The imperative mood expresses a command, benediction, prayer or wish.

It should be observed that the second person plural and first person singular and plural have the same forms as in the present tense.

The prohibitive particle mā is also used with the imperative.

Singular:

1. So vāṇijānaṃ bhattaṃ pacatu.
Let him cook rice for the merchants.

2. Tvaṃ rathena nagaraṃ gaccha / gacchāhi.
You go to the city in the vehicle.

3. Ahaṃ dhammaṃ uggaṇhāmi.
Let me learn the dhamma.

Plural:

1. Te vāṇijānaṃ bhattaṃ pacantu.
Let them cook rice for the merchants.

2. Tumhe rathena nagaraṃ gacchatha.
You go to the city in the vehicle.

3. Mayaṃ dhammaṃ uggaṇhāma.
Let us learn the dhamma.

The prohibitive particle mā

1. Mā tumhe saccaṃ parivajjetha.
You do not avoid the truth.

2. Mā te uyyānamhi pupphāni ocinantu.
Let them not pick flowers in the park.

1. Bhūpālā dhammena dīpaṃ pālentu.
2. Mā manusso bhāyatu, sace so saccaṃ jānāti, bhāsatu.
3. Tumhe pāpaṃ karonte putte ovadatha.
4. Sugato dhammaṃ desetu, sāvakā ca upāsakā ca vihārasmiṃ nisīdanti.
5. Mā te pāpakammāni katvā manussalokamhā cavitvā narake (in purgatory) uppajjantu.
6. Mā corā kassakānaṃ goṇe mārentu.
7. Mā tvaṃ sunakhaṃ āmasāhi, so taṃ (you) ḍaseyya.
8. Tumhe dīpe jāletvā vihārasmiṃ rūpāni oloketha.
9. Tumhe asappurise āmantetvā dhammena jīvituṃ anusāsatha.
10. Putta, mā tvaṃ pāpamitte upasaṅkama.
11. Sace tumhe saccam bhāsituṃ ussaheyyātha, tumhe sappurisā bhaveyyātha.
12. Sace tvaṃ pāsāṇe khipeyyāsi, kākā ca sakuṇā ca ākāsaṃ uppateyyuṃ.
13. Mā dāraka pānīyaṃ pivitvā pattaṃ bhinda.
14. Mā suvaṇṇaṃ coretvā gacchantā corā samuddaṃ tarantu.
15. Upāsaka, mā putte akkosāhi, samaṇehi saddhiṃ mantetvā putte anusāsāhi.

1. May the king ruling the island protect the people righteously.
2. Let the children playing in the park collect falling leaves.
3. Let the farmers and merchants assemble in the king's park.
4. Let the sons climb the mountain to see lions, deer and birds.
5. Do not cut trees in forests if you wish to protect deer.
6. Let the child not come down the stairway, he will fall.
7. Let the farmer plough the fields and sow seeds, let him not kill goats.
8. Let the parrots fly taking fruits with their beaks.
9. Sons, do not commit sins, live righteously.
10. May the disciples of the Buddha get alms and robes.
11. Let the children come out of the house and see the moon rising from the mountain.
12. Boys, do not go and kill deer in the forest with the hunter.
13. You (pl.) run home and bring water for the farmers ploughing the field.
14. Do not ask questions from the king's messenger.
15. You lay devotees should try to avoid evil and do good deeds.