[ ix ]
parts of speech are off-shoots from these three principal ones. Nouns including pronouns are (i ) simple, subdivided by gender into 8 classes, or (ii) derivative, i. e. to say, derived from verbroots. Of course one theory, and probably the right one, is that all names or nouns are ultimately connected with and founded on some characteristic action of the object ; but without going into the detail of the theory, it is enough for practical purposes to recognise that as the Samskrit language now stands, some of its nouns may be regarded as, on their face, simple and some as derivative. To denote the kind of relation that exists between one noun and another, and also to give some indication of the kind of action passing between them, is the purpose of prepositional, or declensional, terminations. As pre-positions, distinguishing and separating marks of the kinds of the nouns concerned, showing the position or situation or case in which they are, whether nominative, or accusative, or instrumental, &c., with reference to each other, these declensional terminations are called vibhaktis; as indicating that some action passes between them, they are called karakas.
Examples of declensions
1st. सन्यासः [v. 1.] उभq । [v. 1] पंडिताः [P. 4]
2nd. रथं [. 21] अश्विनौ [i, 6] लोकान्[xi. B2]
3rd. पुत्रेण [i. 3] नराभ्याम् वेदैः. [xi. 53]
4tb . विनाशाय [iv. 1] पापेभ्यः
5th. हस्तात् [ii. 30] पापेभ्यः [xviii. 66]
6th. लोकस्य [v. 14] तयोः [iii. 34] पुत्राणाम् [i, 3]
7th. मध्ये [i. 21] उभयोः [i. 21] गुणेषु [iii. 28]
