levman-is-pāli-closest-to-the-western-aśokan dialect-of-girnār

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Is Pli closest to the western Aokan dialect of Girnr?

Levman, Bryan. 2010. "Is Pli closest to the Western Aokan dialect of Girnr?" Sri Lankan

International Journal of Buddhist Studies (SIJBS). 79-108.

Introduction

Indias earliest decipherablewritings, the Aokan rock inscriptions,are an indispensable primarywitness to the state of the Indian polityand languageof the third century B.C.Utilizing these

inscriptions it has often been observed that Pli (P.) is closet to the western Indian Girnr (Gir.)

verion of AokasRock Edicts (RE) (e. g.Bloch 1950, 44-45;Lamotte 1988, 565; Salomon 1998,

73f; von Hinber2001, 39),and this is commonly accepted as a linguistic fact. Sometime

after 250 B.C., Mahinda, Aokas son and a Buddhist monk, brought the Buddhist teachings to

ri Laka in Pli, where they were memorized, transmitted and eventually written down, in the

first century B. C. Indeed there are many similaritiesbetween the Pli linguistic form and that of

Girnr; however, the differences are just as striking as the similarities. This article will explore

the similarities and differences and reevaluate Plis linguistic proximity to the other Aokan

dialects of the north(Kls = K.) and north-west(Mnsehr = M. and Shhbzgah =Sh.).

The Provenance of Pli

Despite Buddhaghoas belief that Pli was in fact Mgadh, the original language of the

Buddha(quoted in Norman 1990B, 128-30), we know that it is a mixed language containing

mainly western elements with some Eastern features, plus Sanskritizations normalized for

ecclesiastical purposes (Lders 1954; Norman 1983, 4; Lamotte 1988, 563; von Hinber

1994,180ff). Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit (BHS)is another Middle-Indic (MI)dialect, believed to

stem from the school of the Mahsghikalokottaravdins(von Hinber 2001, 43), which has

undergone even more Sanskritizations than Pli. Both dialects appear to have developed side

by side at the times of their origin (von Hinber1994, 192); they flow from the same source,

which von Hinber calls Buddhist Middle Indic(von Hinber2001, 40). The nature of what

this source is has occupied researchers for decades. As early as 1916, Geiger surmised that it

was a lingua franca containing elements of all dialects but free of the most conspicuous

dialectal phenomena (p. 3). He variously termed ita Hoch-und Gebildetensprache(high and

scholarly language), a Verkehrssprache(a lingua francaor interlanguage) and a Kunstsprache

(artificial language). Helmer Smith called it a KoineGangtiquein 1952 (p. 178). Bechert (1980,

34) wondered if differences in Pli prose and verse pointed to a middle Indic Dichtersprache


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(poetic language) which was transregional in use. Przyluski believed that The first canonical

texts were written in the Magadhan dialect. When the Sthavira and Sarvstivdin sects

asserted themselves in the regions of Kaumbi and Mathur, each of them drew upon

a literary language which was a source of prestige and an instrument of propaganda.

Thus, the Scriptures were eagerly translated into Sanskrit at Mathura and into Pli at

Kaumbi (quoted in Lamotte, 1988, 584).

Differences between Pli and Girnr

The mystery of Plis provenance remains to this day. Lamotte has provided a comprehensive

list of the similarities between Pli and Girnr (1988, 565), which list is often cited asevidence

of Plis western connection (see below). I list here a few of the principal differences, in no

particular order:

1) all the Aokan Prakrits have orva(Gir.) for (Skt.)yvat, yet Pli reverts toyva(as

much as, until).

2) For the world self, Gir. has atp atpa > atva. The form atva is well attested in the north-western dialect ofMnsehr(M.)(RE 12 F2

1Although the tvstructure apparently did change to tt,as von Hinberhas pointed out, and it was

later re-Sanskritised back to tvato prevent confusion with the nomen agentis(1994 188f.)

2Captial letters (F, etc.) refer to location of the text with the rock inscription as per the Hultzsch system of

notation, found in his Inscriptionsof Aokamonograph (1969).

, passim) and although the Shhbzgah(Sh.)

