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DAMAYANTI'S SVAYAMVARA
By M. A. MEHENDALE
Writing on the above subject S. Insler! suggests a new interpretation for the Mbl. stanza 3. 54. 26. His interpretation is based on two suggestions both of which are uncalled for. The stanza in question runs as
vilajjamană vastrănte jagrahāyatalocană / skandhadese 'spjac cāsja srajar para masobhanām ||
Insler objects to van Buitenen's somewhat free translation of srajam assjat 'threw a garland' because srj doss, not mean to throw but 'to releasc' 11:, however, on that account does not opt for the most natural translation released the garland'. On the other hand he cites two passages from the Albh. 3.264, 33 and Calcutta cdn. 1. 4418 ( = Cricdn. 1. 1131*) in which he gets the expressions mälām asajat and srajam samāsajat. Insler translates these as hung a garland'.: On the basis of this evidence Insler proposes to cmend ( srajam ) asr jar of the above Mbh. stanza to (srajanı) usajat.
Is this cmendation called for? Insler admits that flowers can be released' (sti) from the hand. Then what is so impossible in the expression 'release ( sri) the garland from the hands' even if the expression
varşa' (shower) is not found with it? Insler himself cites on p. 578 from Pāli Jāt. I. 8 mälari parikkhipitvă, but instead of drawing the correct conclusion that to throw a garlaad ' or 'to release a garland' are fairly old and current modes of expression he imagines that the Pali expression malani parikkhipa is influenced by the wrong' Sanskrit expression srajan srj. The two verbs srj and a - or samă-saj express two distinct and successive actions connected with garlarding a person. First comes the act of releasing ( stj) the garland from the hand and then, if necessary, the act of sticking it, adju
IJOS 109. 577-580 (1989).
Strictly speaking ū saj or sa saj also does not mean 'to hang' ( which means 'attach loosely, suspcnd' ), but 'to stick, to fasten'.
Madhu Vidyā/484
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