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The title bṛhaddesi means 'the great work on desi rāgas'. How to account for the feminine form desi in all these usages? It is of course derived from desa ‘region'. Adjectives formed from desa are desya, desiya: The form desi functioning as an adjective is evidently a changed form of desya. In several Sanskrit words in later usage we find that their final -ya changes to -7, under the influence of Prakrit. Note the following instances (noted in MW.):
औचिती < औचित्य, चातुरी - चातुर्य, माधुरी - माधुर्य, वैचित्री < वैचित्र्य, वैदग्धी - वैदग्ध्य, वैदुषी - वैदुष्य.
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(See H. C. Bhayani, 'Etymalogical Notes', Berlines Indologische Studies, 8, 1995, p.9)
These forms are attested from comparatively late Sanskrit texts. So also the word desi. The explanation of the term vesara as vegasara or vegasvara, the place-name base of the bhāṣas travaṇā and harṣapuriya, the use of the form desi indicate linguistically rather a late date for BD. So also the term ambaheri in the section taken over from Yaṣṭika's work.
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