________________
SOME PROBLEMS
OF MĀGADHI DIALECT
Jagat Ram Bhattacharyya*
(Continued from the previous Number)
4. The Treatment of Sanskrit kş in Māgadbi :
In Māgadhi ks frequently changes to various forms as stated by the grammarians Vararuci, Hemacandra, Trivikrama, Purusottama and Rāma-Tarkavāgisa formulate different sūtras about the changing of ks in Māgadhi. In this context, vararuci says in his sutra kşasya skaḥ (XI. 8) which means that ks becoming sk e.g. dakşaḥ> daske, rākşasaḥ>laskase. Here kş becomes sk. Hemacandra and Trivikrama have not formulated any general sūtra for the same in Māgadhi; but refer to the change of ks in some words by skaḥ prekşācakşo” (4.297) which means that anly in the two cases prekșa and acakşa, the kş becomes sk., for example, prekșate> peskadi and acakşate>ācaskadi. Trivikrama has followed Hemacandra in his sūtra skaḥ prekşā cakşeh (3.2 34). Hemacandra by the sūtra kşasyakaḥ (4 296) proves that generally in all cases kş becomes k, but it must be in the non-initial position. For example, yakṣaḥ>yake and rākṣasaḥ>lakaśe. But initial ks turns to kh in general. Such as kşaya-jaladhară>khayayalahalā. Trivikrama again has followed Hemacahdra in his sūtra kșahkah (3.2.33).
Puruşottama, Rāma Tarkavāgisa and Markandeya are unanimous in making the sūtras for the change of kş in Māgadhi. They have all stated that kş becomes śk in Māgadhi (Pu. XII. 6; RT. 2.2.15; Mk. XII. 4). But they have formulated the sūtra in a different way. All have said that kkh becomes śk in Māgadhi (kkhasya śkaḥ Pu. XII. 6, kkhasyodita śkaḥ RT. 2.2.15; kkhasya śkaḥ Mk. XII 4.). The reason that they have said kkh is obvious. As ks becomes kkh in Mahārāştri they have all taken that the change of kş>kkh as standard for formulating their sūtras, and that which departs from the normal procedure (i.e. Mahārāștri) are to be recorded in the dialectal features. As a result, they have not mentioned directly that kş is changed into sk. 'Lecturer in the Dept. of Prakrit, J.V.B., Ladnun.
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