Indian Antiquary Vol 02

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 161

HINDU WORDS IN GREEK.
MAY, 1873.]
as δρυζον, βριζα for vythi, πεπερι piper for pigpali, vapdos for nalada, or through PhoenicioBabylonian commercial intercourse, as agaru ni dyalλoxov, kapi-pio knros,† karpásaxapraσos, kunkuma-cp curcuma κpokos, maddra (P)-μadeλkov Boeλλov. Marakataσpapaybos we may assume was probably borrowed earlier from the Semitic: § in the case of kalama -kaλapos (borrowed in Arabic 5) halm,' and in bana-kavaßos, ' hemp,' on account of the transposition of sound, perhaps a cognate origin dating from Indo-Germanic times, may be assumed.||
In this place, however; only those words will suit our purpose the Indian origin whereof and we shall have to take up many Prâkrit forms of them -is either quite, or at least approximately, ascertained, whilst numerous other names and words, with which such is not the case, must be excluded.
Firstly, articles of commerce, or rather mineral, vegetable, and animal substances, and of daily tife in general, belong to the following class of words:
upala--όπαλλιος ; kapphâra (? karpára)-καμφορα, kushtha-KOOTOS Costus, *kajuaphala (katukaphala) —καρυοφυλλον, *atubkari-καττυβουρίνη, *khinnaväri-cinnabari; gráha-ypaas; chandana-ravdava σανταλον ; tamalapattra-μαλαβαθρον, tála-ταλα, deva-δενος (δευνος, βασιλευς), ndrikela-ἀργελλια (P Μαργελλία), * nlla---νιλον ; *pattrapápikd-πατροmamyn, bhútári-Bourupov (asafoetida), mushkaμοσχος; veluriya-βηλυρρος, βηρυλλος, sakkhara ( ? karkard)—σακχαρι σακχαρον, saguna-sacon sacondion sagenon, saphena-sapenas, singavera
Of these Minayeff alone has discovered lately the first direct trace, namely, in the Baverujaṭakam (Jat. IV., 34, 9 no. 334) according to the Comm. of Buddhaghosa. (5th cent. A. D.) It contains a legendary report of repeated voyages of Indian merchants to Bavera (Babiru of the Old Persian cuneiform writing 3) where they brought, on the second occasion, the first peacock for sale. See Mé langes Asiatiques of the Imp. Russ. Academy, Vol. VI. 1871, p. 557 seqq. It is mentioned also in the Bible that among other things the Phoenicians in Solomon's time brought also peacocks from Ophir (Abhtra). (Here I may incidentally observe that I do not think n is connected with sikhin, because the latter word can scarcely have meant a peacock at the time here intended. Also the word togei, supposed to be Malabarian, which has been enlisted for this connection, can scarcely have originated from sikhin, rather perhaps some Dakhani word, which in that case might very well be the root of the Hebrew word). The form Baveru, with r instead of l, here of course militates against a Phoenician, but rather for a later Persian mediation in the legend; otherwise the final u here, as well as in the Babiru of the cuneiform writing, is probably a remnant of the Semitic nominative sign.
This word, curiously enough, occurs in the form kafu certainly, as early as the hieroglyphs of the 17th cent Conf. Joh. Dümichen, The fleet of an Egyptian queen of the 17th century, Leipzig, 1868, Plates II, and XIV.
The l of the words for agaru and madára (?) bears witness to their transmission through Semites, not across Persia-Hereto belongs also the name Ophir (Abhira) itself, which of course does not occur in Greek.
147
(sriigavera)—ζιγγίβηρι, surd-(ρογχο)-σουρα, εulvari (sulvári)-sulphur.
Among geographical names the following occurtt-adhisattra (Ahichhattra ?)-Adecora@pos, Anuradhagráma-Avovрoyрapμov, andhomatt-AvSaparis, Andhra-Andarae, Andhrasta nta-Avδρασιμουνδου, Abhisara- Αβισαρης, -σσαρεις (Βησσαpear?), Abhira-ABnpia, Ambaṭṭha AmbashthaAußarai Außaorai, Aémaka-Asmagi, AsvakaΑσσακηνοί, Δείknt---Ακεσίνης.., * asta (West) Αστακαμπρον.
Ikshumatt Onparis,§§ Irávati-Yaparis 'Povaδις Ὑδραωτης, «Indapattha. Indraprastha--Ινδαβαρα Ivdarpalai, irina-Elpuor. Ujjent-on, Uttarakur--Οττοροκοῤῥας, Uratd-Ούρσα. Rikshavant -Ou Evros, Audumbara-Odomboerae.
Katha-Kabasa, Kannakujja (Kanydkabjd)-Kavoyn, Kapishṭhala-KapStorboλoi, Kam mandid (Karmandéel)-Koppevaons, Kalinga-Kadiyyat Calingae, Kalyan-Kadλieva, Kasmira-Kaoneipaio, *Katyapapura-Kaσmanuрos (Kaßoupa), Kikutthi (Kákutsth)-Kakoveis, Kdvert-Xaßnpis, Kási- Kao. oida, Kirdta-Kippadai, Kubhá-Kopny, KumariΚομαρια, Kalinda--Κυλινδρινη, Κέrkhi-Κολχοι, Kekaya-Knken, kokandga-Kukkovayai, kokanagara -KOKкovaуapa, Kaumira-Kaupapa, Kosambi (Kausámbi)-Kwoaußa, Kolibha (Kauluba P)-Coluba, kshattra-apa, Kshudraka-odpakas (ud-) *Οξυδρακαι. khatriya (halakriya)-Χατριαιοι.
Gañgd-Tayyns, Gan Jakavati-Kovdoxarns, Gandldra-Γανδαροι, Goula-Γονδαλοι, gauit (P) Γαροι· as, grana—γραμμα γραμμον, *Glauca-Glausæ, Glauchukdyanaka-ravkavikai.
Chandala-Kavdaλo, Chandrabhiga Zavdpa
Ind. Skizzen, p. 88.
Differently in V. Hahn, Cultivated plants and domes tic animals, p. 121. (Berlin, 1870.) The use of hemp in the preparation of intoxicating liquors (ibid., p. 431) ascends probably to the Aryan period, partly because bhanga is used in the Rik. IX. 61, 13, as an epithet of the intoxicating soma, and partly because Indian lexicographers use bhanga to denote hemp and beverages of that king prepared from it. Comp. also l'end. IX. 138, Yesht XXIV. 26.
Although their Indian descent and signification have been handed down to us, e. g. of margarita, trappaga, kotym ba (perhaps kutupa, boat or little bag for keeping fluids ?) κολανδιοφοντα, σαγγαρα, brechma (abortion; comp. bhranahan?), dramasa (dhruva ?) Kapriov, deKaupos, and many others.
I mark with a star the words the signification, or ra ther use, of which cannot be exactly pointed out, although they are possibly current. I do not put any marks to the Prakrit forms drawn from Sanskrit words actually occur. ring in the respective meanings, but I enclose the latter words in parentheses. I add, moreover, a few words which occur only in a Latin form, e. g. sulphur, &c.
+ The readings in Arrian, &c. vary much in the MSS.; I mostly adhere to those adopted by Lassen, since also the production itself of the corresponding Indian names is usually based on the precedent of Lassen.
See Roth, Lit. u. Gesch. des Weda, p. 139. $$ Also (like 'Akeσuns) purposely an echo of Greek words: vid. inf. the words marked §§.
?? See Lassen I. 820; according to ibid. III. 175. Tovdaλot is to be real for it.