Nirgrantha-2

Author(s): M A Dhaky, Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

Page 38

Vol. II-1996
MIA. Miscellany
A parallel, but rather complex, case is that of the name of the Vidyadharas that were hostile to the hero, Naravāhanadatta / Vasudeva, regarding which various Vaddakahā versions show confusion. It is found as Hepphaa/Hephaa / Hephaga in the Vasudevahindi, as Ipphaka in the Brhatkathāślokasaṁgraha and as Ityaka in the Kathāsaritsägara (Jain, op. cit., p. 34). It is quite difficult to decide which was the original form and what is its etymological meaning. Possibly ipphaka was the original form: ityaka is a corruption. In Prakrit we have several cases of -h- being added to the initial vowel of a word. (For the prothesis of h in Prakrit see Pischel § 338) Accordingly ipphaka > hipphaka > hepphaka (oga) (-i. changed -e- before a cluster : Pischel § 119) can be suggested as the likely development. hepha(g)a is an orthographic variation. Even if this surmise is considered plausible, ipphaka as a form remains impenetrable. It is doubtful to suggest Sk. işmaka as the source word. Compare isma 'name of Kāma', ismin 'impetuous' (MW.). For the development -sm- > -pph- this would presuppose : see Pischel, § 422. 3. ON THE PRAKRIT METRE NIJJHÄIYÄ (Nirdhyāyikā / Nidhyāyikā) (1) Regarding the designation and the structure of the Prakrit metre Nijjhāiyā, there are some differences among the classical manuals of metres, namely the Jānāśrayi of Janāśraya (end of the six century A. C.), the Svayambhūcchandas of Svayambhū (ninth century A. C.) and the Chandonuśāsana of Hemacandra (c. mid 12th century A.C.) In the Jānāśrayī, which has treated some popular Mātrā-metres (really Prakrit metres) as Sanskrit metre, the metre named Nirdhyāyikā (5.46) has 17 Mātras per line, divided as 4+4+ u-u+ uuu- (or -u-). In the Vrttajātisamuccaya, the metre is called either Niddhāiä (1.4, 4.16, 4.33) or Nivvāiä (1. 26, 1. 30). The commentator calls it Nirvāpită at all those places. Its structure is the same as given in the Jānāśrayi. In the Svayambhūcchandas, the folios of the Manuscript which probably contained treatment of this metre are missing. In the Chandonuśāsana, this metre is called Nirdhyāyikā (Pk. Nijjhāiā)(4.76). It is of three types according to the number of Mātrās per line : 17 (4+4+3+3+3), 14 (5+3+3+3) or 19 (5+5+3+3+3). Of these, the first type is similar to that defined in the Jānāśrayi and the Vịttajātisamuccaya. Velankar, possibly following the commentator of the Vsttajātisamuccaya, who has rendered Pk. tikalaya as Sk. trikalaka, thinks (Chandonuśāsana, Introduction p. X) that the designation occurring as Trikalaya shows the influence of the Prakrit term, tikalaa. But trikalaya can be well taken as trikalaya 'that whose cadence depends on a triad.' It is synonym with Tribhangi (Chandonuśāsana.) Besides occurring individually, Nirdhyāyikā occurred also as the middle constituent of
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