Question about verb वद्

[Harry Spier]

Dear list members,

Several introductory grammars and Monier-Williams dictionary say the verb वद् can take the accusative of the thing said.  I'm confused by this.  Isn't the thing said normally a phrase and when in a sentence with the verb वद्  expressed as a phrase ending in इति.

Can someone give me an example of a sentence with वद् where the thing said is in the accusative.

Thanks,

Harry Spier

[HONGANOUR KRISHNA]

You're absolutely right to notice the tension between the grammatical rule and typical usage. The verb वद् ("to speak, say") in Sanskrit often takes a phrase ending in इति to mark the thing said. This is the standard way to quote speech or thought. However, grammatically, वद् is also allowed to take the accusative of the thing said—especially when the utterance is a noun or pronoun, not a full phrase.

Why accusative works with वद्

In Sanskrit, verbs of saying (like वद्) can take:

• Accusative for a noun or pronoun being said.

• इति for a quoted phrase or sentence.

This is similar to English:

• “He said a lie.” → accusative noun

• “He said, ‘I am innocent.’” → quoted phrase

Example with accusative object

Here’s a simple sentence using वद् with an accusative noun:

सत्यं वदति।

He speaks the truth.

• सत्यं is accusative singular of सत्य ("truth").

• वदति is 3rd person singular present of वद्.

This is grammatically correct and idiomatic. The thing said—truth—is a noun, so accusative is natural here.

Another example:

एषः धर्मं वदति।

This person speaks dharma.

Again, धर्मं is accusative, and the verb वदति takes it directly.

Contrast with इति construction:

सः ‘धर्मः सर्वोत्तमः’ इति वदति।

He says, “Dharma is supreme.”

Here, the entire phrase is quoted, so इति is used.

 

Scriptural-style example with वद् + accusative:

कृष्णः धर्मं वदति।

Krishna speaks dharma.

• धर्मं is accusative singular.

• वदति is 3rd person singular present of वद्.

• This structure is common in epic narration when the thing said is a concept or noun.

Thank you,

HONGANOUR S KRISHNA

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[Harry Spier]

Thank you, very clear.

Harry Spier

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