Madhuvidya

SR No.: 006525
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: S D Laddu, T N Dharmadhikari, Madhvi Kolhatkar, Pratibha Pingle
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 762
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Philosophy
File Size: 17 MB

Page 318

WESTERN INFLUENCE ON THE MYSORE EDICTS OF ASOKA
13
(5) In Mysore versions we find the retention of the cerebral n as in the west and north-west,25 and not its change to n as in the D, J versions of the Asokan edicts. Thus we have porānā, sāvane, dharmagună etc. The cerebralisation can be seen in the terminations as well. cf. lipikarena, mahāmātānan26 and devānampiya.27 In vasāni, however, we find the dental -n- as is also the case in the north-western terminations (HULTZSCH, p. lxxxv) which have n only in Devanapriye. It may also be noted that n in term. occurs in savenā in the second Jaugada separate edict and is also possible in pālalokikena in the same edict.
(6) As in the standard western Präkrta, the Mysore versions have only the single dental sibilant and in this respect they agree also with the eastern dialect of Asokan inscriptions. cf. vasa (varsa), amisa (amiśra), v susūsa- (V suśrūşa-) etc. But in the Mysore versions s appears for s in three instances. This fact betrays the writer's incomplete knowledge of the distinction between the two sibilants and his consequent attempt at what may be described as hyper. north-westernisation.28 The instances where ś occurs are as follows:
(i) In sd śa (ca] m (satya) appears, while the correct form sacar appears in br and jtr.
(ii) In jtr one ś has been noted in the transcript of HULTZSCH (p. 180, line 19). The jtr version contains some portion more than the corresponding br and sd versions, for which it may be compared with the concluding portion of the Yerragudi version. HULTZSCH reads some of the letters following this palatal sibilant in jtr as sa ...e... [ca] ya ...... A comparison with Yerragudi version (IHQ 13. 134, line 22) will show that this portion in jtr is to be restored to - śa [va] [m] eä (paca) ya (nā] .... If the restora
25. Among the later Kharosthi inscr., the earlier ones also have (and n and n in term.), but the later ones show > n, cf. MEHENDALE $ 510C. With regard to this KONOW observes (pp. ciii-iv), "The impression left by this state of affairs is that intervocalic ni and n had the same sound at least over the greater part of the territory, and that the sound was probably a cerebral." One may not agree with this view; it is possible that the n sound had really begun to appear, as can be seen from the Paisāci tendency to change n to n (PISCHEL 8225). So far as the Niya Prākta is concerned n and n are confused, the tendency being to change the cerebral to the dental (BURROW $ 34). In the Dhammapada, however, n appears quite often anatua < anatma etc. cf. BAILEY BSOS 11.499 ff., Glossary. In terminations, the Niya Praksta has the dentals, while the later Kharoşthi inscriptions show both x and n.
26. In jtr. we have mahāmatāna with the dental -^-. 27. In jtr. line 2, devāna is rather doubtful. In line 20 we have the
28. The north-western inscriptions of Asoka (MEHENDALE $35), the later Kharoşthi inscriptions (MEHENDALE $ 514), and the Niya Prāksta (BURROW 833) maintain the distinction between the three sibilants. For the treatment of the sibilants in the Kälsi version see HULTZSCH p. lxxii,
Madhu Vidya/293