REadopts ata-,Mehendale maintains this is an eastern borrowing and the proper

northwestern treatment oftman is > atpa>atva, (1956/57, 167). Nevertheless, in the case

of Skt. tman, P. is closest to Sh. and the dialects of Kls (K.), Jaughaa (J.) and Eagui

(E) which also have ata. The form atva-survives in the Gndhr version of the Dhp, verse


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362 (ajtva-radovs. P. ajjhatta-rato, delighting in ones self). To complicate matters, appa

also survives as an ArdhaMgadh(AMg.)or eastern form.3

3) In some cases Gir. is more phonologically advanced than Pli (e. g. RE 13 O, (Skt.)

samacarya > (Sh. K.) samacariya/samacaliya, > (Gir.) samacaira(spiritual calm),

yet Pli reverts to the (phonologically) older form (samacariy) as used in Sh. and K.

4) Gir. has mahi(RE 9C, Skt. mahil > mahi) showing an l->-- change,4

3The appa-form oftman(P. atta-) is well attested in ArdhaMgadh and Mgadh(Pischel 277). In the

REs, the Brhm script shows a conjunct consonant with a pa-on top of a ta-,which is normally read tpa.

Pischel says that it should be read pta-by way of transposition of stops , tma-> *atva-> *tpa-> pta-

atta(P.), basedon the rule of consonant assimilationthat between equals (-p-and t-being equal;

Woolner33, Pischel 270) the second prevails. If the reading were tpaas Hultzsch has interpreted it in

RE 12 Gir., then the normal derivation is appa, which is only found in AMg.most reflexes (P. and the

other REs)are atta-or atvain M. and tpain Gir.. The change ofm->v- is fairly common in Middle-

Indo Aryan (MIA , Pischel 251) but the change v->-p-is uncommon, it usually being the other way

around, as a form of intervocalic lenition (Pischel 199). Munda characteristically has an interchange of

m-and p-(Kuiper 1991, 37). We find a similar change with aspiration, in RE 13 B (K.) tasmt > taspt >

tappht > tapph(therefore) and in Separate Edict 2, I, L: (Skt.) asma > *aspe>(Jaughaa = J., Dhauli

= D..) apphe(we, written as aphe) and (Skt.)yuma>yume>*tume> *tupe> tupphe(you pl.,

written astuphe). The v->-p-phenomenon seems to be most prevalent in the west and northwest. See,

for example, RE 4 B: (Gir.) dassayitp (Sh. M.) spamika(master) and RE 6 L shows the same change in (Skt.)

svarga>(Sh. M.) spagra, > (Gir. K. Dh.) svagga(heaven). RE 10 A has (Gir.) tadtpano< (Skt.)

*tadtvanam> (K. Dh.) tadatvye, and > (Sh. M.) tadatvaye(present time). In RE 12 F passim, the

Mnsehr edict shows several versions ofatva-, while Gir. has tpa-, K Sh. and E ata(self). In the

minor rock edicts - MRE 1 G, - several locations, Brhmagiri (Br.),E., Pnguriy (Pn.), Rjula-

Maagir(Rj.), and Uegoa(Ue.) have mahtpafor (Skt.) mahtm(great soul) which Mehendale

sees asa northwest influence on these southern rock edicts (1955, 90); in the same section there is also

a (common) p->-v-change: (Skt.) prptum> (Sahasrm = Sah.) pvatavewith other versions showingppotave(to achieve).

but Pli

reverts to Skt. mahil(woman).

4Pillar Edict (PE)7 SS: (Skt.) dharmalipi >dhamalipi > dhamalibi(religious edict),also > RE I A, et

al. (Sh. M.) dhramadipi, with an unusual l-> d-change which Woolner (1924, 97) says is Iranian in origin.

See Pischel 226 (-a->-a-, but not vice-versa; this only happens in Munda(see Kuiper 1948, 6 which

shows equivalence ofd/r/l/in proto-Mundan). For change --> -,see also PE 5 B where (Skt.) uli > da

(Delhi-Topr =Top.), but (Allhbd-Kosam=All.) > du (turtle).PE 5 Calso has another example of


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5) Gir. hasyrisa< (Skt.)yda(which like),but Pli hasydisa(a NW form). Eastern,

southernand Mnsehr forms aredis/dise/adie (RE 4 C).

