Tatpuruṣa Samāsa — The Determinative Compound
तत्पुरुष समास — विभक्ति का लोप
A Depends on B — The Most Common Sanskrit Compound · NCERT Class 7-8
Key Points to Remember
- ▸Tatpuruṣa = most common compound; first member modifies second
- ▸A hidden vibhakti (2nd through 7th) connects the members — identify it for vigraha
- ▸Vidyālaya: vidyā + ālaya = abode of knowledge = school (Ṣaṣṭhī Tatpuruṣa)
- ▸Rājaputra: rāja + putra = king's son = Rājput (Ṣaṣṭhī Tatpuruṣa) — named in history
Grammar Explained
Tatpuruṣa Samāsa is the most common compound in Sanskrit. The first member modifies the second. A vibhakti relationship (2nd–7th) is hidden between the members. The compound takes the gender and case of the LAST member.
Dvitīyā Tatpuruṣa (Accusative hidden)
(B-acc.) A → BA
ग्रामम् गतः → ग्रामगतः
grāmam gataḥ → grāmagataḥ
gone to the village → "village-gone" (gram + gata)
कष्टम् प्राप्तः → कष्टप्राप्तः
kaṣṭam prāptaḥ → kaṣṭaprāptaḥ
obtained with difficulty (kaṣṭa + prāpta)
Tṛtīyā Tatpuruṣa (Instrumental hidden)
(B-instr.) A → BA
ईश्वरेण दत्तः → ईश्वरदत्तः
īśvareṇa dattaḥ → īśvaradattaḥ
given by God → Īśvaradatta (a name, means "God-given")
धनेन हीनः → धनहीनः
dhanena hīnaḥ → danahīnaḥ
lacking in wealth → poor
Ṣaṣṭhī Tatpuruṣa (Genitive hidden) — most common
(B-gen.) A → BA
राजस्य पुत्रः → राजपुत्रः
rājasya putraḥ → rājaputraḥ
son of the king → "Rājput" (king's son — a historical community name)
देवस्य आलयः → देवालयः
devasya ālayaḥ → devālayaḥ
abode of God → temple
विद्यायाः आलयः → विद्यालयः
vidyāyāḥ ālayaḥ → vidyālayaḥ
abode of knowledge → school
Saptamī Tatpuruṣa (Locative hidden)
(in B) A → BA
जले जायते → जलजः
jale jāyate → jalajaḥ
born in water → lotus (jala + ja — water-born)
वने चरः → वनचरः
vane caraḥ → vanacaraḥ
one who roams in the forest → forest-dweller
Exercises (2)
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Analyse and form Tatpuruṣa compounds
1. Vigraha of "विद्यालयः": _______ of _______
Show answer
विद्यायाः आलयः — abode of knowledge (Ṣaṣṭhī Tatpuruṣa)
2. Vigraha of "देवालयः": _______ of _______
Show answer
देवस्य आलयः — abode of God (Ṣaṣṭhī Tatpuruṣa)
3. Form the compound: "son of the king" = राजस्य पुत्रः → _______
Show answer
राजपुत्रः (rājaputraḥ)
4. "जलजः" (lotus, water-born) hides which vibhakti?
Show answer
सप्तमी (Saptamī) — जले (in water) + जातः (born)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Identify the Tatpuruṣa type
1. "Rājaputra" (king's son) hides which vibhakti?
Show answer
Ṣaṣṭhī
2. In Tatpuruṣa, the gender of the compound follows:
Show answer
the last member
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