________________
(
i )
are two numbers, Singular and Plural; three gend. ers' Masculine, Feminine and Neuter; and eight? cases with the same functions as in Sanskrit.
a. Nouns. The order of cases as given by Sanskrit Grammarians is based on siinilarity of forms. On the same principle the order of cases in a Prakrit Grammar should be Nominative, Vocative, Accusative, Dative, Genitive, Instrumental, Locative and Ablative which will be used in these pages when full declension of a noun is given.
For convenience sake the declension of nouns may be treated under the following heads :
(a) Masculine nouns ending in A. (b) Masculine nouns ending in for J. (0) Neuter nouns ending in a for 3. (d) Feminine nouns ending in or 3. (e) Feminine nouns ending in at, &or 5.
(f) Irregular forms. a. da m.'a god Singular
Plural N. ta, at
देवा V. garlaat!
er! 1. The gender of most nouus is fixed. Nouns denoting ani
mate objects and adjoctives chauge their gender according
to certain rules. 2. To say that Prakrits have no Dative case means that they
have lost the direct descendant of the old Indian prototype, its place having been taken by the Genitive form. ArdhaMágadhí, however, retains the old Dative Singular sid. by side with the new one.
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