Declension of ā-ending Feminine Nouns

Let us study the declension table of ‘vanitā’, an ā-ending feminine noun.

‘a’- ending Feminine Noun: vanitā
vanitā = woman

Case	Singular	Plural
*Paṭhamā* (Nominative)	vanitā	vanitā, vanitāyo
*Dutiyā* (Accusative)	vanitaṃ	vanitā, vanitāyo
*Tatiyā* (Instrumental)	vanitāya	vanitāhi, vanitābhi
*Catutthī* (Dative)	vanitāya	vanitānaṃ
*Pañcamī* (Ablative)	vanitāya	vanitāhi, vanitābhi
*Chaṭṭhī* (Genitive)	vanitāya	vanitānaṃ
*Sattamī* (Locative)	vanitāya, vanitāyaṃ	vanitāsu
*Ālapana* (Vocative)	vanite	vanitā, vanitāyo

Some important points to note with respect to the declension of ā-ending feminine nouns :

Both nominative singular and plural have a common declined form (vanitā)
Nominative, accusative and vocative plural forms have a termination ‘yo’ (This termination is also found in most of the other feminine nouns)
On the plural side of the declension table, we have terminations like ‘āhi/ābhi’ (instrumental & ablative) and ‘āsu’ (locative) as against ‘ehi/ebhi’ and ‘esu’ in case of masculine and neuter nouns.
The singular form ending in ‘āya’ is common to instrumental, dative, ablative, genitive and locative cases.

Please note that the above observations are noted as they help in memorisation of declension tables and help us in comparing declension of various nouns. It is not essential to memorise these rules and the declension tables of all the nouns. We can understand the Pali suttas and translate them by referring to the declension tables and dictionaries.