Lesson 14

Future Tense hū and √bhū + "and,or" conjunctions

Dear friends in the Dhamma,

In today’s Pāli lesson, we’re diving into future tense constructions using two important roots: hū (to be, to become) and √bhū (to be, to arise, to become). These forms are very common in canonical texts, especially in prophecies and teachings about karmic outcomes.

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Verb Forms – Future Tense

Let’s look at the future conjugation of both hū (as hessati) and √bhū (as bhavissati):

PersonSingular (hū)Plural (hū)Singular (√bhū)Plural (√bhū)3rd (Paṭhama)hessatihessantibhavissatibhavissanti2nd (Majjhima)hessasihessathabhavissasibhavissatha1st (Uttama)hessāmihessāmabhavissāmibhavissāma

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Sample Sentences

Here are some examples taken or adapted from canonical sources and commentaries:

• Te taṇhāya vasaṃ na gacchissanti.
  They will not go under the sway of craving.

• Divāvihārāya cetiyaṃ upasaṅkamissāma.
  We will approach the shrine for a daytime abiding.

• Akusalaṃ na karissasi, pāpaṃ na sevissasi.
  You will not do unwholesome deeds, nor associate with evil.

• Te dukkhakkhayāya viriyaṃ ārabhissanti.
  They will rouse energy for the ending of suffering.

• So avijjaṃ bhindissati, vijjaṃ uppādessati, nibbānaṃ sacchikarissati.
  He will destroy ignorance, give rise to knowledge, and realize Nibbāna.

• Paṭiccasamuppādaṃ desessāmi.
  I will teach Dependent Origination.

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Prophecies (Sumedhakathā, Buddhavaṃsa Commentary)

• Passatha imaṃ tāpasaṃ, jaṭilaṃ uggatāpanaṃ;
  Aparimeyye ito kappe, Buddho loke bhavissati.
  See this ascetic with matted hair and great austerity; in countless eons, he will become a Buddha in the world.

• Imassa janikā mātā, Māyā nāma bhavissati;
  Pitā Suddhodano nāma, ayaṃ hessati Gotamo.
  His mother will be named Māyā, his father named Suddhodana, and he will be Gotama.

• Kolito Upatisso ca, aggā hessanti sāvakā.
  Kolita and Upatissa will be his foremost disciples.

• Khemā Uppalavaṇṇā ca, aggā hessanti sāvikā.
  Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā will be the chief female disciples.

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Indeclinables You Should Know

• ca = and

• vā = or

Useful when combining nouns or phrases:

• pupphāni ca phalāni ca
  flowers and fruits

• udakaṃ vā khīraṃ vā
  water or milk

• puttā vā kaññāyo vā
  sons or daughters