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The third chapter forms the basis of the whole study as it goes on to classify the etymologies of láska under various types such as (i) etymologies based on contamination. (ii) etymologies betraying mechanical nature, (iii) etymologies indicating Yáska' poverty of imagination, etc. This whole classification is based on a critical and Systenatic examination of the data, and it speaks volumes for the scientific outlook and the learning of the author. This chapter shows that roughly 1/6 of the etymologies of Yāska are entirely acceptable, 2/3 are primitive, and 13 obscure.
The fourth chapter on - Yáska and the Padakāras " was undertaken at the suggestion of Prof. Vishva Bandhu SHASTRI, and written on the basis of the material collected by Prof. Bluni Dev SHASTRI. We are extremely thankful to Prof. SILASTRI for his brilliant suggestion, for this chapter gives abundant material for further research which will lead us nearer to the correct interpretation of the Rgveda. The chapter first attempts to give the conventions of the Padakāra observed in the analysis of words and then a discussion of the analysis made by Yăska in the light of these conventions. Yāska knew Padapatha no doubt, but he was not a blind follower of the views of its author as can be seen from the few occasions on which he disagrees with the Padapatha.
The book includes some very useful indices like an index of words etymologiseci by Yāska, an index of the basic vocabulary of Yāska's ctymologies, and an index of comparative linguistic vocabulary.
While trying to establish that some of the etymologies of Yăska show that he was far in advance of his times (pp. 4-6), the author gives on p. 5 the instance of kantaka which Yaska derives from v krnt (Nirukta 9.32. This etymology is not given in Rajwade's edition of the Nirukta with Marathi translation). This deriva. tion shows, as it were. that Yaska was aware of the famous law of cerebralisation in OIA. But a little later while deinonstrating how Yaska's etmyologies are primitive (pp. 19-22), the author cites on p. 20 the instance (landa which Yāska «lerives from Vdad and Aupamanyava from vdam, which according to the author, betray's the ignorance of the origin of cerebrals. It would therefore be legitimate to regard that the etymology of kantaka from vkrnt suggested by Yāska takes no notice of cerebralisation, but is an etymology based merely on the similarity of sound and sense. Under type C (p. 36 ff.), in the classification of etymologies, are brought together words the etymologies of which show, in the opinion of the author. Yāska's poverty of imagination. Among these we tined rksa (p. 37) which Yaska (3.20) derives from Vrsar) and Vkhyā. The etyniology of Yāska may not be correct; but it should be noted that it is based on the pronunciation of ks as khy known also to the author of the Satapathabrāhmaṇa (see, SCHEFTELOWITZ, IF 46.249, 1928). Similarly type U (p. 122 ff.) brings togeher words the etymologies of which are pronounced to be obscure. Among these one notices wisatyū (n. 137), for which
Madhu Vidyā/572
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