siNx> = s< i hta

When two sounds/letters come together extremely close i.e. without any gap while enunciation. This situation is
called s<ihta or siNx> .
During the siNx> situation, certain euphoric changes take place and the rules representing these changes are
called siNx> rules.

dI"R siNx>
dI"R siNx> When two similar vowels – long or short, come together, the preceding and the following are together
replaced by a single long similar vowel
A or Aa + A or Aa → Aa ⇒ iv*a + Aaly> → iv*aly>
# or $ + # or $ → $ ⇒ Aix + $z> → AxIz>
% or ^ + % or ^ → ^ ⇒ Éanu + %dy> → ÉanUdy>
\ or § + \ or § → § ⇒ ipt& + \[m! → ipt¨[m!
Note -
 When ‘A’ of one ‘maÇa’ and ‘Aa’ of two maÇa come together, the replacement is dI"R i.e. two maÇa NEVER
three maÇa,
 dI"R siNx applies only for simple vowels i.e. A, Aa, #, $, %, ^, \,

Exception
When short ‘A’, not at the end of a pdm! , is followed by a gu[ letter, then the preceding and the following are
together replaced by the following letter. Sūtra - Atae gu[e 6.1.97.
e.g. Év + AiNt → ÉviNt .

gu[ siNx>
gu[ is the name Panini gives to the three vowels – A, @, Aae. This is just a name given, perhaps it is a name which
comes in the tradition. The name is given so that these letters can be referred to, in the sutras by the name. [Ade'œ
gu[> 1.1.2 ]
gu[ siNx> When A or Aa are followed by #, $, %, ^, \, §, ¤ the preceding and the following are together
replaced by a gu[ letter i.e. A or @ or Aae . e.g. sur + $z> ⇒ surez> .
Here the A is followed by $. By the gu[ siNx rule the A and $ should be replaced by a single gu[ letter (A, @ ,
Aae). We have to choose the one that would be the closest match. If we analyze the criteria of closeness, in order
of importance, they are –
 Swanm! or AaSym! = point of articulation
 Aa_yNtr-àyÆm! = internal effort
 baý-àyÆm! = external effort
 Any other
In the example – sur + $z> → surez>
for ‘A’ – k{Q is the Swanm! And for ‘$’ – talu is the Swanm!. Therefore, the perfect match would be the
gu[ letter ‘@’ which is k{Qtalu. Thus we have - sur + $z> → surez>.

In the situation of –
1. A or Aa + \ or § And A or Aa + ¤ when the preceding or the following have to be replaced by a gu[ letter as
though there is a poor match, then we can choose only A. But when \ , § & ¤ are analyzed, it is observed that
these are different from other vowels by having a (small) ‘r!’, ‘r!’ or ‘l!’ components, respectively, added to the
component ‘V’ which is k{Q(. Then the A which is a k{Q( is the match. But because the consonant component
cannot be ignored, Panini writes a special sutra (%r[! rpr>,1.1.51 ) and makes the gu[ replacement of \ & § as
‘Ar!’ and of ‘¤’ as ‘Al!’.

A or Aa + # or $ → @  %p + #NÔ> → %peNÔ>
A or Aa + % or ^ → Aae  sUyR + %dy> → sUyaeRdy>
A or Aa + \ or § → Ar!  ¢I:m + \tu> → ¢I:mtu>R
A or Aa + ¤ → Al!  tv + ¤v[R> → tvLv[R>

v&iÏ siNx>
v&iÏ siNx> When A or Aa is followed by a @ , Aae, @e or AaE then the preceding and the following vowels will be
together replaced by a single v&iÏ letter.
v&iÏ s<}a (s<}a = definition) the letters Aa , @e and AaE are called v&iÏ letters (v&iÏ radEc! 1.1.2). in the situation of v&iÏ
siNx for eg. k«:[ + @kTvm! = k«:[EkTvm! . Here A is k{Qy, @ is k{Qtalu.
Therefore @e which is a k{Qtalu is the best match.
e.g. g¼a + @eñyRm! = g¼EñyRm! .
jl + Aaex> = jlaEx>. (Flow of water)
k«:[ + AaETsuKym! = k«:[aEsuKym!. (Curiosity about Krishna)
A or Aa + @ or @e → @e ⇒ k«:[ + @kTvm! → k«:[EkTvm!
A or Aa + @ or @e → @e ⇒ Éaeg + @eñyRm! → ÉaegEñyRm!
A or Aa + Aae or AaE → AaE ⇒ Év + AaE;xm! → ÉvaE;xm!
A or Aa + Aae or AaE → AaE ⇒ tv + AaEÚTym! → tvaEÚTym!

y[! siNx>
y[! siNx> When #, $, %, ^, \ or §, (long or short), is followed by a dissimilar vowel, then the replacements are
as follows -
that
# or $ + any dissimilar vowel → y! + ⇒ #it + Aip → #Tyip
vowel
that
% or ^ + any dissimilar vowel → v! + ⇒ nnu + @v → nNvev
vowel
 that
\ or § + any dissimilar vowel → r! + ⇒ ipt& + Aa}a → ipÇa}a
vowel
that
¤ + any dissimilar vowel → l! + ⇒ ¤ Aak«it> → lak«it>
vowel
Here -
# or $ is replaced by y!
% or ^ is replaced by v!
\ or § is replaced by r!
¤ is replaced by l!

Ayav siNx>
Ayav siNx> is so called because Ay! , Av! , Aay! and Aav! are the replacements. When @, Aae, @e, AaE are followed by
any vowels i.e. –
@ is replaced by Ay!
Aae is replaced by Av!
@e is replaced by Aay!
AaE is replaced by Aav!

@ + any vowel ⇒ Ay! eg nI + Ait → ny + Ait → nyit

Aae + any vowel ⇒ Av! eg ÉU + Ait → Éae + Ait → Évit
@e + any vowel ⇒ Aay! eg nI + Ak → nE + Ak → nayk
AaE + any vowel ⇒ Aav! eg pU + Ak → paE + Ak → pavk
Exception #1
When @ or Aae at the end of a pdm! is followed by a A, then the preceding and the following are replaced by the
preceding and the A, in effect is dropped and represented by the symbol ‘=’ – called Av¢h.
e.g. munye + AÚm! = munye=Úm!. izvae + Ahm! = izvaee=hm! .
Exception #2 (Extension to the Ayav siNx)
When y! or v! is followed by any vowel or a semi-vowel or a nasal or a h! or a soft consonant (i.e.by an Az! letter)
then the y! or v! is dropped, optionally (opinion of AacayaR zakLy). Sutra laep> zakLySy 8.3.19.
e.g. tSmE + AyCDt!! (he gave) ⇒ tSmay! + AyCDt!!

⇒ tSmayyCDt! or tSma AyCDt!. (both are correct)

Note: Any siNx does not apply to the later as per the Sutra pUvRÇ-AisÏm! 8.2.1.