6) It appears that the normal form of Skt. guru(heavy, teacher)in Gir. is the same, i. e.

guru. In RE 9 G, Gir. and K. have gurna-b-is not a normal change (v->-p-, although unusual, is well-attested as

noted above). Kuiper calls the interchange of -v-and b-a well-known crux (1991, 33)

and notes the -b->-v- change was an attempt to Sanskritize a foreign word with a foreign

phoneme, b-. The change v->-b-is inconceivable (for the RigVeda; ibid, 34) and one

does not observe it in the Prakrits; however it does happen later in Pli (Geiger54-6) and

von Hinber (2001, 255)notes the use oftavvo in Pli inscriptions and oldest

manuscripts. There are also several uses ofbb-forvv-in the Dhammapada (Dhp), e. g.

verse 53 (P. kattabbavs. PDhp5

change -->--,i. e. (Skt.) eaka >(Top.)eak(ram). Also RE 2 A: (Skt.) kerala >(Sh.) keraa(Proper

Name = PN) and RE 9 C: (Skt. mahil> (Gir.) mahi(woman).

5Patna Dhammapada= PDhp

ktavva, to be done) and verse 113 P. udayabbaya

vs. PDhp udayavyaya(rising and falling). Sn verse 537 has the word paribbajayitv,

which, as Norman points out is a pun on pari +vraj(to wander) and pari +vj(to reject,

abandon) which only works in a dialect where bb-changes to vv- (Norman 2006A, 263).

However it is still not clear phonologically why v->-b-unless through the process noted


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above (with tman) ofv->-p->-b-(i. e. tavya >-tavva >-tappa >-tabba).The latter

lenition (-p->-b-) is very common and the former fortition (-v->-p-) is well attested, if

uncommon, in Gir. (Skt. darayitv >Gir.dassayitp, having seen), Sh. (Skt. svmika>

Sh. spminka, master) and P. (Skt. prvaraa> P. ppurana, cloak; Skt. hvayati> P.hpeti;to sacrifice, see Woolner 1928, 39-6). So in this case the P. tabbaending

seems to relate both to thewestern and the north/north-western dialects.

9) in RE 14 E, we find: (Skt.) sakaya> (Gir.) sacchya, > (K.) akheye, > (Sh.) samkhay-,

(M.) sakhay-, (E.) sakhyy, but Pli goes back, not to the western, but to the

northern version sankhaya(loss as a noun, or having omitted as a gerund).

10)Where the northern form and the eastern form are different, Gir. goes with the northern form,

as does Pli: RE 6 F: (Skt.) tyayika, > (K. Dh.) atiyyike, > (Gir.) ccyika, > (Sh.) acayika,

(M.) acayike,Pli (accyika; urgent).

11)While Gir. often preserves the -s-conjunct (e. g. RE 4 C: (Skt.) anusiaye> (Gir.)

anusasiyinstruction; RE 4 G: (Skt.) reha> (Gir.) sese, best and RE 6 D: (Skt.)

sthita > (Gir.) sit,hapax legomenon,standing, being, it is not preserved in Pli

(anusatthiy, seha, hita). In this case P. is the similar to K. Dh. and E.

(anusatthiye/anusatthiy,sehe) and to Sh. and M. which, however, retain the r-

(srehe/sreha).

12)Many consonantal clusters are retained in Gir. ( kr, tr, pr, vy) but few of these are kept in

Pli which often adopts the northern/eastern from: e. g.

a) RE 1 G: (Skt.) pra> (Gir.) pra> (K. J. E.) pna, (P.) pa(living being);

b) RE 1 F: (Skt.) priya> (Gir.) priya, > (K. J. E.) piya, > (Sh.) pria, >(M.) priya, (P.) piya

(dear);

c) RE 5 I: (Skt) trayodaa > (Gir.) traidasa, > (K. Dh. E.) tedasa, (Sh.) todaa, > (M.)

treaa, >(P.) terasa/telasa( thirteen). The Pli word shows a d->-r-change which is

characteristic of Gndhr, the north-western dialect(Brough1962, 43-b);

d) RE 10 C: (Skt.) tika,> (Gir.) trika,> (K. Dh. J.) tika,> (Sh. M.) trika, (P.) tika

(threeforld). In the Aokan edicts this word occurs in the compound pra-trika(MW:

advantageous in another world or with a view to the next world(Woolner1924,s. v.).

