Compounds are generally formed of two or more nominal padas and consist of a main part (p:ÒD:an: - pradhana) and a subordinate part (up:s:j:ün: - upasarjana). Panini forms the rules in such a way as to indicate which is the pradhana and which is the upasarjana. Panini also has a rule which states that padas can be combined, only when they are syntactically and semantically related. He also states that the finished form should have the capacity to express a single notion. Four major kinds of compounds are recognized by Panini. They are
1. Avyayi bhava ( Avy:y:i B:av:)- where the emphasis is on the first word.
y:T:a p:Ýv:üm:Î (yathaa purvam - as before. Here the stress is on 'as')
2.Tatpurusha ( t:tp:Ø,\: )- where the emphasis is on the second.
raj:p:Ø,\:H - (raajapuruShaH - king's man. The stress here is on the person (puruShaH) rather than the king).
3. Bahuvrihi ( b:hØv:Òieh )- where the emphasis is external to both the words.
p:it:amb:rH - (pitaambaraH - one who wears yellow cloth. The two words yellow(pita) and cloth(ambaram) when combined denote something other than what they do separately (the person wearing it - Lord ViShnu) ).
4.Dvandva (¾n¾)- where the emphasis is on both (or all) words.
ram:H c: ká\N:H c: = ram:ká\N:> (raama and krShna)