Sanskrit Vibhakti & Karak — All 7 Cases Explained
विभक्ति (Vibhakti) — from vi (apart, distinct) + bhaj (to distribute, √bhaj): the distribution of meaning. Sanskrit nouns change their ending (suffix) depending on the role they play in the sentence. These endings are vibhaktis. Unlike English which uses word order, Sanskrit encodes grammatical role directly in the word — meaning the word order can change freely without changing the sentence meaning.
1st — Prathamā (प्रथमा)
Kartā Kārak (कर्ता कारक) — The Doer
The subject of the sentence — the person or thing performing the action.
रामः गच्छति।
Rāmaḥ gacchati.
Rāma goes.
Rāma is the doer → Prathamā (Rāmaḥ, -aḥ ending)
Masculine
-aḥ / -au / -āḥ
Feminine
-ā / -e / -āḥ
Neuter
-am / -e / -āni
Exam Tip
When the sentence has a verb, the subject is always prathamā. Find the verb, ask "who does this?" — that noun is in prathamā.
2nd — Dvitīyā (द्वितीया)
Karma Kārak (कर्म कारक) — The Object
The direct object — what the action is being done to or toward.
रामः फलम् खादति।
Rāmaḥ phalam khādati.
Rāma eats the fruit.
The fruit is being eaten (direct object) → Dvitīyā (phalam, -am ending)
Masculine
-am / -au / -ān
Feminine
-ām / -e / -āḥ
Neuter
-am / -e / -āni
Exam Tip
Ask: what is the verb happening TO? That noun gets dvitīyā. "Rāma reads the book" — the book is dvitīyā.
3rd — Tṛtīyā (तृतीया)
Karaṇa Kārak (करण कारक) — The Instrument
The instrument or means by which the action is performed.
सः लेखन्या लिखति।
Saḥ lekhanayā likhati.
He writes with a pen.
The pen is the instrument → Tṛtīyā (lekhanayā, -ayā ending)
Masculine
-ena / -ābhyām / -aiḥ
Feminine
-ayā / -ābhyām / -ābhiḥ
Neuter
-ena / -ābhyām / -aiḥ
Exam Tip
Look for "by, with, through" in the English translation — that noun is tṛtīyā. Namaste = namas + te: "honour to you" — te is actually here tṛtīyā of the 2nd person.
4th — Caturthī (चतुर्थी)
Sampradāna Kārak (सम्प्रदान कारक) — The Recipient
The indirect object — who receives the benefit of the action.
माता बालकाय दुग्धं ददाति।
Mātā bālakāya dugdhaṃ dadāti.
The mother gives milk to the child.
The child receives → Caturthī (bālakāya, -āya ending)
Masculine
-āya / -ābhyām / -ebhyaḥ
Feminine
-āyai / -ābhyām / -ābhyaḥ
Neuter
-āya / -ābhyām / -ebhyaḥ
Exam Tip
Namāmi Gaṅgāyai — "I bow to Gaṅgā" — Gaṅgāyai is caturthī (she receives the bow). Any "namaḥ" or "for the purpose of" uses caturthī.
5th — Pañcamī (पञ्चमी)
Apādāna Kārak (अपादान कारक) — The Source / Separation
The point of separation, source, or origin of the action.
वृक्षात् पत्रं पतति।
Vṛkṣāt patraṃ patati.
The leaf falls from the tree.
The tree is the source of separation → Pañcamī (vṛkṣāt, -āt ending)
Masculine
-āt / -ābhyām / -ebhyaḥ
Feminine
-āyāḥ / -ābhyām / -ābhyaḥ
Neuter
-āt / -ābhyām / -ebhyaḥ
Exam Tip
Whenever you see "from" in the translation — falling from, coming from, learning from — that noun is pañcamī. Guru + pañcamī = learning FROM the teacher.
6th — Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी)
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — Relationship / Possession
Possession, belonging, relationship between two nouns.
रामस्य पुस्तकम्।
Rāmasya pustakam.
Rāma's book.
The book belongs to Rāma → Ṣaṣṭhī (Rāmasya, -asya ending)
Masculine
-asya / -ayoḥ / -ānām
Feminine
-āyāḥ / -ayoḥ / -ānām
Neuter
-asya / -ayoḥ / -ānām
Exam Tip
The most commonly tested vibhakti in CBSE papers. Whenever you see "of" or apostrophe-s in English, the Sanskrit noun takes ṣaṣṭhī. Bhārata + ṣaṣṭhī = Bhāratasya = of India.
7th — Saptamī (सप्तमी)
Adhikaraṇa Kārak (अधिकरण कारक) — The Location
The location or container where the action takes place.
बालकः विद्यालये पठति।
Bālakaḥ vidyālaye paṭhati.
The child studies in school.
School is the location → Saptamī (vidyālaye, -e ending)
Masculine
-e / -ayoḥ / -eṣu
Feminine
-āyām / -ayoḥ / -āsu
Neuter
-e / -ayoḥ / -eṣu
Exam Tip
"In, on, at, within" → saptamī. Gṛhe (घरे) = at home. Vane (वने) = in the forest. Hṛdaye (हृदये) = in the heart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 7 vibhaktis in Sanskrit?
The seven Sanskrit vibhaktis are: (1) Prathamā — the subject/doer; (2) Dvitīyā — the direct object; (3) Tṛtīyā — the instrument/means; (4) Caturthī — the recipient/for whom; (5) Pañcamī — the source/separation (from); (6) Ṣaṣṭhī — possession/relationship (of); (7) Saptamī — location (in/on/at). Sanskrit traditionally also counts Sambodha (the vocative/calling case) as a sub-form of Prathamā, giving 8 forms in some traditions.
What is the difference between Vibhakti and Karak in Sanskrit?
Kārak (कारक) is the grammatical role a noun plays in a sentence — the agent, object, instrument, etc. Vibhakti (विभक्ति) is the suffix (pratyaya) added to the noun to show that role. Kārak is the meaning; vibhakti is the form. There are 8 kārakas but only 7 vibhaktis — because the sixth vibhakti (ṣaṣṭhī) does not have its own kārak; it marks sambandha (relationship), which is not a direct action role.
How do I score full marks in CBSE Sanskrit vibhakti questions?
Three steps: (1) Identify the verb and ask the right question for each noun: who (1st), what/whom (2nd), by what (3rd), for whom (4th), from where (5th), whose (6th), where (7th). (2) Apply the correct ending suffix for the gender (m/f/n) and number (singular/dual/plural). (3) In fill-in-the-blank questions, always check the sentence for preposition clues: "by" = tṛtīyā, "for" = caturthī, "from" = pañcamī, "of" = ṣaṣṭhī, "in" = saptamī.
ॐ
Learn Sanskrit grammar so it actually makes sense
VedaLingo teaches you to think in Sanskrit — not just memorise rules. Free for all students.