The affix laṭ (Present Tense) is used after a verb in denoting a past action when the word nanu is in connection with it and an answer is given to the question.,
The anuvritti of the words 'anadyatana' and 'paroksha' does not extend to this sutra. This declares a rule with regard to past time in general. This debars लुङ् (the Aorist tense). As अकार्षीः कटं देवदत्त ? -- ननु करोमि भोः 'Devadatta, did you make the mat? O, yes, I did make it'. अवोचस्तत्र किञ्चिद् देवदत्त,- - ननु ब्रवीमि भोः 'Devadatta, did you speak there anything? O, yes, I did speak'.
Why do we say 'in reply to an interrogation'? Observe नन्वकार्षीन् माणवकः 'certainly, Manavaka did it'.,