Today we will look at the form वाहनैः nIp from श्रीमद्-वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् 2.67.19.

नारजके जनपदे धनवन्तः सुरक्षिताः । शेरते विवृतद्वाराः कृषिगोरक्षजीविनः ।। २-६७-१८ ।।
नाराजके जनपदे वाहनैः शीघ्रगामिभिः । नरा निर्यान्त्यरण्यानि नारीभिः सह कामिनः ।। २-६७-१९ ।।
नाराजके जनपदे बद्धघण्टा विषाणिनः । अटन्ति राजमार्गेषु कुञ्जराः षष्टिहायनाः ।। २-६७-२० ।।
नाराकजे जनपदे शरान् संततमस्यताम् । श्रूयते तलनिर्घोष इष्वस्त्राणामुपासने ।। २-६७-२१ ।।

Gita Press translation – In a rulerless land wealthy husband men and cowherds, even though well protected (by their attendants) do not sleep with open doors (for fear of burglars and dacoits) (18). In a rulerless land lustful men do not drive in swift-going conveyances with women to pleasure-groves (for enjoying the forest scenery) (19). In a rulerless land sixty-year old (army) tuskers do not (for fear of being deprived of their tusks or bells) move about on the main roads with bells fastened to their girths (20). In a rulerless land the sound of plucking the bow-string with the palm produced by Kṣatriyas uninterruptedly discharging arrows while practicing the use of bows is not heard (21).

उह्यतेऽनेनेति वाहनम्।

The नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिकम् ‘वाहन’ is derived from the verbal root √वह् (वहँ प्रापणे १. ११५९).

(1) वह् + ल्युट् । By 3-3-117 करणाधिकरणयोश्च – The affix ल्युट् may be used following a verbal root to denote the instrument or the locus of the action.

See question 2.

(2) वह् + यु । अनुबन्ध-लोपः by 1-3-3 हलन्त्यम्, 1-3-8 लशक्वतद्धिते and 1-3-9 तस्य लोपः।

(3) वह् + अन । By 7-1-1 युवोरनाकौ – The affixes “यु” and “वु” are substituted respectively by “अन” and “अक”। The entire प्रत्ययः is replaced as per the परिभाषा-सूत्रम् 1-1-55 अनेकाल्शित्सर्वस्य।

(4) वाह् + अन । Here the वृद्धि: substitution is done on the authority of the use of the word वाहनम् by पाणिनि: in the सूत्रम् 8-4-8 वाहनमाहितात्‌।

= वाहन ।

‘वाहन’ gets प्रातिपदिक-सञ्ज्ञा by 1-2-46 कृत्तद्धितसमासाश्च – A word form that ends in a कृत्-प्रत्ययः or a तद्धित-प्रत्ययः and so also compounds gets the name प्रातिपदिकम्।

The विवक्षा is तृतीया-बहुवचनम्।

(5) वाहन + भिस् । By 4-1-2 स्वौजसमौट्छष्टाभ्याम्भिस्ङेभ्याम्भ्यस्ङसिँभ्याम्भ्यस्ङसोसाम्ङ्योस्सुप्।

(6) वाहन + ऐस् । By 7-1-9 अतो भिस ऐस् – Following a अङ्गम् ending in a अकार:, the affix “भिस्” is replaced by “ऐस्”। The entire प्रत्ययः is replaced as per the परिभाषा-सूत्रम् 1-1-55 अनेकाल्शित्सर्वस्य। 1-3-4 न विभक्तौ तुस्माः prevents the ending सकारः of “ऐस्” from getting इत्-सञ्ज्ञा।

(7) वाहनैस् । By 6-1-88 वृद्धिरेचि।

(8) वाहनैः । रुँत्व-विसर्गौ by 8-2-66 ससजुषो रुः and 8-3-15 खरवसानयोर्विसर्जनीयः।

Questions:

1. In the five verses 30-34 of Chapter Eleven of the गीता can you spot a word in which the सूत्रम् 3-3-117 करणाधिकरणयोश्च has been used?

2. Commenting on the सूत्रम् 3-3-117 करणाधिकरणयोश्च the सिद्धान्तकौमुदी says – खल: प्राक्करणाधिकरणयोरित्यधिकार:। Please explain.

3. Where else (besides in वाहनैः) has the affix ल्युट् been used in the verses?

4. Which सूत्रम् prescribes the affix ‘णिनिँ’ in the word शीघ्रगामिभिः?

5. Where has the सूत्रम् 3-2-124 लटः शतृशानचावप्रथमासमानाधिकरणे been used in the verses?

6. How would you say this in Sanskrit?
“Even though it has no vehicle, the mind goes far.” Paraphrase to “The mind goes far even though its vehicle does not exist.”

Easy questions:

1. From which verbal root is शेरते derived?

2. Where has the सूत्रम् 7-4-25 अकृत्सार्वधातुकयोर्दीर्घः been used in the verses?