Strangely, the compound does not exist in Pli which uses the northern/eastern form or-tika,

not the western;

e) RE 4 F: (Skt.) putr> (Gir.) putr> (K. Dh.) put, >(Sh. M.) putra, >(P.) putt(sons)


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f) RE 6 B: (Skt.) atikrntam, > (Gir) atikrta, > (Sh. M.) atikrata, > (K. Dh. J) atikata,

(P.) atikkanta(passed). Pli follows the northern/eastern form. The same situation exists

for the common verb parkram;

g) with the common Skt. word brhmaa, P. is closest to the Sh. and M. versions (bramaa),

although P. is clearly a back-formation to Skt. Girnruses the br-form of brhma in two

out of 7 cases.6

6The different reflexes of the word brhmaain the Aokan edicts, whether in compound or as a single

word are as follows:

Girnr: bmhaa(3D), brmhaa(4A), bramhaa(4C), bmhaa(8E), bamhaa(9G), bmhaa(11C),

bmha(13G),

Kls: babhna(3D), babhna(4A), babhana(4C), babhanibbhesu(5K), babhanna(8E),

babhanna(9G), babhanna(11C), bbhan(13G), bahmane(13J),

Dhauli: babhana(3D), bbhanesu (4A), bbhanesu(4C), bbhanibhiyesu(5K), bbhanna(8E),

bbhanna(9G),

Shhbzgarh: bramaa(3D), bramaana(4A), bramaa(4C), bramaibheu(5K), bramaana(8E),

bramaana(9G), bramaana(11C), bramaa(13G),

Mnsehr: bramaa(3D), bramaana(4A), bamaa(4C), bramaibhyeu(5K), bramaana(8E),

bramaana(9G), bramaana(11C), braane(13J),

Eagui: babhanna(3D) babhan[]na[](4A), babhanna(4C), babhan[i]bhiyesu(5K),

babhanna(8E), [babha]nana(9G), babhanna[](11C), b[bha]n(13G), [b]bhane(13J).

Delhi-Topra: bbhanesu(7thPillar Edict Z), bbhana(7thPE HH)

We note the following phonological changes. All locales except Sh. and M. (and five out of seven times in

Gir.), change brh-> b/ba. This is a normal MIA conjunct simplification at the beginning of a word

(Pischel 268). brhmaais derived from the Vedic root bhorbh(to grow great or strong, to

increase). The h-is usually not retained, but is often progressively assimilated to the initial consonant

with the formation of the bilabial aspirated stop bh-,so brh-> bbh-.Sometimes, as in the northwest Sh.and M. it is simply dropped (-h->). In the latter case, the second syllable ma-is preserved (brhma->

bamaaorbramaa); however with the change to bbh-, the second syllable loses its initial m-: brhma->

bbha-, sometimes with an anusvraafter the -: brhma-> bbha-, which is presumably a retention

from the Vedic root bhor a metathesis from the second syllable. Peculiar to Girnr is the reversal of

hm->-mh-, brhma-> b(r)mha-, and there is one case in K 13J where (brhmaa >bahmane)


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h) A case where Pli preserves the conjunct vy-, from Gir. is found in RE 5 J: (Skt.) vypta>

(Gir.) vypat, >(K. Dh.) viypa, > (Sh.) vapaa, > (M.) vapua> (P.) vyvaa(busy,

engaged). Note the change ofp-tov-and t->--. The preservation ofvy-does not

appear to be invariably the case as in RE 8 B, Gir. has magavy(< Skt. mgavya, hunting),

while P. has migav, unless the latter is derived from alt. Skt. word mgay(also meaning

hunting) with a changey->-v-.Other examples where the vy-is not retained is Skt.

vya>P. va (snake) and Skt. vrata >P. vata(religious observance).

13)In RE 4 F (Gir.)uses the term prapotrto mean great-grandson (< Skt. prapautra), with

potrmeaning grandson, and putr, son; the other REs use paatikafor great-grandson

(< Skt. pranapt) and natle/nataroto mean grandsons (< Skt. naptra, pl. ofnapt).Pali

has the word paputta, but it means grandson, not great-grandson and has no equivalent

to Girnrs potra. For great-grandson Pil has panattu(not in PED, but in Buddhadatta,232) which, once again, corresponds with K. (pantiky), Dh. (panatti), Sh. (pranatika) M.

(paatika) E. (pantik), but not Gir. Pli also has the word nattarfor grandson which

corresponds to all the REs butGir.

