Now let us look at how cases are handled by Paanini. We have to remember that Sanskrit is a free order language where the case markers are joined with the nouns to form derivatives.
Paanini uses two different terms ( ev:B:¡Vt: - Vibhakti) for case markers and case forms and (kark - kaaraka) for the relationships existing between noun or noun-phrase, and verb or verb phrases.
A case form can denote kaaraka and non-kaaraka relationship. Non-kaaraka relation is that which concerns the relation between case form and some other words in a sentence such as temporal, spatial and so on.
Vibhakti is treated by Paanini in two ways
1. Concerns case markers participating in the declension which is a purely morphological treatment.
2. As case-forms occuring in a sentence denoting different kinds of relationship with other words which co-occur in the sentence.
Kaarakas are said to be six and vibhakthi eight in number. Paanini defines a kaaraka and mentions the set of verbs with which a noun in that kaaraka can co-occur. In addition he also states the alternate case-form which co-occur with the same verb. The kaarakas(cases) specified in Sanskrit are:-
Kartaa ( kt:aü ) - agent of the action - functions independently.
r:m:H g:cCet: (raamaH gacchati - raama goes. Here, raama is the doer, and he does the act of going)
Karma ( km:ü - object of the action)
b:al:H Pl:ö K:adet: (baalaH phalam khaadati - The child eats the fruit. The fruit is the object).
KaraNa (krN: - instrument) - that which serves as a means for the accomplishment of an action.
r:m:H b:aN<n: K:g:ö m:ary:et: (raamaH baaNena khagam maarayati - Rama kills the bird with an arrow. The act of killing is performed with an arrow, so it is the instrument).
Sampradaana (s:öp:Òd:n: - dative) - the beneficiary of the action.
r:m:H r:D:ay> p:Øst:kö ddaet: (raamaH raadhaayai pustakam dadaati - Rama gives the book to Raadha. Here, Raadha is the receiver of the book, and hence the beneficiary).
Apaadaana (Ap:ad:n: - Ablative) - that which functions as a fixed point from which there is a departure (spatial and temporal).
v:àx:at:Î p:*:aeN: p:t:¡nt: (vrkShaat patraaNi patanti - Leaves fall from the tree. Here, the tree is the starting point of the fall.).
Adhikarana (AeD:krN: - Locative) - that which functions as the substratum of an action.
p:Øst:kð p:aYm:¡st: ( pustake paaTamasti - There is a lesson in the book. The book holds the lessons, and so is the substratum ofthe lessons).
Sambandha (s:öb:nD: - Genetive) - denotes the relationship between two objects.
r:am:sy: p:Øst:kem:dö (raamasya pustakamidam - raama's book)