Sambodhi 2002 Vol 25

SR No.: 520775
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jitendra B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 234
Language: English, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Gujarati
Classification: Magazine, India_Sambodhi, & India
File Size: 5 MB

Page 219

214 REVIEW
SAMBODHI concludes in these words - 'Whenever the material in Sanskrit language was insufficient to arrive at the correct source of the word, the Indian etymolo have simply satisfied their desire for derivation in a fanciful manner with obviously wrong explanations. But when the language afforded them the slightest help as in the case of 'atithi' and 'jāyā', they have rightly hit upon the real source of the word.” (p. 322).
From amongst the nine papers on 'Linguistics and Lexicography' the two comprehensive introductions - 1. 'Dictionary of Sanskrit on Historical Principles' and 2. 'A Comprehensive and Critical Dictionary of the Prakrit Languages' are highly important and deserve to be read in full. In passing, however, attention of readers may be drawn to Dr. Ghatage's discussion about the misplaced criticisin of some Western scholars - Tr. Bloch. Pischel. Niti Dolci, Alsdorf and others - against Hemacandra's statement (Siddhahema-Sabdanusasana, Ch. VIII. i. 209 : (रुदिते दिना एणः...रूण्णं ॥) अत्र केचिद् ऋत्वादिषु इत्यारब्धवन्तः स तु शौरसेनीमागधीविषय एव दृश्यते sfa zeytt 1)
"The scholars (mentioned above) have blarned Hemacandra quite unnecessarily by saying that he has copied his passage from somewhere and without understanding it.” Dr. Ghatage concludes his discussion with these words : 'Instead of blaming him (Hemacandra) on the count of copying without understanding, we must admire his skill in following a far more systematic and rigorous procedure in this case" (italics ours) - pp. 496-498.
Most of Dr. Ghatage's papers, articles, introductions, etc. were scattered in various research journals and other academic publications, indeed not always easy to lay hands on, spread as they also are over long decades of his scholarly endeavours, Prof. M. A. Dhaky and Dr. J. B. Shah, Director, the Sharadaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre, Ahmedabad, persuaded Dr. Ghatage to bring them out in a collection and have now brought them out in the present volume.
We warmly congratulate both the author and the publishers for making these valuable papers availables to scholars as reference work for further research on the topics presented in this valuable volume. The printing is pleasing to the eye, and get-up attractive.
V. M. Kulkarni