Lesson 71: Present Participle (-ing)

Summary:

Present Participle expresses an action that is happenING in the present. Works exactly like a Gerund, except it acts as Adj, hence qualifies the main SUBJECT/DOER of the sentence.

Source: Introduction to Sanskrit (4th Ed) – Thomas Egenes – Part Two

Session deals with: VOL2, L28, PG 202-211

Present Participle: (vartamāne kṛdanta  वर्तमाने कृदन्त)

  • What is it? Examples explain best. Study below examples and for fun, see what you can notice…
Gerund:   (Action has happenED in past)
(Having gone to the forest), Rāma sees a deer. (vanam caritvā), rāmaḥ mṛgam paśyati 
(वनम् चरित्वा), रामः मृगम् पश्यति
Present Participle:   (Action is happenING in present)
MAS: (Going to the forest), Rāma sees a deer. MAS: (vanam caran nom), rāmaḥ mṛgam paśyati 
(वनम् चरन्), रामः मृगम् पश्यति 
FEM: (Going to the forest), Sītā sees a deer. FEM: (vanam carantī nom), sītā mṛgam paśyati
(वनम् चरन्ती), सीता मृगम् पश्यति
(By forgetting his mantra), Karna is unable (to kill) Arjuna. (tasya mantram vismaratā inst), karṇaḥ arjunam hantum na śaknoti
( तस्य मन्त्रम् विस्मर्ता inst), कर्णः अर्जुनम् हन्तुम् न शक्नोति
(From receiving many injuries from Bhima), Duryodhana dies. ( bhīmāt bahu-tāḍanaiḥ labhamānāt abl), duryodhanaḥ mriyate
( भीमात् बहुताडनैः लभमानात् ), दुर्योधनः म्रियते
(Going to speak to pretty Sītā for the first time), Rāma prepares himself. (sundarasītām prathamakālāya vaditum gacchan nom), rāmaḥ ātmānam kalpate
( सुन्दरसीताम् प्रथमकालाय वदितुम् गच्छन् ), रामः आत्मानम् कल्पते
  • Observations from Above Table:  ⬆
    • Present Participle is on LEFT side of sentence, just like Gerund.
    • Present Participle acts like ADJ; meaning it qualifies the SUBJECT who is doing it (on the right side of sentence).
    • Present Participle expresses an action in progress, right NOW.
    • Present Participle is English equivalent to: –ing.
  • Keep This In Mind:
    • Parasmaipada roots (EG: √vad वद् 1P) are formed differently from Ātmanepada roots (EG: √bhāṣ भाष् 1Ā).
    • In other words, there is: 
      • Present (Active) Participle. Made from Parasmaipada roots.
      • Present (Middle) Participle. Made from Ātmanepada roots.
      • Both have different endings discussed below.

 

  • CONSTRUCTION FORMULA: 
    • STOP! Open up Garden PG7 (Present Participle) before reading onwards.
    • PARASMAIPADA Roots — Present (Active) Participle:
      • STEP 1: Form the STEM word.
        • √root + at (more common, thus stick to at)  /  ant. 
        • Examples:
          • √paṭh पठ् 1P +  at अत्  =  paṭhat  पठत्    /   paṭhant   पठन्त् 
          • √bhū भू  1P   +  at अत्  =  bhavat भवत्    /   bhavant   दिव्यन्त्
          • √div दिव् 4P   +  at अत्  =  dīvyat  दीव्यत्  /   dīvyant    दीव्यन्त्
            • Why did i इ  double? For some roots, the first vowel will double; unrelated to Vowel Strengthening. However others might go through Guna change per Garden 30.
            • Why did y य्  get in there? No particular reason. A rarity. Could be related to Garden 30. Notice y य्  semi-vowel is in same row as  i इ. 
          • √tud तुद् 6U   +  at अत्  =  tudat  तुदत्    /   tudant  तुदन्त्
      • STEP 2: Add declensions to verb in STEP 1 above. 
        • MASULINE — attach endings of: Garden 31
          • Examples:
STYLE 1: (Seeing the deer), Rāma goes to it.                   

STYLE 2: Rāma, (seeing the deer), goes to it.

