Page:Sanskrit Grammar by Whitney p1.djvu/130

 303. The locative of sphere or condition or circumstance is of very frequent use: thus, (RV.) in fury Indra slew the dragon;  (RV.) may we be in the favor of Mitra;  (MBh.) delighted in thy words.

a. This construction is, on the one hand, generalized into an expression for in the matter or case of; or with reference to, respecting, and takes in the later language a very wide range, touching upon genitive and dative constructions: thus (AV.) be generous to him in retainers, in horses, in cattle;  (RV.) him we beg for friendship;  (MBh.) this means was devised by me for (with reference to) bringing thee hither;  (H.) the cause of (in the case of) a woman's chastity;  (MBh.) he was not capable of preventing.

b. On the other hand, the expression by the locative of a condition of things in which anything takes place, or of a conditioning or accompanying circumstance, passes over into a well-marked absolute construction, which is known even in the earliest stage of the language, but becomes more frequent later. Transitional examples are: (RV.) I call to thee at the arisen sun (when the sun has risen), I call at midtime of the day;  (MBh.) and even in the case of an offense committed, there is no anger on my part.

c. The normal condition of the absolute construction is with a participle accompanying the noun: thus, (RV.) when the  is strewn and the fire kindled;  (MBh.) a propitious time having arrived;  (H.) the night having drawn to a close, and the moon resting on the summit of the western mountain.

d. But the noun may be wanting, or may be replaced by an adverbial substitute (as, , ): thus, when it rains;  after sunset;  (S.) while there is seen [some part] of the sun;  (Ç.) with these words half uttered;  (MBh.) it being fully assented to by us;  (MBh.) it being thus spoken by Kali;  (H.) it being thus accomplished. So likewise the participle may be wanting (a copula or the like having to be supplied): thus,  the cause of fear being remote; while, on the other hand, the participle  etc. is sometimes redundantly added to the other participle: thus,  it being thus done.

e. The locative is frequently used adverbially or prepositionally (1116): thus, - or - in the manner of, for the sake of; in front of;  without;  near.

304. The pregnant construction by which the locative comes to express the goal or object of motion or action or feeling exercised is not