Page:Sanskrit Grammar by Whitney p1.djvu/377

 made from the infinitive stem in the later language (as abundantly in the earlier: 970 b): thus, (BhP.). And (973 a) is once found in MBh. (i. 3. 67 = 732), in a quasi-Vedi chymnVedic hymn [sic] to the Açvins.

969. In the Veda and Brāhmaṇa, however, a number of verbal nouns, nomina actionis, in various of their cases, are used in constructions which assimilate them to the infinitive of other languages — although, were it not for these other later and more developed and pronounced infinitives, the constructions in question might pass as ordinary case-constructions of a somewhat peculiar kind.

970. The nouns thus used infinitively are the following:

a. The root-noun, without derivative suffix, is so used in its accusative in, its dative in or (from -roots) , its genitive and ablative in , and its locative in.

b. The verbal noun in is so used in its accusative in, its dative in  or , and its ablative and genitive in.

Of other nouns only single cases, generally datives, are reckoned as used with infinitive value; thus:

c. From the verbal noun in, the dative in ; and also, in an extremely small number of instances, a dative in (or ), from a noun formed with  simply.

d. From nouns in and, datives in  and.

e. From nouns in, datives in , or (from one or two verbs) in.

f. From nouns in, datives in.

g. From nouns in and, datives in  and.

h. A few infinitives in are perhaps locatives from nouns in  added to a root increased by.

i. From a single root,, are made infinitively used forms in , of which the grammatical character is questionable.

j. Among all these, the forms which have best right to special treatment as infinitives, on account of being of peculiar formation, or from suffixes not found in other uses, or for both reasons, are those in, and.

k. Except the various cases of the derivative in, and of the root-noun, these infinitives are almost wholly unknown outside the Rig-Veda.

l. Other suffixes and forms than those noticed above might be added; for it is impossible to draw any fixed line between the uses classed as infinitive and the ordinary case-uses: thus, (TS.) they went to ask Prajāpati;  (RV.) quickening every living being to motion;  (RV.) impelling the waters to flow;  (instead of the usual : ÇB.) may be able to apprehend;  (instead of the usual : S.) until exhaustion. And the so-called infinitives