Roots √bhū, √hū and √as
The conjugated forms of the roots √bhū, √hū and √as in the Past Tense indicate the meaning – was / were. Let us study their individual conjugation tables.
Conjugation of √bhū (bhava)
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Third Person | bhavi / abhavi | bhaviṃsu / abhaviṃsu bhavuṃ / abhavuṃ |
| Second Person | bhavi / abhavi bhavo / abhavo |
bhavittha / abhavittha |
| First Person | bhaviṃ / abhaviṃ | bhavimha / abhavimha bhavimhā / abhavimhā |
Please note that √bhū i.e. the verbal base bhava being a-ending verbal base, conjugates like bhasa in the Past Tense.
Conjugation of √hū
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Third Person | ahosi, ahu | ahesuṃ |
| Second Person | ahosi | ahuvattha |
| First Person | ahosiṃ, ahuṃ | ahumha, ahumhā |
Conjugation of √as
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Third Person | āsi | āsuṃ, āsiṃsu |
| Second Person | āsi | āsittha |
| First Person | āsiṃ | āsimha |
As we can see from the above conjugation tables, the conjugated forms of the roots √hū and √as are quite different from those of other verbal bases. We need to pay special attention to these forms as they constitute some of the most commonly occurring verbs in the Suttas.
Let us translate a few simple Pali sentences into English containing conjugated forms of the roots √bhū, √hū and √as.
1. Vejjassa putto amacco abhavi.
abhavi = (PT, third p, s of √bhū – bhavati) = was / became
Translation : The doctor’s son was a minister; OR The doctor’s son became a minister.
Please note :√bhū has two meanings – to be & to become, hence its Past Tense form abhavi can be translated as ‘was’ or ‘became’.
2. Gāmasmiṃ eko vihāro ahosi.
ahosi = (PT, third p, s of √hū – hoti) = was
Translation : There was one monastery in the village. / In the village, there was a (one) monastery.
3. Uyyānamhi pokkharaṇiyaṃ padumāni ahesuṃ.
ahesuṃ = (PT, third p, pl of √hū – hoti) = were
Translation : In the park, there were lotus flowers in a pond.
4. Ācariyassa bhaginī paṇḍitā āsi.
āsi = (PT, third p, s of √as – atthi) = was
Translation : The teacher’s sister was intelligent / wise.
Please note that the word ‘paṇḍita’ is used as an adjective in the above sentence. Hence, it takes up a feminine singular form paṇḍitā, the same as the subject (bhaginī).
5. Buddhassa sāvakā ahumha.
ahumha = (PT, first p, pl of √hu – hoti) = we were
Translation : We were the disciples of the Buddha.
6. Bhūtapubbe ahaṃ gahapati upāsako āsiṃ.
āsiṃ = (PT, first p, s of √as – atthi) = I was
Translation : In the past, I was a householder lay devotee.