Grammatical Riddles from Jain Works

SR No.: 269046
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nalini Balbir
Publisher: Z_Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_1_002105.pdf and Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_2
Publication Year: 2004
Total Pages: 41
Language: English
Classification: Article & Grammar
File Size: 802 KB

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Grammatical Riddles from Jain works
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sūtras was similar in both works and implies that the mention padānte, which has to be applied through recurrence from 1.2.67 in Śākatāyana, is also valid in V. The wording of V. can thus be rendered : "Before the voiced aspirate consonant (has = jha, bha, gha, dha and dha) of a monosyllabic root, instead of the non aspirate voiced consonant (baś = ba, ga, da and da), there will be the corresponding voiced aspirate consonant (bhas = bha, gha, dha and dha), also in front of s and dhy (i.e. at the end of a word as well as in front ofs and dhv)". The process described refers to forms such as bhotsyate or abhuddhvam from root budh, or to cases like godhuk37. It is of course purposefully that Jinavallabha selected for a riddle a sūtra of such a high technical level where all the words belong to the grammatical metalanguage, being either pratyāhāras (bas, bhas, jhas)—and not very common ones—, pratyāhāra-based terms (ekāc) or endings (s-dhvon).
12. In our body of narrative works, the only instance of sautra-jāti is found in Amradevasuri's Akhyanakamanikosavrtti (dated sam. 1190 = 1134 A.D.). A group of young men and a lady exchange riddles. All of them are rather complicated or even obscure. When the type illustrated by the stanza is indicated, it is a useful hint, as in the present case :
jai evam suttaṁ ciya maha panhottaram imam sunaha In this case, listen to my riddle, which is of the sutra-type.
After this introductory Prakrit sentence, comes the riddle, in Sanskrit, like all those which are included in this text (except for one which is told by the lady of the group).
ká saukhyaikanibandhanam tri-bhuvane ? kesāṁ mahad gauravam ? nīrug vakti, "janasya tättvika-ripuh kah ? kam ca babhrur dvişan ?" sangho vakti, "Sudarśanam vada kare kesām ?" svarāgryo 'bhidhāt "ko varno na-paro vitundati ca?38kim sūtraṁ purasyānañah ?
(Akhyānakamaņikośavrtti chap. 36, vss. 243-244)
As it often happens, the puzzled reaction of the audience is indicated, and this serves to enhance the intelligence of the hero who alone is able to find the answer. This becomes possible for him only when he has again taken into consideration the variety of the riddle which has been proposed to him :