Proceedings of the Seminar on Prakrit Studies 1973

Author(s): K R Chandra, Dalsukh Malvania, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 170

129
Now, I try to offer an etymology of a word af, satisfactory translation of the passage concerned.
The passage runs :
"पोरथम-कब लिआ - परिग्गहो एब्व बिसुणेह गुरुकुलवासं । "
By far, Dr. Upadhye means 'a piece of cloth over a sore wound, a bandage'. He further adds, 'Here it appears to signify some thing like a cloth-bag for books'.14 Prof. Patawardhan suggests that it might indicate a wooden support for holding a book while reading. If we take into consideration the etymology of af Prof. Patawardhan's suggestion regarding the meaning of seems to be quite justified. The word f appears to be of Dravidian origin. Most probably it has developed from Tamil root 'Kavar' meaning 'to bifurcate, to branch off, to fork, to seize, and to grasp.' The Tamil word 'Kavalai' means forking of branches. The Kannaḍa root 'Kaval' is a counterpart of the Tamil root Kavar meaning to become bifurcated or forked; 'Kavar' is also noun and means bifurcation, couple, pair etc. There is Sanskrit root which also means to grasp, to devour, to eat etc. One does not know if it is derived from the Tamil root 'Kavar', since the meaning indicated by 'Kavar' seems to be more primary and original than that of 'a'. Again the Paia-Sadda-Mahanṇavo gives कवलिआ (स्त्री.) as a Desi-word and translates as 'ज्ञान का एक उपकरण' - (आराधना प्रकरण, गा. ८). At present I could not consult आराधना प्रकरण but if it treats a wooden-support along with (a scriptural text) as an instrument of knowledge, this may serve as an additional evidence. The Marathi root which means to embrace, to grasp with two arms, also gives the same meaning throwing light on the function of af grasps or holds a book with its two arms. 15
which
and thereby
Cl. 11. 20.7)
Hence though Prof. Patawardhan retains the word 'fr' in his translation as it is and gives its meaning as a wooden support for holding a book in a bracket along with an alternate meaning 'cloth bag' suggested by Dr. Upadhye, we may give the definite translation of the passage in question as follows:
"The very manner in which a person holds the wooden support for holding a book while reading suggests his residence in the preceptor's house.
Lastly, I give here, an etymology of a word a 'जो खलु लाहिल्लो रिवुणो सिरी-करघरी-केस - गहेसुं बला'... ( Cl. IV. 17b)
17
from the passage