Vidhis

Sanjnaa Vidhi ( s:öwa ev:eD:)

Sanjnaa is a particular letter or word which has some special meaning in grammatical context which may be different from its literal meaning.

ParibhaaShaa Vidhi ( p:erB:a\:a ev:eD:)

These are nothing but interpretative rules. They are concerned with the method of interpreting Panini's rules in a proper manner. These rules also explain and define correct operational method of Panini rules. About 75 paribhaaShaa rules have been used by him.

A:dðH p:rsy: (aadeH parasya) - when something is said for the second word, it applies for the first letter of the second word.

Niyama Vidhi  (en:y:m: ev:eD: - Restrictive rules)

These are rules which define the domain of operation of a particular rule.

PratiShedha or NiShedha Vidhi ()et:\:ðD: en:\:ðD: ev:eD: - Prohibitive rule)

These are rules which prohibit the operation of a particular rule which could  otherwise to be operative in an environment.

VibhaaSha (ev:B:a\:: ev:eD: - Optional rule)

When there is optionality in the application of a particular rule, that rule is called vibhaaSha.

E.g. : praan(g) + ShaShTaH may give either praan(g) ShaShTaH or praan(g)kh ShaShTaH

p:Ò:{Π + \:\YH = p:Ò:{Î + \:\YH

or

p:Ò:{Î + \:\YH = p:Ò:{ÎKÎ + \:\YH

Nipatana Vidhi  (en:p:t:n: ev:eD:)

Derivational history of certain words are difficult to be explained and hence they are given as ready-made forms.

Adhikaara Vidhi  ( AeD:kar ev:eD:)

These are governing rules which begin a section/topic or grammatical operation.

Atidesha Vidhi ( Aet:dðS: ev:eD: - Extension rule or transference rule)

These rules deal with transferring the operational aspect or quality of one rule to another.

Anuvrtti (An:Øv:à¡tt:)

This is where some parts of the previously occuring vidhi is carried over and applied to the next rule.

st::ðH Á:Øn:a Á:ØH (stoH shchunaa shchuH)
ÄÙn:a ÄÙH  ( ShTunaa ShTuH)

In this case, the word stoH in the first sutra is carried over to the second.

Using these rules, Paanini embodies the entire grammatical structure in his sutras.

It is sometimes possible that there are two rules which may be applicable in a given context. Normally, one would be of a higher priority than the other, in which case, there is no ambiguity. But when two rules of equal priority  appear, then the latter one takes precedence. By latter, we mean the one that appears later in his ordering of sutra. This is specified in the following vidhi :

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