Page:Sanskrit Grammar by Whitney p1.djvu/382

 after piling the fire, to meet with some mishap or other, or to stagger; (PB.) the rathantara is liable to knock out the eye of the chanter.

b. The dative is used in ÇB. instead of the genitive in a single phrase ; and, in the later language, sometimes the accusative in. In a case or two the masc. sing. nom. is used, without regard to the gender or number of the word which it qualifies: thus, (ÇB.) his progeny is liable to deteriorate. And in a very few instances the word is omitted, and the genitive has the same value without it: thus,  (AB.) two may be added to the noon libation;  (ÇB.) then the consecrated is liable to get the itch.

c. This construction with, which is the only one for the genitive infinitive in the Brāhmaṇa, is unknown in the Veda, where the genitive is found in a very small number of examples with , and with the root : thus, (RV.) in the midst of action;  (RV.) he is master of the giving of wealth;  (RV.) is able to keep away.

985. Unless the infinitives in and  are locative in form (their uses are those of datives), the locative infinitive is so rare, and has so little that is peculiar in its use, that it is hardly worth making any account of. An example is (RV.) at the awakening of the dawn.

986. In the Veda, the dative infinitive forms are very much more numerous than the accusative (in RV., their occurrences are twelve times as many; in AV., more than three times); and the accusative in is rare (only four forms in RV., only eight in AV.). In the Brāhmaṇas, the accusative has risen to much greater comparative frequency (its forms are nearly twice as many as those of the dative); but the ablative-genitive, which is rare in the Veda, has also come to full equality with it. The disappearance in the classical language of all excepting the accusative in (but see 968 h) is a matter for no small surprise.

987. The later infinitive in is oftenest used in constructions corresponding to those of the earlier accusative: thus,  he could not restrain his tears;  thou oughtest to see it;  they desire to obtain;  having begun to count. But also, not infrequently, in those of the other cases. So, especially, of the dative: thus, devise another place to stay in;  he has come hither to seek for thee; — but likewise of the genitive: thus,  capable of going;  able to mend. Even a construction as nominative is not unknown: thus,