Indian Antiquary Vol 12

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 14

8
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
IV-SHANDA BRANCH.
The last of the Scythian tribes we have to notice is the Shandhas or Khandas, for the initial is legitimately convertible into -kh. It is a matter worthy of notice, in this place, of how largely these intrusive races clung to the group of lingual or cerebral letters, which are understood so specially to belong to Tartar languages. Bishop Caldwell stated the case, in the first instance, in the following terms: "None of the lingual consonants has ever been discovered in any of the primitive languages which are related to Sanskrit." Mr. Norris, in deciphering the Scythic tablets of Darius at Behistun, placed upon record his conviction "that the sounds called cerebral are peculiar to the Tartar or Finnish class of languages; that the really Indian languages are all of Tartar origin, or at least that their phonetic and grammatical affinities are Tartar."
Professor Benfey conceded that the mute "cerebrals have probably been introduced from the phonetic system of the Indian aborigines into Sanskrit."20
Dr. Bühler, on the other hand, contends at some length against these conclusions, as also does Mr. Beames." These objections are stated in full in Dr. Caldwell's 2nd Edition," but they do not seem to have altogether carried conviction to his mind. Mr. John Muir has collected and criticised with his usual fairness, all that has been advanced for and against these varying theories. His résumé will be found in the volume II. of his Sanskrit Texts published in 1871."
To return to our Tribal question: I find the solution in this instance ready done to my hand in Professor Wilson's translation of a portion of the Mahabharata (Bhisma Parvan), which he incorporated in his edition of the Vishnu Purána. The passage is to the following effect, the speaker being supposed to be Sanjaya :
"Next hear from me, descendant of Bharata," the names of the inhabitants of the different countries. They are the Kurus, Pánchálas, Salwas, dwellers in the Madra thickets,
18 Comparative Grammar of South Indian Languages, 2nd Edit., Trübner, 1875, p. 32; see also Bopp's Grammar, vol. I, p. 14; Burnouf, Yasna, p. cxlv.
19 J. R. A. 8. vol. XV, pp. 6, 19. Incidentally Molesworth, in the preface to his Marathi Dictionary, p. xxii, says,Independently of the Arabic and Persian words which have found their way into the Marathi language ⚫ it has two distinct lingual elements, the Scythian (or Turanian) and the Sanskrit."
20 Muir's Sanskrit Texts, vol. II, p. 460.
[JANUARY, 1883.
Sarasenas, &c. (the list continues in irregular order) Avantis, Aparakuntis, Goghnatas, Mandakas, Shandas." Professor Wilson remarks the more usual reading is Khandas, one MS. has Parnas." COINS-VASU-DEVA.
No. 1.-Gold.
1. Cunningham, Numismatic Chronicle, vol. VI, o. s. (1843) Plate I. fig, 2;
2. Trésor de Numismatique (Paris), Plate LXXX., figs. 10-11;
3. Burgess, Arch. Report, vol. II, 1874. Gupta series, No. 1.
Obverse. King standing to the front-with a full suit of bossed armour. The right hand casts incense into a small Scythic altar, in the hand rests on a standard adorned with flowing background is seen a decorated trident, the left
pennons. Marginal legend, in Greek, a more or less imperfect rendering of the conventional standard inscription of PAO NANO PAO XOPANO; Hindi legend in the field, to the left Bh, to the right vasu.
Reverse. Seated figure of Parvati with a Roman cornucopia in the left, and a pasu or noose in the right hand. Scythic monogram (No. 160 Ariana Antiqua) to the left: to the right, in imperfect Greek APAOKPO, And-Ugra (Ardha-Nârî).
I-SAKA BRANCH,
No. 2. Gold B.M. ME Shaka.
Obverse. The usual type of the erect figure of the king.
Below the arm, me, outside the standard Shaka.
Reverse. The usual device, with traces of debased Greek letters.
The legitimate Sanskrit, & does not find a place in these legends, the mint authorities following local speech, seem to have recognised nothing but the , sh.
PA-Shaka.
No. 3. Gold. B. M. Unique.
Obverse. Usual device. Below the arm q, pa. Outside the standard, Shaka.
Reverse. The usual seated figure with OPAOX.
"Madras Journal of Literature, 1884, pp. 116-136. "Comparative Grammar of the Modern Aryan Lamguages of India.
Pp. 33n, 438, 440, 468, 487-8.
Vishnu Purana. Hall's edit. vol. II, p. 163.
5 It will be remembered that Strabo has preserved the name of the Pârni Dahee, Book xi. o. vii. 1 and viii. 2. Ptolemy vi. 10. 2. Iâpro-Aaas. See also Wilson, Ariana Antigua, p. 141.