa Slave

Manussa Human being Dhamma Doctrine Assa Horse

Hattha Hand Saogha The community Bhūpala King

Pāda Leg / foot Āloka Light Gona Ox

Kāya Body Loka World Kassaka Farmer

Rukkha Tree Ākāsa Sky Sunakha Dog

Pāsāņa Rock / stone Suriya Sun Lekhaka Clerk / Writer

Gāma Village Canda Moon Varāha Pig

Magga Path Vihāra Monastery Deva God / deity

Putta Son Dīpa Island / lamp Sakuņa Bird

Āra / Kumāra Boy Mañca Bed Vānara Monkey

Vāņija Merchant Āharā Food Aja Goat

Cora Thief Sīha Lion Kāka Crow

Mitta Friend Miga Deer Ārāma Garden / Park

Geha House Hattha Hand Magga Path

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 24

 DECLENSION OF PRONOUNS
Personal Pronoun Stems ending in ‘a’
(Declension of “amha” meaning “myself”)

DECLENSION ACCORDING TO
PREPOSITION SINGULAR PLEURAL
VARIOUS CASES

Ahaŋ Mayaŋ / amhe

NOMINATIVE (SUBJECT) Subject
(I) (we)

To Maŋ / mamaŋ Amhe / amhākaŋ / no

ACCUSATIVE (OBJECT)
(Towards direction of action) (me) (us)

INSTRUMENTAL By / with / through Mayā / me Amhebhi / amhehi

DATIVE For / to Mama / mayhaŋ / me/ mamaŋ Amhaŋ / amhākaŋ

ABLATIVE From Mayā Amhebhi / amhehi

GENETIVE Of Mama / mayhaŋ / me/ mamaŋ Amhaŋ / amhākaŋ

LOCATIVE In / on / at / upon Mayi Amhesu

VOCATIVE Oh! NA NA

Here, Instrumental form (by / with / through) is similar to Ablative form (from). The Nominative Pleural form is similar to the Accusative Pleural form.

Here, Dative form (for / to) is similar to Genetive form (of)

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 25

 DECLENSION OF NUMERALS
(Declension of “eka” meaning “one”, which is declined like relative pronoun “ya” in three genders, singular form)

DECLENSION ACCORDING TO
PREPOSITION MASCULINE NEUTER FEMININE
VARIOUS CASES

NOMINATIVE (SUBJECT) Subject Eko Ekaŋ Ekā

To
ACCUSATIVE (OBJECT) (Towards direction of Ekaŋ Ekaŋ Ekaŋ
action)

INSTRUMENTAL By / with / through Ekena Ekena Ekāya

DATIVE For / to Ekassa Ekassa Ekassā / Ekāya

ABLATIVE From Ekamhā / Ekasmā Ekamhā / Ekasmā Ekāya

GENETIVE Of Ekassa Ekassa Ekassā / Ekāya

LOCATIVE In / on / at / upon Ekamhi / Ekasmiŋ Ekamhi / Ekasmiŋ Ekassaŋ / Ekāyaŋ

VOCATIVE Oh! NA NA NA

Here, Nominative form is similar to Accusative form and Instrumental form (by / with / through) is similar to Ablative form (from)

Here, Dative form (for / to) is similar to Genetive form (of)

Among the Numerals, only “Eka”, “Ti” and “Catu” are declined differently in all genders. Here, “Eka” is singular but “Ti” and “Catu” are pleural.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 26

 PĀLI VERBS AND THEIR USES
Conjugations of verbs:
There are three tenses, two voices, two numbers and three persons in the conjugation of Pāli verbs. The third person in English is equivalent to the first
person in Pāli . The numbers are similar to those of the English nouns like “singular” and “pleural”. There is no attempt to conjugate the continuous,
perfect and Perfect Continuos Tenses in Pāli . Therefore, only the indefinite forms are used in place of continuous forms in Pāli . Details are as follows:

TENSES
(1) Vattamānakāla = Present Tense
(2) Atītakāla = Past Tense
(3) Anāgatakāla = Future Tense

VOICE
(1) Kattukāraka = Active Voice
(2) Kammakāraka = Passive Voice

PERSON
(1) Pațhamapurisa = Third Person
(2) Majjhimapurisa = Second Person
(3) Uttamapurisa = First Person

NUMBER
(1) Ekavacana = Singular
(2) Bahuvacana = Pleural

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 27

There are seven different conjugations in Pāli . They are called dhātugaņas (groups of roots). The verbal root with the conjugation forms the “verbal
base”. The “verbal base” with the suffix forms the different tenses in Pāli grammer.

Each dhātugaņa has one or more different conjugational signs, which come between the root and the verbal termination.

