1、PLI PRIMERLily de Silva, M.A., Ph.D.Published byVIPASSANA RESEARCH INSTITUTE PREFACEThis is a book long overdue, as my first Pli teacher, the late Mr. Julius Berugoda wished me to compile such a one, or translate the work he did into English, many years ago. I am sorry I was not able to bring forth
2、this Pli Primer during his lifetime, but I feel I am discharging a great obligation even at this late stage.I take no credit for the method used in this book as it was thought out by my revered Guru. When I first met him in 1949, I asked him how many cases there are in Pli, as I feared that I would
3、have to memorise declensions as in Latin. He very tactfully said that there are no cases. I was surprised and curious, and requested him to start lessons immediately. Straight away we got down to making sentences which, lesson after lesson, became longer, more interesting and complex. These exercise
4、s were such fun that I thoroughly enjoyed learning Pli. Mr. Berugoda compiled a Pli Grammar in Sinhala called Pli Subodhin, to teach me and it was later published in the early 1950s. It has long been out of print and even I do not possess a copy.In the early 1980s Mr. Berugoda compiled another Pli G
5、rammar in Sinhala which he said was an improvement on Pli Subodhin, and wished me to translate it into English. Though it was translated with the help of Prof. P.B. Meegaskumbura of the Department of Sinhala, I was not satisfied with the arrangement of the lessons. I felt that the improvements he ma
6、de in his enthusiasm were counter-productive, but I did not have the heart to tell him my frank opinion. The book however could not be published for lack of funds. The present work is an entirely new effort based on the same principle of teaching grammar through composition, using a gradually expand
7、ing controlled vocabulary, selected on the basis of types frequently occurring in the language. Cases are introduced one by one using only masculine nouns ending in -a at the beginning, with exercises in sentence formation with present tense, third person, singular and plural verbs whose bases end i
8、n -a. Grammatical forms such as the gerund / absolutive and the infinitive, which are very frequent in the language, are soon introduced to enable the student to form longer and more complex sentences. Once the student has mastered the basic structure, other grammatical and syntactical forms are tau
9、ght one by one, following the principle of introducing forms which bear a similarity / affinity in morphology to those already learnt. Translations from and into Pli form an integral part of each lesson. This book is meant for beginners and gives only an introduction to Pli grammar. It is designed a
10、s a convenient stepping stone to more advanced works such as A.K. Warders Introduction to Pli.I have freely drawn from the vocabulary collected by Ven. A.P. Buddhadatta in The New Pli Course Part I, for which I acknowledge my indebtedness. I place on record my sincere thanks to my University Guru Pr
11、of. N.A. Jayawickrema for going through the first draft of this text with meticulous care and making valuable suggestions.Lily de SilvaDepartment of Pli and Buddhist StudiesUniversity of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.11 December, 1991.CONTENTSThe Alphabet1 Lesson 1 Declension of masculine nouns ending in -a
12、.Nominative case, singular and plural.Present, third, singular and plural verbs.4 Lesson 2 Declension of masculine nouns ending in -a, continued.Accusative case, singular and plural .7 Lesson 3 Declension of masculine nouns ending in -a, continued.Instrumental case, singular and plural.11 Lesson 4 D
13、eclension of masculine nouns ending in -a, continued.Ablative case, singular and plural.15 Lesson 5 Declension of masculine nouns ending in -a, continued.Dative case, singular and plural.19 Lesson 6 Declension of masculine nouns ending in -a, continued.Genitive case, singular and plural.23 Lesson 7
