Recent Russian Publications On Indian Epic

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

Page 24

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THE ADYAR LIBRARY BULLETIN
pāda-s end on vov. Formulas are to be found mainly in the second halves of the pāda-s because of the greater rigidity of their metrical scheme. Moreover, the metrical difference between the even and uneven pāda-s results in the presence of two different sets of formulas. G. lists a number of examples on pp. 53-7 and adds a more complete list of 97 examples in a second appendix. Let us quote a few examples (the first is to be found in even păda-s, the second in uneven pāda-s): x x yudhisthiro rājā-dharmaputro (or kuntiputro) yudhisthiraḥ; lakṣmaṇo lakṣmisampannaḥ—lakṣmaṇo lakṣmivardhanaḥ; x x x nara-(or manuja- or kuru-śārdūlaḥ; X X X nara-(or manuja- or kurūrām) rṣabhaḥ; rājan-mahīpate; rājendra-naradhipa; tūrņam—bhrśam; drștvā—paśyataḥ. As is obvious from the examples, G. considers even single words as formulas as do Kirk and Sen. G. remarks that usually the basic element of the formula is a supporting word of two or four syllables in the second half of the pāda, for instance: îșabha with which the following formulas are formed: puruṣarṣabha, nararṣabha, etc.; śārdūla—nrpaśārdūla, rājaśārdūla, etc.; vara—(sarva-) śastrabhịtām varaḥ, jayatām varaḥ, etc.; madhyamā —sumadhyamā; bhūșitaḥ—sarvābharaṇabhūşitaḥ; locana-kamalalocanaḥ, rājīvalocanaḥ, abravīt-idam vacanam abravit, etc. G. remarks that many formulas are not only synonymous but also metrically equivalent. The formulaic system of the Indian epic is not characterized by simplicity as is the Homeric system of name-epithet formulas. Moreover, the Indian epic allows the construction of formulas of different meaning by means of the same supporting