Lesson 24

The Infinitive (Purpose Form)

In Pāli, the infinitive expresses the intention or purpose of an action, often translated into English as “to do something.” It is frequently used after verbs of desire (icchati), ability (sakkā hoti, pahoti), or motion (gacchati, pabbajati), and ends in -tuṃ (occasionally in -ituṃ or -ātuṃ, depending on the root).

Let’s look at a common structure:
Icchāmi dānañca dātuṃ, dhammañca sotuṃ, bhikkhū ca passituṃ.
This sentence means “I wish to give alms, to hear the Dhamma, and to see the monks.” The infinitives here are dātuṃ (to give), sotuṃ (to hear), and passituṃ (to see). Notice how -tuṃ is added to the verbal root: dā, su, passi.

You can also see the infinitive in use with expressions of possibility:
Sakkā, tāta Raṭṭhapāla, bhoge ca bhuñjituṃ, puññāni ca kātuṃ.
“My dear Raṭṭhapāla, it is possible to enjoy riches and to do good deeds.” Here we have bhuñjituṃ (to enjoy) and kātuṃ (to do).

Sometimes it’s used in negative statements:
Nayidaṃ sukaraṃ… brahmacariyaṃ carituṃ.
“This is not easy… to live the holy life.” The infinitive carituṃ (to live/practice) follows the idea of difficulty.

In another example of intention, we find:
Icchāmahaṃ, bho, agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajituṃ.
“My friend, I wish to go forth from the household life to homelessness.” Again, pabbajituṃ is the infinitive “to go forth.”

We also find infinitives after expressions of ability or suitability:
Pahoti cāyasmā Mahākaccāno vitthārena atthaṃ vibhajituṃ.
“Venerable Mahākaccāna is capable of explaining the meaning in detail.”
Here, vibhajituṃ (to explain/divide) is the infinitive.

A more elaborate example occurs when discussing sensory experience:
Piṇḍapātiko… bhikkhu labhati… manāpike rūpe passituṃ… sadde sotuṃ… gandhe ghāyituṃ… rase sāyituṃ… phoṭṭhabbe phusituṃ.
“The monk who lives on alms gets to see pleasing sights, hear pleasing sounds, smell pleasing fragrances, taste pleasing flavors, and touch pleasing tactile objects.”
Each infinitive expresses one of the five sense experiences: passituṃ (to see), sotuṃ (to hear), ghāyituṃ (to smell), sāyituṃ (to taste), phusituṃ (to touch).

Finally, we find infinitives in philosophical questions, like in this famous sutta:
Yattha… na jāyati na jīyati… sakkā nu kho so… ñātuṃ vā, daṭṭhuṃ vā, pāpuṇituṃ vā?
“In that place where there is no birth, no aging… is it possible to know, to see, or to reach it?”
This beautifully showcases the infinitive expressing three profound aims: ñātuṃ (to know), daṭṭhuṃ (to see), pāpuṇituṃ (to reach).

Exercise: Using the Infinitive in Pāli