Etymological Notes

SR No.: 269013
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: H C Bhayani
Publisher: Z_Nirgrantha_1_022701.pdf and Nirgrantha_2_022702.pdf and Nirgrantha_3_022703.pdf
Publication Year: 1996
Total Pages: 8
Language: English
Classification: Article & 0_not_categorized
File Size: 300 KB

Page 2

Etymological Notes
3. Pk. ucchu, H. būrā etc.
(Some cases of Vocalic Assimilation in MIA and NIA)
Corresponding to Sk. iksu- 'sugarcane', we have ucchu in Pali and Prakrit. NIA derivatives (H. ukh, M. us etc.) have been given under CDIAL 1551. There Turner has observed that 'variation in the initial syllable of, i, u, and ri- suggests an original but this is without other confirmation or support'.
Vol. II-1996
There is, however, some evidence to support Pischel's explanation of the change on the basis of vocalic assimilation: i.e. the initial i- of icchu changed to uunder the influence of the vowel in the second syllable (PG. § 117). He has cited Sk. işu Pk. usu- and Sk. sisu-> Pk. susu- (in Pk. susumāra-> Sk. śiśurnāra-) and other such instances.
We can point to a few instances of this change from NIA. H- ugli, P. unguli (CDIAL 135) corresponding to Sk. anguli, Pk. amguli evidences this type of change.
H- būd
Against i vowel in the first syllable of Sk. bindu- 'drop', its NIA. derivatives like. H- bud and some others in other NIA. languages has u in the first syllable. Turner (CDIAL 9240) has assumed *bundu- as the source form for the latter words.
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We suggest that Sk. bindu, Pk. bimdu changed to bumdu due to vowel assimilation. Hence it is unnecessary to assume bundu as the source.
H- būrā
H- būrā 'wicked, bad' and its cognates in some other NIA languages, as noted by Turner in his Dictionary of the Nepali Language, (s. v. buro) is I think another. instance of such vowel assimilation.
It derives from Sk. virupa-, Pk. virūva (a)- changed to *vuruvaa-, which became būrā etc.
Further in a number of Sanskrit loan words in NIA we similarly find the i- of the initial syllable changed to u- under the influence of an u in a subsequent syllable.
Examples:
G. sukan 'omen', Sk. śakuna
G. rugnäth a personal name', Sk. raghunatha
Old G. phurasarāma 'a personal name', Sk. parasurama
Old G. tura Sk. taru. occurring in Gurjararásävali
Raj. muradhara-, Sk. marudhara.