Guest guest Report post Posted April 10, 2006 Jai Guru Datta, Hanumanji! Sri GurubhyO namaha! Your inquiry is deeply appreciated. The word 'gurubhyaha' applies to two different 'vibhaktis' (cases) depending on the context. In the DATIVE CASE (indirect object) it answers the question 'to / for-whom / what' and the corresponding verb relates to the 'recipient, beneficiary, or purpose of the action'. For example, 'sadgurubhyah namaha' means salutation to 'sadgurus' (plural, indicating paramaguru, paramEShTHiguru and parAtpara guru, or all those gurus in the guruparampara/lineage). In combination with a consonent following the word, the visarga ending ('ha') , becomes 'bhyO'. Its singular form is 'guravE' ('guravE namaha' means salutation to the one guru). In sanskrit it is 'caturtHI vibhakti' (4th Case). In the ABLATIVE CASE the word 'gurubhyah' answers the question 'from-whom / from-what' and the corresponding verb relates to the place from which the action begins, as also the cause or motivation for the action. In sanskrit it is 'pancamI vibhakti' (5th Case). 'vibhakti' means case. There are seven (7) vibhaktis (pratHamA & saMbOdhana pratHamA, dvitIyA, tRutIya, caturtHI, pancamI, ShaShTHI, and saptamI) or cases (nominative & vocative, accusative, instrumental, dative, ablative, genitive, locative). In sanskrit there are three (3) numbers: EkavacanA (singular), dvivacanA (two), and baHuvacanA (plural). There is NO term in English that is equivalent to the dvivacanA of sanskrit. Given below are the various vibhaktIs/cases (including the saMbOdhana pratHamA, in the 2nd line) in the three applicable number forms (Ekavacana, dvivacanA, baHuvacanA) for the word 'guru'. The entire table constitutes one 'sabdaM'. Title: ukArAntaH (word ending with the vowel 'u') puMliNgaH (masculine gender) 'guruH' sabdaha (the word 'guru'): pratHama: guruhu, gurU, guravaha saMbOdhana pratHamA: hE gurO, hE gurU, hE guravaha dvitIyA: guruM, gurU, gurUn tRutIyA: guruNA, gurubhyAM, gurubhihi caturtHI: guravE, gurubhyAM, gurubhyaha paNcamI: gurOH, gurubhyAM, gurubhyaha ShaShTHI: gurOH, gurvOH, gurUNAM saptamI: gurau, gurvOH, guruShu If one has to enjoy the bhajans and chants it is important to learn the sanskrit vibhaktis (nouns in seven cases for all three genders) and dhatus (verbs in first, second, and third person) for all three numbers (EkavacanA, dvivacanA, baHuvacanA). Pardon me if I have confused you. Coming to the point: 'gurubhyO namaha' means 'salutation to the many gurus'; 'guravE namaha' means 'salutation to the one guru'. 'guravE buddhi sAkShiNE' means to the guru , (to) the absolute consciouness', that is to Lord 'dattAtrEya'. The absolute consciousness is ALWAYS singular, and so you don't say 'gurubhyaH(bhyO) buddhisAkShibhyaH'. In the ablative case context (example): 'gurOhr aMghri padmE' (in the lotus feet of the guru). 'gurOH parataraM nAsti' meaning (there is) none greater than (to) the guru). I understand people often take the meaning of 'sadgurubhyO namaha' as a singular case as well. I am NOT sure if it is OK grammatically. I use the wording 'sadguravE namaha' for singular and 'SrigurubhyOnamaha' for the guruparampara. Scholars like Brahmasri Vamsikrishna Ghanapathi or Brahmasri Kuppa Krishnamurthy Sastry garu are the ones to confirm. Sri Guru Datta!! Regards, Kameswara Upadrashta Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RadhaMukunda 0 Report post Posted October 28, 2008 So bhyo is always plural? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
