Recent Russian Publications On Indian Epic

Author(s): J W De Jong
Publisher: J W De Jong

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RUSSIAN PUBLICATIONS ON THE INDIAN EPIC
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materials collected by G. (=Grintser) on the sūta-s, māgadha-s, etc. and the recitation of the epic during sacrifices, etc. have already been amply discussed by previous scholars. More important is the second chapter on the epic formulas, which contains the most detailed formulaic analysis of the Indian epic yet undertaken. G. divides the formulas into six groups: (I) attributive formulas: kuntiputro yudhisthiraḥ, bhimo bhimaparākramaḥ, puruṣavyāghraḥ, nararṣabhaḥ, mahābalaḥ, mahesvāsaḥ, dharmajñaḥ, etc.; (II) narrative formulas: svabāhubalam āśritaḥ, kytvā pradaksinam, vavarşa śaravarşāņi, abhidudrāva vegena, tataḥ samabhavad yuddham tumulam lomaharṣaṇam, etc.; (III) auxiliary formulas: etašminn eva kāle tu, atha rātryām vyatītāyām, śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ; (IV) formulas of direct speech: nesyāmi/nayāmi yamasādanam, param kautūhalam hi me, tiştha tiştheti cābravit, śrotum icchāmi, śrņu rājan, etc.; (V) maxims: eșa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ, yato dharmas tato jayaḥ, sarve kṣayāntā nicayāḥ patanāntāḥ samucchrayāḥ|samyogā viprayogāntā maraṇāntam ca jīvitam, punnāmno narakād yasmāt pitaram trāyate sutaḥ | tasmāt putra iti proktaḥ pitīn yaḥ pāti sarvataḥ, etc.; (VI) similes: pūrņacandranibhānanā, pārņendusadęśānanā, devagarbhābhaḥ, dandapāņir ivāntakaḥ, etc. I have quoted only a few examples from the many given by G. In an appendix G. lists 594 formulas, indicating whether they occur in even or uneven pāda-s. In a brief section on the metre in the epic (pp. 47-52) G., referring to calculations made by Hopkins, points out that 87.5 per cent of the śloka-s are pathyā-s. Consequently most uneven pāda-s end on v-. whereas all even