Sambodhi 2009 Vol 32

Author(s): J B Shah, K M patel
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 41

Vol. XXXII, 2009
Two Peculiar Usages of the Particle...
ūrayugala kiri kadalīthambhä сaranakamala sukumālā mayagala jima mālhamxi cālai bolai vayana rasāla,
Her lips are red (lit. of a good colour) like (jisyā) coral, her arms straight and tender, her thick round breasts lovely like (jāņe) a stream of nectar, her pair of thighs (like] (kiri) the stems of the plaintain plant, her lotus-feet tender, she swings her hips like (jima) an elephant, she speaks words full of love.
The other instance is found again in the Virātaparva (line 420): dīsai nahīm bhuim kiri niri būdi, The earth has disappeared as if it has been submerged in the water.
Again, the function of kiri in these instances agrees with the ones established for Sanskrit. With kiri the poet (or the speaker) seems to emphasize that he is merely repeating common poetic images or descriptions. What is exceptional, however, is the use in the latter two instances of kiri as a veritable particle of comparison. This function becomes especially clear fom the instance from the Vidyāvilāsapavādau, in which kiri is found side by side with jisyā, jāne and jima. While the aim of the poet in this stanza clearly was to show his skill in varying the possible particles of comparison, his use of kiri on its own as such is peculiar. The same applies to its use in Virātparva 420. The question arises if we are not dealing with a meaning "invented” on the basis of the occurrences in kira/kiri in “messages”. As such, these instances of kiri as a particle of comparison would testify to the artificial nature of Apabhramśa, which would be a learned language just like Sanskrit.
Annotation :
1. kim kira in 83.3.11, 85.8.7, 88.12.6, 89.8.9, 89.12.9, 89.12.12, 89.13, 90.2.7, 92.12.11,
92.13.2, ko kira in 83.8.8, 85.1.11, kira ko in 85.8.6, kira tuhum kāim 88.4.6, kira kasu
85.7.8, kahim kira 84.1.7, 89.7.9, kavana kira 87.16.5. 2. Emeneau (1969:251) refers to Chandogya Upanişad 4.14.2: kim nu somya kila te 'vocann
iti. This passage turns up again with Ickler (1976: 86), who queries the possibility of a substitution of original khalu by kila. Van Daalen (1988: 125-6 and 136, note 66) refers besides to katham adyāpi viprakrstatamh in Bhavabhūti's Mahāvīracarita (6,7+) and an instanace of kim nâma kir etam from Jataka 2.63.21. Other instances of kira in combination with an interrogative are found in, for instance, Sattasai 773 (kamalāyarāna