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[CHAPTER IV
1, 2, 3, 20, 149, 336; after which it grows rather more frequent, on account, apparently, of the shortness of the formule; thus in verses 427, 444, 446, 459, 462, etc. In Part III, it occurs only in verses 52 and 61. But as will be noticed presently, it is used occasionally also in conjunction with the ringlet.
(b) The Comma.-Another sign which is occasionally used to mark the end of a full verse is a comma, laid lengthwise. It exactly resembles the figure for the numeral one, and is, no doubt, identical with it. In Part I it is found at the end of verses 49 and 71; and in Part II at the end of verses 5, 45, 108, 130, 178, 372; 488, 619, 642, etc. In Part III it does not occur. In addition to marking the end of a full verse, it is also used occasionally in other ways. Thus, in Part I, fol. 364-5 (p. 5), it marks the prose notice bhavati ch-âtra, preceding the fiftieth verse, and in Part II, fol. 29a3 (p. 70) it marks the prose notice tatra slokal. Again in Part II, fol. 466 (p. 32), it separates the two parts of a colophon,68 Sometimes, again, it marks merely a superfluous blank space; see below under Lacuna, p. xlii.
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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(c) The Ringlet.-The third sign which exceptionally marks the end of a full verse is a ringlet with a central dot, or a ringlet containing a still smaller ringlet the circumference of which is studded inside with (usually) three dots. The former probably represents the sacred chakra (dharma-chakra), or Wheel of the Law, the latter, the sacred padma or White Lotus; and in the sequel these two signs will be referred to as the wheel and the lotus. The latter is found only in Part II, while the wheel is common to all three Parts. An example of the lotus, used as the mark of the end of a full verse, occurs in Part II. fol. 2a10 (p. 28), and of the wheel, in fol. 1967 (p. 57), where they mark the end of verses 38 and 639 respectively. As a rule, however, the lotus and wheel are used as the special marks to indicate the end of a passage which is longer than a verse, such as a whole formula, or a whole chapter, or the whole of a subject. Accordingly they constitute the special marks of the colophon, which is marked off, afore as well as after, by them from the surrounding text. Thus we have two lotuses to mark the colophon of the first formula in Part II, fol. 1a8-9 (p. 26), and of the first chapter in Part II, fol. 4667 (p. 32).68 Similarly. we have two wheels to mark the colophon of the sidhma formula, in Part II, fol. 1843 (p. 54), and of a formula for boluses, in Part III, fol. 365 (p. 184). Sometimes the two signs are combined; thus the sequence wheel, lotus is found with the colophon tryûshanas, in Part II, fol. 6a (p. 34), and the reversed sequence lotus, wheel, with the colophon âśvinarasayanam, ib., fol. 24a1 (p. 61). Also other variations occur, such as placing one of the two signs between a couple of double strokes, as in the sârdûla-chûrna colophon in Part II, fol. 3b (p. 30), or placing a double stroke after both signs, as in the môdaka formula in Part III, fol. 365-0 (p. 184). Exceptional cases, however, are found in which the colophon is marked only by one sign, or by no sign at all. An example of the latter case is the pancha-gavya colophon in Part II, fol. 5b11 (p. 34). Examples of the former case are the colophons after verse 613, in Part II, fol. 19a3 (p. 56), and after verse 782, ib., fol. 24a3 (p. 61), which are marked only by a lotus after them,69
The signs of the wheel and the lotus, however, are also employed to indicate the end of a formula, or of a subject matter, whenever a colophon is dispensed with. Examples are, in Part I, the wheel in fol. 36', 5610, where with verse 120 the subject of hair dyes closes.
63 This colophon combines those of a formula as well as of the chapter; and the two portions are separated by the comma mark.
69 The colophon after verse 804, in part II, fol. 24610 (page 63) is no real exception, because it is misplaced, and should stand in the preceding line. The misplacement is marked by the two crow's feet; see below on Correction, p. xli.