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Awadhi Grammar Rule: The Short "-i" (ि)

1. The Short "-i" Suffix​

In classical Awadhi, grammatical structures are often more compact compared to modern Hindi. A very common feature you will encounter when reading texts like the Ramcharitmanas is the use of the short "-i" (ि) suffix added to verbs.

When we want to show a sequence of actions—meaning someone completes one action and then moves on to do another—we use a specific grammatical construction known colloquially as the conjunctive participle (or "absolutive").

In classical Awadhi, you do not need to append the word "kar" (कर) like you do in modern Hindi. Instead, the language achieves the same meaning simply by adding a short '-i' (ि) matra directly to the root of the verb.

Formula:​

Root Verb + ि (short i) = "Having done [Verb]"

2. Rhythm and Flow in Poetry​

This compact form of the verb serves multiple purposes in Awadhi poetry:

  1. Rhythm and Meter: It allows poets like Tulsidas to maintain the strict meter (chhand) of the chaupais and dohas. Adding "kar" would often ruin the syllable count.
  2. Flow: It creates a smooth, continuous flow of action within a single line of poetry, allowing multiple events to be linked together gracefully.

Whenever you see a verb ending with this short "i" suffix, ask yourself if the sentence implies a sequence of actions. Usually, it's the classical equivalent of modern Hindi's "kar".

3. Comparison with Hindi​

In modern Hindi, to express "having done X" or "after doing X", we take the root verb and add कर (kar) or करके (karke) at the end.

  • पढ़ (padh - read) + कर = पढ़कर (padhkar) meaning "having read" or "after reading".
  • सुन (sun - listen) + कर = सुनकर (sunkar) meaning "having listened" or "after listening".
  • धर (dhar - to hold/assume) + कर = धरकर (dharkar) meaning "after assuming" or "having held".

4. Examples from the Manas​

As we encounter new words in the Manas that follow this rule, we will catalog them here:

  • धर् (Dhar - to hold/assume) + इ = धरि (Dhari) → "Having assumed" or "After assuming".
  • सुन् (Sun - to hear) + इ = सुनि (Suni) → "Having heard" or "After hearing".
  • देख् (Dekh - to see) + इ = देखि (Dekhi) → "Having seen" or "After seeing".