14、Declension of masculine nouns ending in -a, continued.Locative case, singular and plural.27 Lesson 8 Declension of masculine nouns ending in -a, continued.Vocative case, singular and plural.Declension of neuter nouns ending in -a. 32 Lesson 9 The Gerund / Absolutive.37 Lesson 10 The Infinitive. 41 L
15、esson 11 The present participle, masculine and neuter genders.46 Lesson 12 Conjugation of Verbs - Present Tense, Active Voice.49 Lesson 13 Conjugation of Verbs - Present Tense, Active Voice, continued.55 Lesson 14 The Further Tense.59 Lesson 15 The Optative / Potential Mood.63 Lesson 16 The Imperati
16、ve Mood. 66 Lesson 17 The Past Tense.70 Lesson 18 Declension of feminine nouns ending in -.73 Lesson 19 The Past Participle.79 Lesson 20 Declension of feminine nouns ending in -i and 2.82 Lesson 21 The Present Participle, feminine gender.87 Lesson 22 The Future Passive Participle.90 Lesson 23 The Ca
17、usative.93 Lesson 24 Declension of feminine nouns ending in -u.96 Lesson 25 Declension of masculine nouns ending in -i.101 Lesson 26 Declension of masculine nouns ending in -2.104 Lesson 27 Declension of masculine nouns ending in -u and -3.107 Lesson 28 Declension of agent nouns and nouns indicating
18、 relationships.111 Lesson 29 Declension of neuter nouns ending in -i and -u.115 Lesson 30 Declension of adjectives ending in -vantu and -mantu.119 Lesson 31 Declension of personal pronouns.123 Lesson 32 Declension of personal pronouns, relative, demonstrative and interrogative.131 List of Pli Verbs1
19、37 Pli Vocabulary (other than verbs)145 Glossary (English - Pli)Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samm-Sambuddhassa.Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, The Fully Self-enlightened One.PLI PRIMERThe Alphabet:Pli is not known to have a special script of its own. In countries where Pli is studied, the
20、 scripts used in those countries are used to write Pli: in India the Ngari, in Sri Lanka the Sinhalese, in Burma the Burmese and in Thailand the Kamboja script. The Pali Text Society, London, uses the Roman script and now it has gained international currency.The Pli alphabet consists of 41 letters,
21、8 vowels and 33 consonants.Vowelsa, , i, , u, , e, oConsonantsGutturals k kh g gh lPalatals c ch j jh Cerebrals t th d dh nDentals t th d dh nLabialsp ph b bh mMiscellaneous y, r, l, v, s, h, l, mThe vowels a, i, u are short; , , are long; e, o are of middle length. They are pronounced short before
22、double consonants, e.g. mett, khetta, kottha, sotthi; and long before single consonants, e.g. deva, sen, loka, odana.Pronunciationa is pronounced like u in cut “ “ “ a in fatheri “ “ “ i in mill “ “ “ ee in beeu “ “ “ u in put “ “ “ oo in coolk “ “ “ k in kiteg “ “ “ g in good “ “ “ ng in singerc “
23、“ “ ch in churchj “ “ “ j in jam “ “ “ gn in signort “ “ “ t in hatd “ “ “ d in goodn “ “ “ n in nowt is pronounced like th in thumbd “ “ “ th in theyn “ “ “ n in nowp “ “ “ p in putb “ “ “ b in butm “ “ “ m in mindy “ “ “ y in yesr “ “ “ r in rightl “ “ “ l in lightv “ “ “ v in vines “ “ “ s in sin
24、gh “ “ “ h in hotl “ “ “ l in lightm “ “ “ ng in singkh, gh, ch, jh, th, dh, th, dh, ph, bh are aspirate consonants which have to be pronounced with an audible breath.Lesson 11. VocabularyMasculine nouns ending in -aBuddha / Tathgata / Sugata - the Buddhamanussa - man, humanbeingnara / purisa - man,
25、 personkassaka - farmerbrhmana - brahminputta - sonmtula - unclekumra - boyvnija - merchantbhpla - kingsahya / sahyaka / mitta - friendVerbsbhsati- speakspacati - cookskasati - ploughsbhujati - eatssayati - sleepspassati - seeschindati - cutsgacchati - goesgacchati - comesdhvati- runs2. Declension o
26、f masculine nouns ending in -aNominative case: The case ending -o is added to the nominal base to form the nominative case singular number. The case ending - is added to the nominal base to form the nominative case plural number. A noun thus inflected is used as the subject of a sentence.Singular1.
