188 Lesson XLIV. 1. कतस्मि कतस्विस कर्तास्मस् 2. कर्तासि कतीस्थम् कर्तस्थ 3. कता कतीरौ कतारस | Aorist-System. 486. The aorist comprises three quite distinct formations, each with certain sub-varieties; but all are bound together into one complex system by certain correspondences of form and meaning. In classical Sanskrit aorists are comparatively rare. Their value is quite that of impf. or pf. as tenses of narration. But they are used also (though not nearly so often as the prohibitive opt.) with the particle HT, in prohibitions, the augment being then omitted; thus, मा दाः ‘do not give'; मा भैषीः ‘do not fear'. With this ex- ception the aorist always has the augment in classical Sanskrit. The tense comprises, in the later language, only an indicative mode.* The main varieties of aorist are three: I. Simple Aorist; II. Redu- plicated Aorist; III. Sibilant Aorist. 487. I. Simple aorist. (1) Root aorist. This aorist is precisely like an imperfect of the root-class. It is limited to the active voice of a few roots in आ, and of भू. E. g. | iदा 1. अदाम् अदाव अदाम | अभूवम् अभूव अभूम 2. अदास् अदातम् अदात अभूस् अभूतम् अभूत 3. अदात् अदाताम् अदुस् अभूत् अभूताम् अभवन् । | Like दाः धा, अधातः स्था, अस्थात्; पा, अपात्; गा ‘go', अ- गात्. 488. (2) The a-aorist. This is like an imperfect of the a-class, active and middle. Thus, from सिच्, 1st persons असिचम्, असिचाव, असिचाम; असिचे, असिचावहि, असिचामहि. In general the root
- The precative is strictly a peculiar aor. Optative; but it is so
rare that its formation need not be explained here. Univ Calif - Digitized by Microsoft ®