OBSERVATIONS:

  • Who is doing the “seeing“? Rāma. Thus “seeing” acts as ADJ (takes gender/case/number of Rāma). 
  • “Seeing” doesn't have to follow same CASE as “Rāma“. EG: (By seeinginst [paśyatā]  the deer), Rāma goes to it.
  • For simplicity, stick to STYLE 1 as it's similar to Gerund. In other words, keep the Present Participle part on left, and everything else on right.
 STYLE 1: (mṛgram paśyan), rāmaḥ tam gacchati
( मृग्रम् पश्यन् ), रामः तम् गच्छति                   

 

STYLE 2: rāmaḥ (mṛgram paśyan) tam gacchati
रामः ( मृग्रम् पश्यन् ) तम् गच्छति
(Holding to the self), man does not create desire. ( ātmānam dharan ) naraḥ kāmam na sṛjati
( आत्मानम् धरन् )  नरः कामम् न सृजति
(Reciting the scriptures), the sages begin the ceremony.  (śāstrāni paṭhantaḥpl), munayaḥpl  vidhim ārabhante
( शास्त्रानि पठन्तः pl ), मुनयः pl  विधिम् आरभन्ते
          • Rules
            1. NOM Sing: ends in an अन्  instead of  ān आन्  (as in case of bhagavān  भगवान्).
            2. Class 3 — NOM/ACC/VOC (Single, Dual, Plural):
              • Drop n न्  before final t त्.   EG: √hā हा 3P (abandon) 
                • Correct:       jahat      जहत्
                • Wrong:         jahant   जहन्त्
            3. Class 3 — NOM, Single:
              • Always ends in at अत्  (instead of an अन्, as is true for all other cases.)

 

        • NEUTER — attach endings of: Garden 32
          • Examples:
          • Rules
            1. Class 1, 2, 6, 8, 10 — Dual NOM–ACC–VOC:
              • They have n न् before t त्. 
                • Correct:   nayantī   नयन्ती
                • Wrong:     nayatī     नयती
            2. Class 2, 3, 5, 6 (optional), 7, 8, 9 — Dual NOM–ACC–VOC: 
              • Use atī  अती
                • EG: adatī  अदती
              • DO NOT use: antī  अन्ती
                •  EG: adantī अदन्ती
            3. Class 3 — NOM/ACC/VOC (Single, Dual, Plural):
              • Drop n न्  before final t त्.   EG: √hā हा 3P (abandon) 
                • Correct:       jahati nom, pl     जहति
                • Wrong:         jahanti nom, pl   जहन्ति 

 

        • FEMININE — attach endings of: Garden 12
          • Examples:
(Seeing the deer), Sītā goes to it. (mṛgram paśyantī), sītā tam gacchati
( मृग्रम् पश्यन्ती ), सीता तम् गच्छति
(Reciting the scriptures), the women begin the ceremony.  (śāstrāni paṭhantyaḥpl), nāryaḥpl  vidhim ārabhante
( शास्त्रानि पठन्त्यः pl ), नार्यः pl  विधिम् आरभन्ते
(Listening to the song of the beautiful birds), Sītā becomes full of happiness. (sundarāṇām pakṣiṇām gītam śṛṇvatī) sītā sukhavatī bhavati
( सुन्दराणाम् पक्षिणाम्  गीतम् शृण्वती ) सीता सुखवती भवति
          • Rules
            1. Add  ī ई  to end, forming –antī.   EG: nayantī  नयन्ती  (leading)
            2. Class 2, 3, 5, 6 (optional), 7, 8, 9 — Applies to ALL Cases (nom-voc) and NUMBERS (single/dual/plural) :
              • Use atī  अती
                • EG: satī  सती,  śṛṇvatī  शृण्वती
              • DO NOT use: antī  अन्ती
                • EG: santī  सन्ती,  śṛṇvantī  शृण्वन्ती
            3. Class 3 — NOM/ACC/VOC (Single, Dual, Plural):
              • Drop n न्  before final t त्.   EG: √hā हा 3P (abandon) 
                • Correct:       jahatī     जहती
                • Wrong:         jahantī  जहन्ती 

 

    • ĀTAMEPADA Roots — Present (Middle) Participle: 
      • CONSTRUCTION FORMULA:
        • Class 1, 4, 6, 8, 10:
          • STEM  +  māna मान  +  Garden 1, 2
            • EG: √bhāṣ भाष् 1Ā  : bhāṣamāṇaḥ/ā/m  भाषमाणः/आ/म्  : speaking
        • Class 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9:
          • STEM  +  āna आन  +  Garden 1, 2
            • EG: √kṛ कृ 8U : kurvāṇaḥ/ā/m  कुर्वाणः/आ/म्   : doing, making
      • Examples:
        • MAS: (Speaking to the sage), the man experiences clarity.
          (munim bhāṣamāṇaḥ), naraḥ prasannatām anubhavati
          ( मुनिम् भाषमाणः ), नरः प्रसन्नताम् अनुभवति
        • FEM: (Speaking to the sage), the woman experiences clarity.
          (munim bhāṣamāṇā), nārī prasannatām anubhavati
          ( मुनिम् भाषमाणा ), नारी प्रसन्नताम् अनुभवति

 

Present PASSIVE Participle:  (vartamāne kṛdanta karmaṇi वर्तमाने कृदन्त कर्मणि)

  • Meaning: being done (in present).
  • How to form?
    • √root  +  ya य   +  māna मान (all 10 classes)  +  Garden 1, 2
  • Examples:
(Being led by Rāma), Sīta follows him.                        

