Karaka & Upapada Vibhakti (कारक/उपपद विभक्तयः) MCQs Quiz | Class 9

Karaka and Upapada Vibhakti: Detailed Explanation

In Sanskrit grammar, understanding the correct usage of cases (विभक्तयः – vibhaktayaḥ) is crucial for constructing grammatically sound sentences. This topic is broadly divided into Karaka (कारकम्) and Upapada Vibhakti (उपपद विभक्ति).

1. Karaka (कारकम्)

Karaka refers to the direct functional relationship between a noun/pronoun and the verb in a sentence. There are six main Karakas:

• कर्ता (Karta – Agent/Doer): The one who performs the action. It generally takes the प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative case).
  Example: रामः पठति। (Rama reads.) – रामः is Karta.
• कर्म (Karma – Object): The one upon whom the action is performed. It generally takes the द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative case).
  Example: रामः पुस्तकं पठति। (Rama reads a book.) – पुस्तकम् is Karma.
• करणम् (Karanam – Instrument): The means or instrument by which an action is performed. It takes the तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental case).
  Example: रामः हस्तेन लिखति। (Rama writes with his hand.) – हस्तेन is Karanam.
• सम्प्रदानम् (Sampradanam – Dative Object): The one for whom an action is performed, or to whom something is given. It takes the चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative case).
  Example: रामः मित्राय धनं ददाति। (Rama gives money to his friend.) – मित्राय is Sampradanam.
• अपादानम् (Apadanam – Ablative Object): The fixed point from which separation occurs. It takes the पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative case).
  Example: वृक्षात् पत्राणि पतन्ति। (Leaves fall from the tree.) – वृक्षात् is Apadanam.
• अधिकरणम् (Adhikaranam – Location/Locative Object): The locus or support of an action (time, place, subject). It takes the सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative case).
  Example: रामः वने वसति। (Rama lives in the forest.) – वने is Adhikaranam.

Note: The षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive case) is not considered a Karaka because it denotes a relation (संबंधः) rather than a direct action with the verb. It is a secondary relation.

2. Upapada Vibhakti (उपपद विभक्ति)

Upapada Vibhakti refers to the specific case that a noun or pronoun takes due to the presence of certain indeclinables (अव्ययपदानि – avyayapadāni) or verbs (क्रियापदानि – kriyāpadāni) in a sentence, regardless of its Karaka relationship with the main verb. These words “govern” a particular case.

Detailed breakdown of Upapada Vibhaktis covered:

A. द्वितीया विभक्तिः (Accusative Case)

Used with the following words:

• समया, निकषा (near, beside): ग्रामं समया/निकषा नदी अस्ति। (A river is near the village.)
• प्रति (towards): विद्यालयं प्रति गच्छति। (Goes towards the school.)
• विना (without): जलं विना जीवनं नास्ति। (There is no life without water.) (Note: विना can also take तृतीया or पञ्चमी)
• परितः, उभयतः (around, on both sides): विद्यालयं परितः/उभयतः वृक्षाः सन्ति। (Trees are around/on both sides of the school.)

B. तृतीया विभक्तिः (Instrumental Case)

Used with the following words:

• सह, समम्, सार्थम् (with): रामेण सह सीता गच्छति। (Sita goes with Rama.)
• विना (without): धनेन विना सुखं कुतः? (Where is happiness without money?) (Note: विना can also take द्वितीया or पञ्चमी)
• अलम् (enough, stop) – in the sense of prohibition: विवादेन अलम्। (Enough with the dispute! / Stop quarrelling!)
• हीन (devoid of, lacking): विद्यया हीनः पशुभिः समानः। (One devoid of knowledge is equal to animals.)

C. चतुर्थी विभक्तिः (Dative Case)

Used with the following words:

• रुच् (to like, please): मह्यं मोदकं रोचते। (Sweets please me / I like sweets.)
• दा/यच्छ् (to give): भिक्षुकाय धनं यच्छति। (Gives money to the beggar.)
• नमः (salutation): गुरवे नमः। (Salutations to the guru.)
• कुप् (to be angry): पुत्राय पिता कुप्यति। (Father is angry with his son.)
• अलम् (enough, capable) – in the sense of capability: दैत्येभ्यः हरिः अलम्। (Hari is capable enough for the demons / Hari is sufficient to defeat the demons.)

D. पञ्चमी विभक्तिः (Ablative Case)

Used with the following words:

• विना (without): ज्ञानात् विना मुक्तिः न। (There is no liberation without knowledge.) (Note: विना can also take द्वितीया or तृतीया)
• बहिः (outside): ग्रामात् बहिः देवालयः अस्ति। (A temple is outside the village.)
• भी (to fear): चौरात् बिभेति। (Fears from the thief.)
• रक्ष् (to protect): संकटात् रक्षति। (Protects from danger.)

E. षष्ठी विभक्तिः (Genitive Case)

Used with the following words (denoting position relative to something):

• उपरि (above): गृहस्य उपरि खगः। (A bird is above the house.)
• अधः (below): वृक्षस्य अधः पथिकः। (A traveler is below the tree.)
• पुरतः (in front of): विद्यालयस्य पुरतः क्रीडाङ्गणम्। (A playground is in front of the school.)
• पृष्ठतः (behind): गृहस्य पृष्ठतः वाटिका। (A garden is behind the house.)
• वामतः (to the left): मार्गस्य वामतः नदी। (A river is to the left of the road.)
• दक्षिणतः (to the right): मम दक्षिणतः देवालयः। (A temple is to my right.)

F. सप्तमी विभक्तिः (Locative Case)

Used with the following words:

• स्निह् (to love, be affectionate): पुत्रे स्निह्यति माता। (Mother is affectionate towards her son.)
• विश्वस् (to trust): देवे विश्वसिति भक्तः। (A devotee trusts in God.)
• निपुण, कुशल (expert, skilled): सः कार्ये निपुणः अस्ति। (He is skilled in work.) / रामः अध्ययने कुशलः। (Rama is proficient in studies.)

Quick Revision Checklist

• Karaka: Functional relationship with verb.
• Upapada Vibhakti: Case governed by specific words.
• Key words for द्वितीया: समया, निकषा, प्रति, विना, परितः, उभयतः.
• Key words for तृतीया: सह, समम्, सार्थम्, विना, अलम् (prohibition), हीन.
• Key words for चतुर्थी: रुच्, दा/यच्छ्, नमः, कुप्, अलम् (capability).
• Key words for पञ्चमी: विना, बहिः, भी, रक्ष्.
• Key words for षष्ठी: उपरि, अधः, पुरतः, पृष्ठतः, वामतः, दक्षिणतः.
• Key words for सप्तमी: स्निह्, विश्वस्, निपुण, कुशल.

Practice Questions

1. कृष्णः ____ सह गच्छति। (राम) (Which vibhakti will ‘राम’ take with ‘सह’?)
2. पुष्पाणि ____ नमः। (देव्यौ) (Which vibhakti will ‘देव्यौ’ take with ‘नमः’?)
3. विद्यालयस्य ____ छात्राः क्रीडन्ति। (बहिः) (Which vibhakti will ‘विद्यालयस्य’ take with ‘बहिः’?)
4. अहं दुर्जनेभ्यः ____। (कुप्यति) (Which vibhakti will ‘दुर्जन’ take with ‘कुप्’?)
5. सः ____ प्रति धावति। (गृह) (Which vibhakti will ‘गृह’ take with ‘प्रति’?)