Samasa: Classification, Vigraha and Identification
Samasa: compound classification
Samāsa questions ask for the type, the vigraha and the reason. Learn the four main classes and the subclasses of tatpuruṣa.
Four classes
- Avyayībhāva: first member is an indeclinable; vigraha shows it - upagrāmam = grāmasya samīpam.
- Tatpuruṣa: the last member is principal; the first is in a case relation - rājaputraḥ = rājñaḥ putraḥ.
- Karmadhāraya: members are in apposition, adjective + noun - nīlotpalam = nīlam utpalam.
- Dvigu: a tatpuruṣa with a numeral first member - pañcagavaḥ.
- Bahuvrīhi: the compound denotes the possessor - caturbhujaḥ = catvāro bhujā yasya saḥ.
- Dvandva: members are coordinated - rāmaś ca lakṣmaṇaś ca = rāmalakṣmaṇau.
Rules
- Sup endings are suppressed inside the compound; the vigraha restores them.
- Gender usually follows the final member, but bahuvrīhi agrees with the qualified noun.
- Dvandva may be dual or plural according to the count.
Worked example nīlotpalam. Vigraha: nīlam utpalam. The first member is an adjective agreeing with the second, not a genitive or instrumental relation. Therefore it is karmadhāraya, not tatpuruṣa. If the compound meant a person possessing a blue lotus, it would be bahuvrīhi.
Traps
- Calling every tatpuruṣa a karmadhāraya.
- Missing that bahuvrīhi denotes something outside the members.
- Forgetting dual/plural in dvandva.
- Splitting with the wrong case.