The seven conjugations and their signs are:

1st conjugation = Bhuvādigaņa → “a”

2nd conjugation = Rudhādigaņa → “m -a”

3rd conjugation = Divādigaņa → “ya”

4th conjugation = Svādigaņa → “ņo” / “ņu” / “uņā”

5th conjugation = Kiyādigaņa → “ņā”

6th conjugation = Tanādigaņa → “o” / “yira”

7th conjugation = Curādigaņa → “e” / “aya”

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

The monosyllabic roots like “bhū” do not drop their vowel. It is “guņated” or strengthened before the conjugational sign:

(1) If “i” / “ī” is strengthened, then it becomes “e” Example, (nī + a) → (ne +a)

(2) If “u” / “ū” is strengthened, then it becomes “o” Example, (bhū + a) → (bho +a)

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 28

Then these forms undergo further change in the following manner to form the verbal base:

(1) Then “e” followed by “a” is further changed into “ay” Example, (ne + a) → (naya)

(2) Then “o” followed by “a” is further changed into “av” Example, (bho + a) → (bhava)

The “verbal root” with its conjugational sign thus forms what is called the “verbal base”. In the first example, “nī” is the verbal root and “naya” is the
verbal base. In the second example, “bhū” is the verbal root and “bhava” is the verbal base.

The seventh conjugation

The special feature of the first conjugation is that the last vowel of the base is lengthened 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, eg., from the root “pāla” two bases “pāle” and “pālaya” are
formed. They are derived in the present tense 3rd person singular as “pāleti” and “pālayati” respectively.

The conjugational sign “ņa” of the fifth group is shortened in the 3rd person pleural, eg., “vikkiņanti”, where the singular form is “vikkiņāti”.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 29

 DERIVATION OF PĀLI VERBS IN THREE TENSES
(VERB ROOT + CONJUGATION SIGN = VERBAL BASE)

(VERBAL BASE + SUFFIX = DERIVATION IN PERSON AND NUMBER)

(A) PRESENT TENSE SUFFIXES

SINGULAR PLEURAL
THRID PERSON (so) ti (te) anti
SECOND PERSON (tvaŋ) si (tumhe) tha
FIRST PERSON (ahaŋ) mi (mayaŋ) ma

(B) PAST TENSE SUFFIXES

SINGULAR PLEURAL
THRID PERSON (so) i (te) iŋsu
SECOND PERSON (tvaŋ) o (tumhe) ittha
FIRST PERSON (ahaŋ) iŋ (mayaŋ) imha / imhā

(C) FUTURE TENSE SUFFIXES

SINGULAR PLEURAL
THRID PERSON (so) issati (te) issanti
SECOND PERSON (tvaŋ) issasi (tumhe) issatha
FIRST PERSON (ahaŋ) issāmi (mayaŋ) issāma

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 30

 PĀLI INDECLINABLES
PĀLI CONJUNCTIONS (indeclinables)

(1) Conjunction for Instrumental case to show association with living beings is often used as “saha”
or “saddhim” in Pāli .

(2) Conjunction “and” is used as “ca” / “api” / “pi” in Pāli .

(3) Conjugation “or” is used as “vā” in Pāli .

ENGLISH CONJUNCTIONS PĀLI CONJUNCTIONS

WITH Saha / Saddhim

AND Ca / Api / Pi

OR Vā / Athavā

IF Sace / Yadi / Ce

BUT Tathā pi

NEITHER - NOR Vā - na

EITHER - OR Vā

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 31

 PĀLI PHRASES FROM TEXTS
Sl. No. PĀLI PHRASE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF PĀLI PHRASE

1 Tassa evaŋ hoti This idea comes to him

2 Tassa etadahosi This idea came to him

3 Tassa evamassa This idea would come to him

4 Muhuttam āgamehi Wait (for) a moment

5 Nālaŋ dārabharaņāya Unfit for keeping up a family

6 Mamaccayena After me

7 Samahite citte (locative absolutive) In the concentrated mind

8 Upamā maŋ pațibhāti A simile came to me

9 Nāti dūre nāccāsanne Neither too far not too near

10 Kālaŋ karoti Dies

11 Appaŋ vā bahuŋ vā A little or a lot / Less or more

12 Rattindivaŋ Day and night

13 Khaņe khaņe Moment by moment

14 Saddhaŋ patilabhati Gains faith

15 Sato Sampajāno Being mindful and aware

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 32

 References

1. Collins, S. 2006. Pāli Grammar for Students. Silkworm Books. (ISBN 978-974-9511-13-8).
2. Gair, J., Karunatilleke, W.S. 1998. A New Course in Reading Pāli : Entering the Word of the Buddha. Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.
(ISBN 81-208-1440-1).
3. Buddhadatta, A.P. 2006. The New Pāli Course: Parts I & II. Dehiwala, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Cultural Centre.
4. Bodhi, B. 2009. A Course in the Pāli Language. Lafayette, NJ, USA: Bodhi Monastery.
5. Bullitt, J.T. 2009. A Guide to Learning the Pāli Language. Electronic source: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bullitt/learningPāli
.html.
6. Warder, A.K. 1991. Introduction to Pāli . London: Pāli Text Society.
7. De Silva, L. 1994. Pāli Primer. Igatpuri, India: Vipassana Research Institute.
8. Johansson, Rune E.A. 1998. Pāli Buddhist Texts: An Introductory Reader and Grammar. Scandinavian Institute of Asian Studies Monograph
Series, No. 14. London: Routledge/Curzon.
9. Muller, E. 1986. Pāli Language. Delhi: Bharatiya Book Corporation.
10. Vidyabhushan, N.C., Ghose, M.K. 1982. A Pāli Grammar. Calcutta: Kiron Moy Ghose.

Pāli for Beginners – Dr. Ankur Barua Page 33