Pāṇini and the Non-Head (upasarjana) of Attributive Endocentric Compounds

Abstract

This study aims at contributing to our understanding of Pāṇini’s classification of compounds. In particular, this study investigates the notion upasarjana – roughly translatable as ‘non-head’ – in attributive endocentric (so-called karmadhāraya) compounds like nava-jvāra- ‘new suffering’, by addressing the following questions: do the units which Pāṇini designated as upasarjana in subordinate endocentric (so-called tatpuruṣa proper) compounds like aśva-śapha- ‘horse’s hoof’ share any feature with the units which he designated as upasarjana in karmadhārayas? More generally, what is the hallmark of the units designated as upasarjana? To answer these questions, we shall delve into several rules of Pāṇini’s grammar – the Aṣṭādhyāyī – which conceal such powerful grammatical tools as silent case endings and the operation of case-copying.