Page:Sanskrit Grammar by Whitney p1.djvu/303



768. A certain form of present-stem, inflected with middle endings, is used only in a passive sense, and is formed from all roots for which there is occasion to make a passive conjugation. Its sign is an accented य added to the root: thus, हन्य  from √हन्  slay, आप्य  from √आप्  obtain,  गृह्य  from √गृह्  (or ) seize: and so on, without any reference to the class according to which the active and middle forms are made.

769. The form of the root to which the passive-sign is added is (since the accent is on the sign) the weak one: thus, a penultimate nasal is dropped, and any abbreviation which is made in the weak forms of the perfect (794), in the aorist optative (922 b), or before of the passive participle (954), is made also in the passive present-system: thus,  from √,  from √,  from √,  from √.

770. On the other hand, a final vowel of a root is in general liable to the same changes as in other parts of the verbal system where it is followed by : thus —

a. Final and  are lengthened: thus,  from √;  from √;

b. Final is usually changed to : thus,  from √;  from √: but  from √, and so, , , etc.;

c. Final is in general changed to : thus,  from √; but if preceded by two consonants (and also, it is claimed, in the root ), it has instead the -strengthening: thus,  from √ (the only quotable case); — and in those roots which show a change of  to  and  (so-called -verbs: see 242), that change is made here also, and the vowel is lengthened: thus,  from √,  from √.

771. The inflection of the passive-stem is precisely like that of the other -stems; it differs only in accent from that of the class last given. It may be here presented, therefore, in the same abbreviated form:

a. Example of inflection: root कृ make; passive-stem  क्रिय :