27、nara + o = naro2. mtula + o = mtulo3. kassaka + o = kassakoPluralnara + = narmtula + = mtulkassaka + = kassak3. In the verbs listed above bhsa, paca, kasa etc. are verbal bases and -ti is the present tense, third person, singular termination.The present tense, third person, plural is formed by addin
28、g the termination -nti to the base.Singularbhsati- He speakspacati - He cookskasati - He ploughsPluralbhsanti - They speakpacanti- They cookkasanti - They plough4. Examples in sentence formationSingular1. Naro bhsati - The man speaks.2. Mtulo pacati - The uncle cooks.3. Kassako kasati - The farmer p
29、loughs.Plural1. Nar bhsanti - Men speak.2. Mtul pacanti - Uncles cook.3. Kassak kasanti - Farmers plough.Exercise 1Translate into English1. Bhplo bhujati.2. Putt sayanti.3. Vnij sayanti.4. Buddho passati.5. Kumro dhvati.6. Mtulo kasati.7. Brhman bhsanti.8. Mitt gacchanti.9. Kassak pacanti.10. Manuss
30、o chindati.11. Puris dhvanti.12. Sahyako bhujati.13. Tathgato bhsati.14. Naro pacati.15. Sahy kasanti.16. Sugato gacchati.6. Translate into Pli1. Sons run.2. The uncle sees.3. The Buddha comes.4. Boys eat.5. Merchants go.6. The man sleeps.7. Kings go.8. The brahmin cuts.9. Friends speak.10. The farm
31、er ploughs.11. The merchant comes.12. Sons cut.13. Uncles speak.14. The boy runs.15. The friend speaks.16. The Buddha sees.Lesson 21. VocabularyMasculine nouns ending in -adhamma - the doctrine, truthbhatta - riceodana - cooked ricegma - villagesuriya - suncanda - moonkukkura/sunakha/sona - dogvihra
32、 - monasterypatta - bowlvta - pitpabbata - mountainycaka- beggarsigla - jackalrukkha - treeVerbsharati - carries, takesawayharati - bringsruhati- climbs,ascendsoruhati- descendsycati - begskhanati- digsvijjhati - shootspaharati - hits, strikesrakkhati - protectsvandati- worships,salutes2. Declension
33、 of masculine nouns ending in -a (contd.)Accusative case - The case ending -m is added to the nominal base to form the accusative singular number. The case ending -e is added to the nominal base to form the accusative case plural number. A noun thus inflected is used as the object of a sentence. The
34、 goal of motion is also expressed by the accusative case.Singular1. nara + m = naram2. mtula + m = mtulam3. kassaka + m = kassakamPluralnara + e = naremtula + e = mtulekassaka + e = kassake3. Examples in sentence formationSingular1. Putto naram passati - The son sees the man.2. Brhmano mtulam rakkha
35、ti -The brahmin protects the uncle.3. Vnijo kassakam paharati - The merchant hits the farmer.Plural1. Putt nare passanti - Sons see men.2. Brhman mtule rakkhanti - Brahmins protect uncles.3. Vnij kassake paharanti - Merchants hit farmers.Exercise 24. Translate into English1. Tathgato dhammam bhsati.