What we are witnessing in the above collection is that Pli is not as closely related to the

Aokan western dialect as has commonly been believed. In fact, in all but a few cases above, P.

is much more closely related to the northern (K.) or northwestern (Sh. M.) dialects.

wherehm- is retained but the preceding vowel nasalized. The normal Prakrit reflex ofbrhmaais

bambhaa(Pischel 250 in ArdhaMgadh and Jaina-Mhrr; for other dialects the reflex is bamhaa,

in Mgadh and aurasen, per Pischel 250, 287). The question then arises, since the normal Prakrit

form forbrhmaa is eitherba(m)bhaa(prevalent at Kls in the north central area, Dhauli in the east,

Eagui in the south and Delhi in the centre) orbamhaa(used at Girnr in the west) orb(r)amaa(in

the two north westsites, Sh. and M.): why did the authors of the Pli recension chose the Sanskrit version,

using a form which is closest to the Sh. and M. reflex? This seems to corroborate the composite nature of

the Pli language, formed by monks in conscious interference with the natural development of this

language (von Hinber1994, 187).


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Similarities between Pli and Girnr.

What about the other resemblances between Pli and the western dialect? Let us re-examine

Lamottes list of similarities (1988, 565), which are based mainly on morphological rather than

lexemicor phonologicalconsiderations:

1) P. has a nom. sing. in ofora-stems, as does Gir. But so does Shhbzgah. M. has

nom. sing in e(Brough 76) which might also account for such P. forms traditionally

thought to be Magadhisms (Lders1954, 1f).

2) P. hasablative in for a-stems as sometimes does Gir. Sh. has ablative in a(Hultzsch,

xc), although whether this was long of short ais impossible to tell, since vowel length

was not noted in Karoh script (Salomon 1998, 75). K. has abl. in -.

3) P. has a locative of a-stems in e,-asmiand amhi;Gir. has loc. in amhiande; Sh.

has loc. in aspiand e. As we have seen above, -m-andp-are closely related.

4) P. has the accusative plural in eas does Girnr. Sh. has it in ani. Neuter plurals are

the same for Gir. Sh. and P.

5) P. has instr. ofanstem formas raand gen. as rao;in Gir. the instr. is rand

the gen. is ro. Sh. has instr. as raaand gen. as rao.

6) In Gir. and P. the demonstrative ayafunctions as nom. sing. in both masculine and

feminine. Sh. has ayafor masc. and ayafor fem.

7) Gir. and P. has the 3rd. person sing. ending in eand -ey(y)aand the middle opt. in tha.

Sh. apparently has no dedicated opt. form except for the verb as (siyaand siyati

compared to P. siy for 3rdpers. sing). Klshas eyas 3rdopt.

8) P. and Gir. both have the development u->-a-< Skt. guru. But, as noted above, on two

out of three occasions, Gir. retains guruwhile it is Sh. and K. which have garu.


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9) The change of Skt. khalu > khois noted by Lamotte as an isogloss between P. and Gir.,

but it is common to all the REs.

10)The replacement of--by a-, -i-,oru-is, per Lamotte another correspondence

between P. and Gir. However this is also common to K. and Sh. Dh. and J.11)The retention of--in the stems is common to both P. and Gir., but this is also the case

in Sh. and M. (e. g. gaa- in RE 3 E orsamaain RE 4 C orcaraain RE 4 D).

12)Changing bh->-h-in instrumental plural (common to all REs) and in the verb hoti

(common to K. and M.)

13)the collapse of the three sibilants, , and sto one (s). Both K., Sh. and M. retain the

differentiation of the sibilants, the latter two following Skt., and the former

indiscriminately (Hultzsch, lxxvi). The eastern dialects also collapse the sibilants,although the palatal s> cin the root sak(Separate RE2 G: Dh.).

14)the shortening of long nasalized vowels esp. in the gen. pl. is done in Gir. and in P. But it

is also prevalent in Kls(Hultzsch lxxiv), Sh. and the other REs (e. g. RE 4 A: Skt.

bhtn> Gir., E. bhtna, K. bhutna, Dh. bhtna, Sh. M. bhutana).

In Summary, considering all 14 points of convergence outlined by Lamotte, there is only one

or two points (masc. accus. pl. in eofastems and the levelling of the sibilants to the

dental s) which are peculiar to P. and Gir., with the others being common to the northernand north western dialects, or sometimes to all. Plus there are many points of dissimilarity

between the two dialects, leading one to believe, with Norman that there is probably no

connection between Pli and the Girnr dialect of the Aokan inscriptions (2006B, 128).Yet

there does appear to be a strong connection with the north and northwest.

Conclusions

1) Pli is a composite language,younger and more phonologically evolved than the Aokan

Prakrits. It has many and varied correspondences to the dialects, but the strongest by

far is to Sh. and K., northwestern and northern.

