BRS 2.5.11

The compound tri-varṣā should be analyzed as follows. According to the rule, tam adhiṣṭo bhṛto bhūto bhāvī (Pāṇini 5.1.80), the suffix ka is used after a word expressing time (eg. varṣikā) in the accusative case to mean “to give instruction for such a period, to be hired for such a period, or to indicate that something has lasted that long or will last that long.” In this case, the meaning is that three years have passed. According to the rule varṣāl luk (Pāṇini 5.1.88) after a dvandva compound with the word varṣa, the suffix na or ka can be dropped. Furthermore, according to the rule cittavati nityam (Pāṇini 5.1.89), the suffix meaning “accomplished” or “in the past” (the suffix ka, as in varṣikā, having passed three years) must be dropped after the word varṣā in a dvandva compound referring to a living entity with reasoning power. Therefore, tri-varṣikā bālikā becomes tri-varṣā bālikā. This means a girl child who has already passed three years of age. Another version of the verse has tri-vārṣikī bālikeyam. According to the rule kālāṭh ṭhaṣ (Pāṇini 4.3.11), the suffix ka is added after a word denoting time. To avoid the rule 5.1.88 (ka must be dropped if the word indicates the past tense), if ka remains, it must refer to the future. This indicates a girl is about to become three years old, in the state of three years which have not yet finished. By the rule uttara-padasya (Pāṇini 7.3.9), the first vowel of the second member of a compound becomes vṛddhi (tri-vārṣikī instead of tri-varsīkī). In other words, it means “the child, not even three years old, can run after Kṛṣṇa.” According to the rule tatra bhavaḥ (Pāṇini 4.3.3), ka can be added to a word to indicate “existence” after a word in the locative case. Thus the meaning is “someone existing in three years.” Another form tri-varṣīyā is rejected. Varṣīyasi means “O old woman!”