36、2. Brhman odanam bhujanti.3. Manusso suriyam passati.4. Kumr sigle paharanti.5. Ycak bhatta ycanti.6. Kassak ve khaanti.7. Mitto gma gacchati.8. Bhplo manusse rakkhati.9. Putt pabbata gacchanti.10. Kumro Buddha vandati.11. Vij patte haranti.12. Puriso vihra gacchati.13. Kukkur pabbata dhvanti.14. Si
37、gl gma gacchanti.15. Brhma sahyake haranti.16. Bhpl sugata vandanti.17. Ycak sayanti.18. Mitt sunakhe haranti.19. Putto canda passati.20. Kassako gma dhvati.21. Vij rukkhe chindanti.22. Naro sigla vijjhati.23. Kumro odana bhujati.24. Ycako soa paharati.25. Sahyak pabbate ruhanti.5. Translate into Pl
38、i1. Men go to the monastery.2. Farmers climb mountains.3. The brahmin eats rice.4. The Buddha sees the boys.5. Uncles take away bowls.6. The son protects the dog.7. The king worships the Buddha.8. The merchant brings a boy.9. Friends salute the brahmin.10. Beggars beg rice.11. Merchants shoot jackal
39、s.12. Boys climb the mountain.13. The farmer runs to the village.14. The merchant cooks rice.15. Sons worship the uncle.16. Kings protect men.17. The Buddha comes to the monastery.18. The men descend.19. Farmers dig pits.20. The merchant runs.21. The dog sees the moon.22. Boys climb trees.23. The br
40、ahmin brings the bowl.24. The beggar sleeps.25. The king sees the Buddha.Lesson 31. VocabularyMasculine nouns ending in -aratha - vehicle, chariotsakaa - carthattha - handpda - footmagga - pathdpa - island, lampsvaka - disciplesamaa - recluse, monksagga - heavenassa - horsemiga - deersara - arrowpsa
41、 - rock, stonekakaca - sawkhagga- swordcora - thiefpaita- wise man2. Declension of masculine nouns ending in -a (contd.)Instrumental case - The case ending -ena is added to the nominal base to form the instrumental singular. The case ending -ehi is added to form the instrumental plural; -ebhi is ano
42、ther archaic case ending that is sometimes added. A noun thus inflected expresses the idea by, with or through.Singularnara + ena = narena (by means of the man)mtula + ena = mtulena (with the uncle)kassaka + ena = kassakena (through the farmer)Pluralnara + ehi = narehi (narebhi)mtula + ehi = mtulehi
43、 (mtulebhi)kassaka + ehi = kassakehi (kassakebhi)Saddhi / saha meaning with is also used with the instrumental case. They are not normally used with nouns denoting things.3. Examples in sentence formationSingular1. Samao narena saddhi gma gacchati.The monk goes to the village with the man.2. Putto m
44、tulena saha canda passati.The son sees the moon with his uncle.3. Kassako kakacena rukkha chindati.The farmer cuts the tree with a saw.Plural1. Sama narehi saddhi gma gacchanti.Monks go to the village with men.2. Putt mtulehi saha canda passanti.Sons see the moon with uncles.3. Kassak kakacehi rukkh
45、e chindanti.Farmers cut trees with saws.Exercise 34. Translate into English1. Buddho svakehi saddhi vihra gacchati.2. Puriso puttena saha dpa dhvati.3. Kassako sarena sigla vijjhati.4. Brhma mtulena saha pabbata ruhanti.5. Putt pdehi kukkure paharanti.6. Mtulo puttehi saddhi rathena gma gacchati.7.
46、Kumr hatthehi patte haranti.8. Coro maggena assa harati.9. Kassako va oruhati.10. Bhpl paitehi saha samae passanti.11. Paito bhplena saha Tathgata vandati.12. Putt sahyena saddhi odana bhujanti.13. Vijo psena miga paharati.14. Sunakh pdehi ve khaanti.15. Brhmao puttena saha suriya vandati.16. Kassak
47、o soehi saddhi rukkhe rakkhati.17. Sugato svakehi saha vihra gacchati.18. Ycako pattena bhatta harati.19. Pait sagga gacchanti.20. Kumr assehi saddhi gma dhvanti.21. Coro khaggena nara paharati.22. Vijo sakaena dpe harati.23. Ass maggena dhvanti.24. Sigl migehi saddhi pabbata dhvanti.25. Bhplo paite
48、na saha manusse rakkhati.5. Translate into Pli1. The recluse sees the Buddha with his friend.2. Disciples go to the monastery with the Buddha.3. The horse runs to the mountain with the dogs.4. The boy hits the lamp with a stone.5. Merchants shoot deer with arrows.6. Farmers dig pits with their hands.7. Boys go to the monastery by chariot with their uncle.8. The brahmin cooks rice with his friend.9. The king protects the island with wise men.10. Kings worship monks with their sons.11. Thieves bring horses to the island.12. Disciples climb mountains with me