2) We know that Pli was not written down until the first century B. C. in ri Lanka (Bechert

1992, 45); however writing existed in India from at least Aokan times, and probably


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earlier. Scholars are generally agreed that the earliest writing in India was in the Karoh,

Aramaic script and was extant from the fourth century or possibly the fifth century

(Salomon 1998, 46). Karoh was older than Brhm and quite possibly its precursor and

model (ibid, 54).

3) It would not be an unreasonable hypothesis therefore to suggest that the first Buddhist

teachings were written down in Karoh in the north west to which Buddhism spread

from its earliest times through the existing trade routes; Buddhism had a special appeal

to merchants, for the new philosophy validated and encouraged their profession

(Thapar 2000, 926).

4) Assuming the Pli teachings had a Karos source or influence, this would account for

the significant number of northwestern influences in the Pli dialect. Although the only

way to prove this statistically is to translate the entire Aokan corpus into Pli, my

intuition, from the little preliminary work done above, is that much more of the lexemic

and phonological inventory of Sh. M. and K. will be present in Pli than will the forms

from Gir. This in itself does not prove anything more than the fact thatPli is not closest

to Gir. as is commonly opined, but closer to the northern and northwestern dialects. It

does not of course prove derivation. The morphological correspondencesbetween P.

and Gir and P. and Sh./K./M. are equally strong.

5) In this spirit,Appendix 1 showsa comparison of all forms of(randomly chosen)RE 4

which supports this hypothesisof a north/north-western origin of Pli, with 43% of the

words in K. Sh. and M. being closest to Pli, while only 19% are closest to Gir. This short

compilation treats data on a unitary basis and does not weight for important common

words like Pli brhmaawhich is closest to the NW form - bramaa, but its change to

brhmaain Pli may also be a later back-Sanskritization as Norman suggests (2006B,

134).

6) The Pli- Shhbzgah/Mansehr/Kls connection also helps to explain some of the

strange phonological anomalies in the edicts, like the use of the common word tman.

The eastern and Pli form is atta, but Gir. has atpand M. has atva. Sh., although itpreserve elsewhere them->vchange (e. g. asmin > aspiin loc. sing.) has atta. Yet

AMg., also an eastern dialect, preserves the form appa. This leads to the conclusion

that atpa/atvais a northwestern form and that the AMg. and Mgadhform appawas

borrowed from there, while the other eastern dialects (Dh. J.) chose theattaform. A


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derivation from the east to the northwest is precludedby the Dh. J. preservation of the

attaform (since t-never changes to p-). Alternately we are simply witnessing the

confusion noted by Pischel (277) ofatman > atpa > appaor by metathesis atman >

apta > atta.The Plinorth/northwest connection also helps to clarifythe many lexical ambiguities

we encounter in Pli through the use of intervocalic glides which are subject to multiple

interpretations: e. g. a compound like P. pacceyabuddhawhich is traditionally

interpretedto derive form Skt. pratyekabuddha(a private Buddha) but probably

comes from pratyayabuddha (a Buddha awakened by specific conditions; i. e. not by a

Buddhas teachings);7or the ambiguity between viraja(free from passion), virata

(stopped, ceased) in corresponding versions of the Sabhiyasutta(in Pli Sutta Niptaand BHS Mahvastu) which goes back to an underlying word viraa;8

Abbreviations

there are dozens

of these ambiguities in the Pli writings, some of which have been isolated in Levman

2009. As the most advanced of the Aokan dialects, Shhbzgahwhich is already

extensively softening consonants, dropping them or replacing them with glides - could

well be the source of, or at least a significant influence on these linguistic anomalies.

All. = Allhbd-Kosam (Pillar Edict)

BHS = Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit

7

pratyayabuddha(Skt.) > paccayabuddha >*pacceyabuddha> (palatalization

a->-e-in the presenceof [-ANT]cons. cc-), P. paccekabuddha. In this case the y-form encountered by the translator was

interpreted as an intervocalic glide replacing a consonant (often represented as a y-with a dot over it,

-, as per Pischel 187), common in the north-west Prakrits, and the missing consonant (thought to be

k-) was mistakenly replaced.

8See Norman 1990B, 151. Theconsonant--represents a weakly articulated intervocalic glide which

replaced consonants in intervocalic position, first in Gndhr and then in the other Prakrits.


