12G G. A. Grierson —Essays on Bihdri Declension. [No. 2, 
Baiswari of 
Ramayan. 
North 
Maithili. 
Other Bihari 
dialects. 
Nom. 
tff, 
Ace. 
f 
l tYfft, 
( ttf ft, 
( tlfft, 
Wanting 
Instr. 
f* 
(tffft, srif ft, 
r* r, 
ttf''* 
Dat. 
tffft, 
Wanting 
Abl. 
j 
l sftf §, 
Wanting 
Gen. 
f ttfft, 
l (ffW, 5jrg), 
' (g% 
Wanting 
Boc. 
r 
j f?, 'EfFfft, 
j tffft, ft, 
ttt. 
Note as to Plural. The above is the singular declension. In the 
Ramayan the terminations in f? are used in a plural sense; thus, 
‘ there is no difference between things possessing 
qualities, and those without them,’ Bam. Bd. ch. 123, 1: native pandits, 
indeed, maintain that the termination is properly only used in the 
plural, and that when used in the singular, it is always in an honorific sense. 
This theory is generally borne out so far as my experience goes, and hence it 
will be convenient to assume that in the Ramayan the terminations f%, 
and ^ are singular, and the termination ft plural. 
In Maithili, the termination ft and H are used equally in a singular 
and in a plural sense. An example of the plural usage of ft will be found 
in the example given for the Locative. . 
The termination ^ of the Instrumental is used only in the singular of 
nouns. Of Pronouns the case is different, vide post. Maithili nouns always 
form their plural periphrastically by adding a noun of multitude, which is 
