Indian Antiquary Vol 32

SR No.: 032524
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 550
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 195

APRIL, 1903.)
THE MAHARASHTRI AND MARATHI.
189
Marathi thas agrees with western vernaculars in pronunciation, in the regular use of the case of the agent, and in a form of the nominative singular of a-bases which can be traced back to the old Maharashtrt form ending in 8. With eastern forms of speech it agrees in two fundamental points, the oblique base ending in á, and the past tense formed by adding an l-suffix. We may add that the inflexional system of Marathi, at least to some extent, has the same richness of forms which characterises the eastern languages as opposed to the western ones.
The features in which Marathi differs from the western as well as from the eastern languages do not concern us here. Compare Dr. Hoernle, l. c.
It will be seen that Marathi occupies exactly the same position within the modern IndoAryan vernaculars as Mâbârâshtri among the Prakrits. The arguments adduced against the derivation of both languages from the same old vernacular have not proved valid, and we will have to adhere to the Indian tradition that Maharashtr was based on the old vernacular of the Maratha country.
We are now prepared to turn our attention to some additional proofs which are furnished by occasional points of coincidence between both languages. It is unnecessary to aim at completeness in the enumeration of such facts, but it will be useful to select a few instances. For further details, we may refer the reader to two older papers, one by M. Garrez in the Journal Asiatique, VI., XX., Paris, 1872, pp. 203 and ff., the other by Professor Kuhn in the Zeitschrift ir tergleichende Sprachforschung, XXXIII. p. 478 f. M. Garrez's article must, however, be used with caution; compare Dr. Grierson, above, Vol. XXX. pp. 553 and ff.
It will be noted that many forms in which Marathi will be shown to agree with Mâbârashtrt also are found in other modern vernaculars, especially in the east. This could not possibly be otherwise if the preceding remarks are correct. I have not, therefore, thought it necessary to note such instances, my present aim being to adduce additional proofs for the derivation of Marathi and Mâhârlightri from the same source, which seems to be necessarily inferred from the facts already adduced.
For our present porposes we must refrain from a comparison of the vocabulary of both languages, though considerable results might be derived in such a way. In the first place we know too little of Saurasêni and Magadhi, and in the second place it would be unsafe to compare the vocabulary of modern vernaculars so long as we have not good dictionaries in all of them. Something in this direction has already been done by M. Garrez in the article just quoted. Compare, however, Dr. Grierson, l. c. We shall therefore only draw attention to a few points of phonology and inflexion where Marathi seems to agree with Mâhârîshtri.
Vowels.- Long vowels are often shortened in Maharashtri and Ardhamagadhi ; thus, kumara, Sanskrit kumara, a boy. This form does not occur in Sacrasêni, but must be compared with Marathi Kumar. Haridra, turmeric, often becomes huludli or haladli in Maharashtri. Compare Marathi halud, dative halal-la.
The Sanskrit vowel și is sometimes differently treated in the old dialects. Thos, Sanskrit krita, done, becomes kaa in Maharashtrl and Ardhamagadhi (compare Magndhi and Ardhamagadhi kada), but usually kida in Saurasüni. Similarly, we find Maharashtri and Ardhamagadhi ghaa, Saurasent ghida, Sanskrit ghrita, clarified butter. Compare Marithi kell, i.e., kaa-illaani, done (bat Hindi kiyd, i. e., kidaa), while ghi, clarified butter, which is derived from the form ghida and is qnite common in Hindi, according to Molesworth is scarcely used in Marathi and must be considered as a Hindi loan-word. In this connexion we may also mention Marathi Ekáú, Maharashtri bhdua, Sanskrit bhratsika, a brother. Also Sagrasênt has, however, bhd lua, but most modern vernaculars have bhái, which represents a Prikrit bhdia.
Consonants. It has already been noted that one of the most striking features in which Maharashtri and Ardbamigadbi differ from Saurasent (and Migadbl) is the treatment of