Cases as Meaning Roles
Begin with meaning, not table memorisation.
| Case | Sanskrit name | Core meaning | Quick example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | प्रथमा | who/what does or is | रामः गच्छति — Rāma goes |
| Accusative | द्वितीया | whom/what; destination | वनं गच्छति — goes to the forest |
| Instrumental | तृतीया | with/by/through | ज्ञानेन — through knowledge |
| Dative | चतुर्थी | to/for | रामाय — to/for Rāma |
| Ablative | पञ्चमी | from/because of | ग्रामात् — from the village |
| Genitive | षष्ठी | of | रामस्य — of Rāma |
| Locative | सप्तमी | in/on/at | वने — in the forest |
| Vocative | सम्बोधन | address | हे राम — O Rāma |
Reading Habit
Ask: What role does this word play in the sentence?