Karaka Theory

• Karaka is what follows the verb, generates action, gets actions done, and has a close, special connection to the verb.

Karaka Locations

• In Ayodhya, karma is like "dhanankam" (wealth)
• Karana is like "hasten" (by hand)
• Sampradanam is like "nidhau" (treasure)
• Apanadanam is like "koshat" (from the treasury)
• Adhikaranam is like "pratahakaale" (in the morning)
• "Dadaati" is an example of a verb or action.

Karaka Defined

• Karaka names the relationship between a noun and a verb in a sentence.
• Relationships between unconnected words and verbs is not karaka.
• There are seven Vibhakti (inflections) but only six karakas
• This is explained in the verse: "kartaa karma cha karanaam sampraadaanam tathaiva cha, apaadaanaadhikarane ityaahuh kaarakaani shatt"

Genitive Case Exception

• There is no karaka for the sixth Vibhakti (genitive case).
• The genitive case is never directly related to an action.
• Genitive case is commonly used in personal relationships.

Six Karakas

• The six karakas and their corresponding Vibhakti are:
  • Prathama: Karta karakam (Nominative)
  • Dvitiya: Karma karakam (Accusative)
  • Tritiya: Karana karakam (Instrumental)
  • Chaturthi: Sampradana karakam (Dative)
  • Panchami: Apadana karakam (Ablative)
  • Saptami: Adhikarana karakam (Locative)

Karta Karkam (Subjective Case)

• “Swatantra: karta” states karta is independent because doing work is inherent.
• Karta karaka is for Prathama Vibhakti.
• In the Ktrari prayoga (active voice), the Karta will be prominent, hence the Karta pada will be in Prathama Vibhakti.
• In Karmani prayoga (passive voice), Karma is prominent, thus Karta pada will be in Tritiya Vibhakti.
• Example (Active Voice): "Ramah pathati" (Rama reads)
  • Karta padam: Ramah - Prathama Vibhakti
• Example (Passive Voice): "Ramen pathyate" (It is read by Rama)
  • Karta padam: Ramena - Tritiya Vibhakti
• When Ktdant designation prevails in Sasthi Vibhakti, even the Karta pada will be in Shasthi Vibhakti.

Karma Karkam (Objective Case)

• "Karturipsitatamam karma" states that the most desired act of an agent obtains Karma.
• Karma is the most desired act of an agent.
• Example: "Katam karoti" (He does the mat)
  • Doing the mat is most desired and gets Dvitiya Vibhakti (objective case)
• Example: "Gramam gacchati" (goes to the village)
  • The village is the most desired place, therefore it gets Karma संज्ञा (designation).
• According to this sutra, Dvitiya Vibhakti will be followed by Karma karaka vachaka nama padam (name word). Examples:
  • "Manasa harim bhajati"
  • "Ramat hantamgachchanti"
  • "Chairah tandulam pachanti"
  • "Ramah vandena manati"

Karana Karkam (Instrumental case)

• "Sadhakatamam karanam" explains that the most serviceable instrument is the Karana.
• Karana is the most serviceable instrument that is essential to perform a task.
• A Karana suchaka shabda is always with Tritiya Vibhakti. (instrumental case)
• Example: "Kutharena vriksham chhinatti" (He cuts the tree with an axe)
  • Here, the axe is the tool for cutting the tree, and will get Karana Karaka samjna (designation).
• "Kartrikaranyostritiya" explains the speciality of Karta (subject) and Karana karaka (instrument).
• According to this sutra, in a sentence, the karta and karana-karaka words are getting tritiya vibhakti (instrumental case).
• Example: "Ramen banen hato vali" (Vali was killed by Rama using an arrow)
  • Rama and Bana are important instruments, hence both are assigned the Tritiya Vibhakti (instrumental case).

Sampradana Karkam (Dative Case)

• "Karmana yamabhipraiti sa sampradanam" signifies that the recipient of an object through the verb da gets the Sampradana designation.
• The Sampradana vachaka shabda is always in Chaturthi Vibhakti.
• "Karmana" in the sutra suggests karma of donation (charity's sake).
• Example: "Ramah sitaye pushpam dadati" (Rama gives a flower to Sita)
  • Sita receives the flower from Rama, so the word Sita is getting Sampradana karaka samjna.
• The sutra also states that Sampradana refers to the intended recipient of charity, gift, or object.
  • Dhata, riDh, ruch, day, ishaya, asu - Person who is the object of anger will be the Sampradana.
• "Chaturthi sampradane" explains the position of Sampradana karaka (Dative Case)
• Samspradana karaka's are ending with Chaturthi Vibhakti.
• Example: "vipraya gaam dadati" (He gives a cow to the Brahmin).
  • Gaam(cow)- object of daan kriya (act of giving).
  • vipraya (Brahmin)-recipient of daan.
  • Vipraya is Sampradana, so he will be designated the Chaturthi Vibhakti (vipraya).
• Namah-svasti-svaha-svadha-alam vshad yogach - The words getting with Namah, swasti, svaha, svadha, alam are getting chaturthī-vibhakti.

Apadana Karkam (Ablative Case)

• "Dhruvamapayepadanam" defines Apadanam as denoting separation.
• In the association of two objects, the non moving object gets "Apadana Sangya"
• It signifies a fixed point from which something departs or is separated.
• According to this Sutra, when there is Sambandha between two objects which means separation, so according to this when there is separation in between two objects, then which object is not moving, that will get Apadana Sangya.
• Example: "Ramah gramat aagachchati" (Rama comes from the village)
  • Rama departs from the village.
  • "Gramat" gets "Apadana karaka sangya".
• Apadane panchami.
• Vrksat patram patati (Leaf falls from the tree)
  • The answer to "What is falling?" is "Patram"
• The answer to "From where does the leaf fall?" is "Vrksat", & it is in Panchami since Vraksha had departed.

Special Note

• Objects associated with verbs denoting aversion, negligence, or cessation are in Panchami Vibhakti.
• For example, "Papat jugupsate" or "Papat viramati" (He dislikes/ceases from a sin)
• Similarly, in "dharmat pramadyati", he deviates from the path of virtue
• See the occurance of the fifth case.
• "Bhitaarthaanam bhayahetuh" - The cause for fear is always associated to being in the Ablative, since you are moving away from the thing you fear.
• Bhayahetu means the cause for fear that is in the panchami-vibhakti.
• aranye mrgaah bhayam (Beests or animals in the forest)
• bhaya bheetaha bheetihee bheeha etc -
• "hetu" always receives the panchami-vibhakti.

Adhikarana Karkam (Locative Case)

• "Aadharodhikaranam" states that the base or location where an action takes place is called Adhikarana.
  • According to this Sutra, when kriya takes place through the Karta and karma, it gets Adhikarana Sangya.
• Place or time where kriya happens is "Adhikarana Sangya"
• "Saptamyadhikarane cha" states locative case (Saptami Vibhakti) is used to denote Adhikarana.
• The word which tells about the distance obtains Adhikarana Sangya.
• Ramah takam kashtaphalke niskashkmpati.(Rama sits on the mat)
• Saynkale aham grham gchchami (Evening home going)
• Examples:
  • Kate aaste (He sits on the mat)
  • Sthalyam pakam pachati (He cooks rice in the pot)
  • Grāmasya dūre (Near or distance from the village)

Shasthi Shese (Genitive Case)

• Karakamshodhakpadaarthasya sambandha
  • The Shashti Vibhakti is not having any Karaka Sangya relationship
  • Karaka creates the Sambandha (relation) between a nampada and kri