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seems to be that because the word Väsī is used with Chandana, it might not have been possibly thought by them to comprehend the true meaning. Whatever the reason may be, it is certain that the word Väsi denotes the tool of a carpenter, viz. an adze.
DICTIONARIES AND LEXICONS
The word Väsi has not only confused the commentators' mind but also seems to have puzzled lexicographers. The eminent Western lexicographer and great Sanskrit scholar Arthur Anthony Macdonell, in his Sanskrit-English Dictionary?, gives the word Vasi without giving its meaning. He simply writes : qtet Väsī, s.v. Vāsi''.
1. The Amarakoșa, one of the most standard lexicon in Sanskrit, also does not give any information about Väsi.
First of all we shall see how the most prominent Jain lexicographer Hemachandrāchārya explains the word.
2. In the Abhidhāna Chintāmaņi, popularly known as Nāmamālā, the author enumerates the synonyms of Väsi thus :2 "qafua aut aret”
In his own commentary (Svopajna Tīkā), Hemachandra gives the following etymology", "ATTæ fafar qafua 11111 metastat natuit 112 11 qafa Efa atfer :, "Empfe" (F01. 619) 11 sfa fafa: 541 art 11 3 11
Thus according to Hemachandra, Vāsī means Vrkṣabhit or Takşaņi. Vļkṣabhit is etymologically explained as that which cuts the trees ; Takşaņi as by which any thing is stripped off : and Vāsī as which resides in the hand. Again quoting the rule of grammar, the learned laxicographer proves its formation and shows that it is spelled as Vasī as well as Vāsi. This etymological explanation
1. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary (with transliteration, accentuation and etymological analysis, throughout) by Arthur Anthoney Macdonell pub. by Oxford University Press, 1954, p. 279.
2. Abhidhāna Chintāmaņi, Kaņda III, p. 581.
3. Abhidhāna Chintämaņi with Svopajña Tikā, Ed. by Hargovind Das and Becbardas, pub. by Nathalal Laxmi Chand Vakil, Bhavnagar, 1914, p. 367.
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