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AUGUST, 1880.]
found. Some of these are hore given. (1). var-akku, var-akkam, 'custom.' This is also written with p for v. It is probable that var and par are only variations of the same stem. (2). var-angu, be in use,' 'pass current,' this is the word in the stanza. The transitive is not found; but par-akku to habituate, render common,' takes its place. This has an intransitive, par-agu. (3). vari, a road, way, what is old, antiquity, succession.' Here we find para, 'old' ; and pari, 'guilt,' the transmitted liability to punishment, a man's old sin. Param is fruit, result of actions.' I suggest that varpar : S. phal. The cognates would be Gr. peλ-; Lat. flor-; Goth. blom. In ancient Kanarese this is hula. Here may be an example of the law which I spoke of in my Dravidian notes, No. I. vol. V, p. 158. Other forms of the same stem are pal, pan, pand, illustrating the important fact that in the Dravidian languages cerebrals are interchangeable; and the original seems to be !.
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Tamil possessed originally very few stems, and these were mostly, if not altogether, monosyllabic. These the poets, and especially the Jainas, (who were anxious to obliterate all traces of Sanskrit; to introduce a new language, as they had introduced a new religion,) varied in every possible manner, especially softening every harsh sound, and promoting assonance. Tamil and Telugu are, therefore, highly artificial languages, and in them the Aryan element has been designedly put out of sight.
NOTES ON THE KURRAĻ.
Varuthalat: here final 7 is followed by initial t (dental), and both are changed into palatal. This is in accordance with the law that two consonants coming together must be of the same organ,' and assimilation: dental t becomes palatal, and I is assimilated. Vá, in inflection var or van = 'come' or 'go', 'proceed.' varuthal, is a verbal noun the proceeding,' and ál is the sign of the instrumental ablative: 'by the proceeding,' because it proceeds.' or added to a stem, with or without euphonic insertions, form a Dravidian noun. This is sometimes changed into n, and equals r and s, in Aryan languages. Vá is in Kanarese bá. We may compare Oscan and Umbrian ben with Latin ven. tán is 'ipse.' Sva is the root of the reflexive pronoun in Aryan languages. Tamil would write this ta, having no sibilant and using t for 8 habitually.
Amirtham (S. amrita, Gr. ambrosia)='immor
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197
tal; a medicine prolonging life,' 'the food of the gods. Other forms are amirutham, amirtham, amiṛthu, amutham, and amuthu. Thus the S. ri is rendered by iru, ir, ir, and u. The Kan, has also amudu.
The use of enru for Gr. hoti, hos has been referred to before.
Unar al the perceiving, understanding.' This is a verbal noun, or infinitive mood, though very often the final l is omitted. The Latin suffix is rors (see Roby), the Greek n, or sth. The verb-stem unar is from u! or un = 'within,' 'internal.' ar = 'know' as a separate verb arri. u is much used (in cognate dialects = o!, ol). It is a case inflexion='in,' ' inter.' It is also the root of a verb= 'to be, exist.' It forms a verb un- eat,' 'suck in.' It forms a noun un-mai = 'reality, truth.' The equivalent root in the Ursprache' is rá (see Fick).
Pattu is a form like muthattu in Ch. I. 1.. (see Notes on Kurra! II, vol. VIII, p. 307). The noun is pal (for pag al: S. bhag: Fick.) = essential property.'
Couplet II.
tuppárkka tappays | tuppåkki | tuppárkku | tuppay a thú um | marai.
Scanning:
tēmāngai tēmāngai | tēmāngai | tēmāngāi tēmā půlimă mălăr. "For the eaters sweet food making, To the eaters itself food becoming: such is rain." The root tu (1) eat,' (2) enjoy,' (3) 'experience.' Hence the noun tuppu (1) 'food,' (2) enjoyment,' 'sweetness.' [S. duh (1) milk, (2) enjoy].
There is a peculiarity in old Tamil, which is called alab'eḍai (= lengthening), by which in this case, short u is lengthened to 4, and then a short u is added, making u out of u. Thus athum is made äthium. Hiatus is here allowed. This resembles the process by which Ionic Greek writes héelios for helios.
The idea is here, that rain causes fertility and is itself necessary to quench the thirst of men and cattle. The punuing and alliteration are thoroughly in accordance with Tamil ideas. Couplet III.
Vinnindru | poyppin | virinir | viyanulagat'! tunnindr' | udaṭṭum pasi.
Scanning:
tēmāngāi | tēmā | pūļīmā | kǎrru viļǎngâi | tēmā pūļimā mălăr.
