The avyayībhāva

avyayībhāva literally means “uninflected state.” Usually, the first word of an avyayībhāva is an uninflected word and the second word extends or clarifies the first one:

  • यथा + शक्ति → यथाशक्ति
    yathā + śakti → yathāśakti
    according to + power → according to one's power

  • प्रति + पदम् → प्रतिपदम्
    prati + padam → pratipadam
    against, regarding → at every word, for each word

  • यावत् + जीवम् → यावज्जीवम्
    yāvat + jīvam → yāvajjīvam
    as much as + life → throughout one's life