Indian Antiquary Vol 22

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 36

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1993.
MISCELLANEA. SANSKRIT WORDS IN THE BURMESE have undoubtedly from time to time been LANGUAGE.
made in Burma The note under the above heading, ante, Vol. It is natural therefore that there should be a XXI. p. 94, is interesting as drawing attention to certain number of Sanskrit words in Burmese the use of Sanskrit words in the far East, and relating te philosophical pseudo-scientific and it must be admitted that all the Burmese words courtly expressions, but we should certainly be mentioned in it are clearly derived direct from surprised to find any such terms in common use, Sanskrit and not through Paļi. At the same time even at this epoch. The list of words given by Mr. I can scarcely agree with the learned author in Taw Sein-Ko scarcely supports Dr. Trenckner's considering that any of such words relate to theory of an early Pali form, and so far as social life. It would seem, on the contrary, that internal evidence goes they would seem to have they relate almost entirely to the ideas of been borrowed at a comparatively late epoch in philosophy, of theology, and of astrology, one of the ways above mentioned. which are precisely the subjects in which Sanskrit To illustrate this position we will discuss seriawords have made most headway in the Non-Aryan tim the twenty-one words adduced. languages of Southern India. Most of the latter
The first of these is adhvan sture, which is class of languages in the Far East, (Chinese form
principally used in Sanskpit as an astrological ing a noteworthy exception), would indeed seem
term, signifying the orbit' or 'way' of the to be deficient in the more abstract terms
heavenly bodies, from which the meaning in which they have consequently borrowed from the
Burmese of length, duration' is obviously a Sanskrit. In the case of Burma, where partial
derivation. The word is, however, an extremely civilisation was introduced by the Buddhist mis
rare one, and its meaning would probably not be sionaries from India, it is natural to find & con
understood by nine educated Burmans out of ten. siderable number of the more abstract terms
The use of the short tone in this a word of derived from the Pâļi, and such words are, AS A
Sanskrit origin, is noteworthy. general rule, transliterated according to the old system of Burmese vowel-sounds, thus showing
The form which the word amrita (TTT) has that they were introduced at a period not long assumed in Burmese is a decidedly anomalous subsequent to that when the language was reduced one, though it is more than doubtful whether the to writing. It seems, however, pretty certain that penultimate vowel in the Burmese form of it from very ancient times indeed the kings of
had formerly the value (6) attributed to it by Mr. Burma kept Brahman astrologers at their
Taw Sein-Ko, who, it may be remarked, gives no court for the purpose of making forecasts, reasons for adopting this spelling. The final fixing dates, and what not. Now the Brahmans letter also is given ask and not t in' Dr. Judson's have unquestionably always used Sanskrit dictionary, nó alteration, moreover, having been works in performing their duties, indeed made in this spelling by the late "Spelling Rethey would most certainly eschew any PAli books form Committee" of which Mr. Taw Sein-Ko on astrology and cosmogony, even if such existed. himself was a member. This being so, the Burmese It is natural also that they should interlard their
word would be transliterated amraik, adopting reports and speeches as much as possible with the modern pronunciation of the penultimate Sanskrit words, the more high-sounding the bet- vowel. That the letter had always the ai sound ter,) for the purpose of adding weight and abstruse- is almost certainly not the case, though it does ness to their rigmaroles, and a certain propor- | not by any means follow that it was always protion of such words would thus come to be adopted nounced , as it still is when final. But from by the Court, and thence by the more coltivated this very fact of the change of the vowel sound it classes. Further, the courtiers would gladly can be shown that the word amrita was adopted adopt from the Brâhmans any grand Sanskrit into the Burmese language at a comparatively titles which might please the king's ear, and thus late period, long after it was first reduced to in both these ways a certain number of Sanskrit writing by the Buddhist missionaries. For it words would oreep into the language, though may he taken as granted that this vowel belonged owing to the circumstances of their introduction originally to the 'varga' (so to speak) and not probably not into common use. A further source to the i one, and it seems incredible that for the supply of Sanskrit words would be trans- Burman in trying to pronounce the vowel sound lations from books in that language, which in amrita should render it by u, 6, &c. On the [The t, ante, Vol. XXI. p. 95, is a misprint for k: se sloo my note on an analogous spelling, ante, Vol. XXI. p. 198.1-ED.