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PROF. MANFRED MAYRHOFER'S NEW ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF SANSKRIT
By M. A. MEHENDALE.
Prof. Mayrhofer has already carned distinction as an eminent etymo. logist by the publication of his Kurzgefasstes etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen (A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary 1956–1976) in three impressive volumes. Mayrhofer was then conscious of the fact that his dictionary was not an end, but just a beginning in the direction of providing information on etymological questions related to Sanskrit. He had then hoped that some day someone's inspiration will be enkirdled by his book to make a second attempt. It is indeed gratifying to note that instead of waiting for someone else to take up the challenge, Mayrhoter himself bas come forward to embark on a second venture to publish a new etymological dictionary of Sanskrit.
As compared with his earlier book, Mayrhofer has made two easily perceptible changes while giving the title of his book. He has dropped the restrictive epithet concise' of his old dictionary and he has chosen to characterize the language dealt with as altindoarisch' (Old Indo-Aryan ) instead of altindisch' (Old Indian ). There is one more change he has made : hc does not give to his new dictionary the alternative English title as he did to his old one. The change may appear small and not worth noting. But it gives as indication of the changes introduced by Mayrhofer inside the dictionary. In his old dictionary Mayrhofer gave, besides German translations of all head words, also their English translations for the convenience of English knowing readers. He has stopped doing this in his new dictionary since he found the practice space consuming."
Mayrhofer's old dictionary was completed in 1976. His new dictionary, which is by no means just a new edition of the old one, started appear
Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen I. Band and II. Band, 1986-1996. Heidelberg, Carl Winter-Universitats Verlag, pp. 837. Vorwort to KEWA Vol. I, pp. IX-X. English translations of Sanskrit words can be of some use to English knowing readers. But their absence does not materially harm the new dictionary. A reader refers to Mayrhofer's dictionary for the etymology of a word, and not for its meaning. The only factor common to both the dictionaries is the author and the languago doalt with,
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Madhu Vidya/396
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