EXPLANATION: Who is being led? Sītā. Therefore “being led” declines like “Sītā“.

 (rāmeṇa nīyamānā), sītā tam anugacchati
( रामेण नीयमाना ), सीता तम् अनुगच्छति
(Being asked by Rādha), Krishna replies politely.                        

EXPLANATION: Who is being asked? Krishna. Therefore “being asked” declines like “Krishna“.

 (rādhayā pṛcchyamānaḥ), kṛṣṇaḥ savinayam prativadati
( राधया पृच्छ्यमानः ), कृष्णः सविनयम् प्रतिवदति

 

Absolute:

  • First, look at the examples, and identify a pattern. (HINT: Something is happening on LEFT side of the sentence. Also notice how both Subject and Present Participle is either in LOC or GEN. Can interchange LOC/GEN; still means the same.)
LOC: (While/when/as Rāma is speaking), boy hears. (rāmeloc bhāṣamāneloc) balaḥ śṛṇoti
(रामे loc    भाषमाने loc)  बलः शृणोति
LOC + ‘api‘: (Even though king is singing), boy doesn't hear him. (rājñiloc gāyatiloc api) balaḥ tam na śṛṇoti
(राज्ञि loc    गायति loc अपि)  बलः तम् न शृणोति
‘api‘ can also be used without LOC/GEN:
(Even though king is singing), boy doesn't hear him.		 (rājānom gāyannom api) balaḥ tam na śṛṇoti
(राजा loc  गायन् loc अपि) बलः तम् न शृणोति
LOC: (When Rama goes to forest), Sita goes. (rāmeloc vanam gacchatiloc), sītā gacchati
(रामे loc  वनम् गच्छति loc), सीता गच्छति
GEN: (While the king was speaking), the boy laughed. (rājñaḥgen bhāṣamāṇasyagen) bālaḥ ahasat
(राज्ञः gen  भाषमाणस्य gen) बालः अहसत्
GEN: (While he looks), she goes. (tasyagen paśyataḥgen) sā gacchati
(तस्य gen  पश्यतः gen)  सा गच्छति
  • What is it?
    • Construction is 100% identical to Present Participle, except it makes sentence start with: While/When/As/Even though…
  • What does it look like?
    • (NOM ACC VERB) (NOM ACC VERB). Meaning action is happening on LEFT & RIGHT side of sentence.
      • EG:
        • (While Rāma is hunting deer), (Sītā cooks food).
        • (Even though Krishna agreed to war), (he did not agree to fight with Arjuna).
  • RULE:
    • The LEFT side of sentence (both the NOM & Present Participle Verb) takes either LOC or GEN. 
  • CONSTRUCTION FORMULA:
    • In the LEFT side of sentence: Both the Subject and Present Participle must be either in Locative (or) Genitive.
    • If “api अपि” is placed after LOC/GEN Present Participle Verb, then sentence starts with: Even though/while…

Homework:

  • STEP 1:
  • STEP 2:
    • Study “Present Participle” on this website page. All points from VOL2 book are covered; except more clear here.
    • Remember to SKIP the Rules sections. Only see after Homework is complete.
  • STEP 3:
    • Study “Absolute” on this page.
  • STEP 4:
    • Glance over (since it's rare): Present PASSIVE Participle.
  • STEP 5:
    • PG 212: Learn the Vocab.
  • STEP 6:
    • VOL2, PG200: Attempt to translate the verse.
      1. Break down sandhi.
      2. Write English definition top of each word.
      3. Translate.
      4. Compare your translation to author's.
  • STEP 7:
    • PG 213-216: Do the exercises.

Questions:

You'll have more questions throughout the course. How to ask? Leave in comments below, so others can also benefit. We'll respond within 48 hours. Only ask specific to this Lesson.

 

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Recorded 26 Sept, 2022

Lesson 70
Index
Lesson 72

5 Comments

  1. Namaste Acharya,
    Reg ĀTAMEPADA Roots — Present (Middle) Participle: Construction formula- Does class 8 take both māna मान and āna आन forms?

    Reply

    1. For example, √kṛ कृ (Class 8), is Ubhayapada. So in this case, it can take both P & Ā. If the Class 8 is only P, then it will NOT take Ā, but P.

      I think Question may be arising from confusion of it stating: “Per SanKosha, classified as: Present (Middle) Participle > Present Passive Participle”.

      In next update, I’ll take out the “Present (Middle) Participle” part, as it adds confusion.

      Reply

  2. What are the present participle conjugations for √bhī (class 3, P)? Its nominative plural form is bibhyati, so the stem is bibhyat.
    Is the nominative singular present participle bibhyat or bibhyan?

    Reply

  3. I sent a question a short while ago. I found the answer I was looking for from your guide (Garden PG7 Present Participle). It’s great to find this great resource. Thank you.

    Reply

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