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BHSD = Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Br.= Brahmagiri

Dh. = Dhauli (Rock Edict)

Dhp = DhammapadaE. = Eagui (Rock Edict)

GDhp. = Gndhr Dhp. (Brough 1962)

Gir. = Girnr (Rock Edict)

J. = Jaugaa (Rock Edict)

K. = Kls

M. = Mnsehr (Rock Edict)

MIA = Middle Indo-AryanMW = Monier Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary

P. = Pli

Pn. = Pnguriy

PDhp = Patna Dhammapada

PE = Pillar Edicts (capital letter following refers to Hultzschs section designations, 1969)

PED = Pali Text Society Pali-English Dictionary

PN = Proper NameRE = Rock Edicts (capital letter following refers to Hultzschs section designations, 1969)

Sah. = Sahasrm

Sh. = Shhbzgah (Rock Edict)

Sn. = Sutta Nipta

Top. = Delhi-Topr (Pillar Edict)

Ue. = Uegoa


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Figure One- Map of Ancient India (per Lamotte, 1988). Aokan rock inscription sites circled in

red.


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Appendix One: Comparison of RE 4 forms with Pli and Sanskrit forms. Note: reconstructions

where applicable are as per Hultzsch 1969, Bhler(quoted in Hultzsch) and Sircar 1979.

Gir. atikta atara bahni vsasatni vahito

K. atikata atala bahuni vasasatni vadhite

Dh. atikata atala bahni vasasatni vahite

Sh. atikrata atara bahni vaaatani vahito

M. atikrata atara bahuni vaaatani vadhite

E. atikata atala bahuni vasasatni vahite

Skt. atikrntam antara bahni vrasatni vardhita

P. atikkantam antara bahni vassasatni vahito

Pli closest to K. Dh. E all Gir. Dh. Sh. K. Dh. E Gir. Dh. Sh.

E

Gir. eva prrabho vihis ca bhtna

K. v pnlabhe vihis ca bhutna

Dh. va pnlabhe vihis ca bhtna

Sh. vo praarambho vihis ca bhutana

M. vo praarambhe vihis ca bhutana

E. va pnlabhe vihis ca bhtna

Skt. eva prlambha vihis ca bhtn

P. eva, va, vo prabho vihis ca bhtna


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Pli closest

to9

all but K. Sh. M. Gir. all Gir. Dh. E

Gir. tsu asampratipat brmhaasramana

K. ntin asapaipati samanababhanna

Dh. ntisu asapaipati samanabbhanesu

Sh. tina asapaipati ramanabramaana

M. atina asapaipati ramaabramaana

E. ntina asapaipati samanababhanna

Skt. jatn asampratipatti ramaabrhm

P. tna asapaipatti samanabrhma

Pli closest to Gir. Sh. K. Dh. Sh. E. forbrhmaaSh. M.

forsamaaK. Dh. E.

Gir. asampratipat ta aja devnapriyasa

K. asapaipati se aj devnapiyas

Dh. asapaipati se aja devnapiyasa

Sh. asapaipati so aja devnapriyasa

M. asapaipati se aja devanapriyasa

9Generally, I considered consonantal similarity to be more important than vowel, esp. at an ending.

Therefore, for example, I consider K. piyadassineto be closer to P. piyadassino, than Gir. priyadassino.

When the only difference between forms is in a long or short vowel (as in bahni/bahuni) I treat them all

as equal.


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E. asapaipati se aja devnapiyasa

Skt. asampratipatti sa adya devnpriyasya

P. asapaipatti so ajja devnapiyassa

Pli closest to K. Dh. Sh. E. Sh. all K. Dh. E.

Gir. priyadasino ro dhamacaraena bherghoso

K. piyadasine ljine dhamacalanen bhelighose

Dh. piyadasine ljine dhamacalanena bhelighosa

Sh. priyadraisa rao dhramacaraena bherighoa

M. priyadraine rajine dhramacaraena bherighoe

E. piyadasine lajine dhamacalanena bhelighose

Skt. priyadarina rja dharmacaraena bherghoa

P. piyadassino rao dhammacaraena bherighosa

Pli closest to K. Dh. E. Gir. Sh. Gir. K. Gir.

Gir. aho dhamaghoso vimnadarsa ca hastidassa

K. aho dhamaghose vimanadassan hatthini

Dh. aho dhamaghosa vimnadassana hatthni

Sh. aho dhramaghoa vimanadraana astin

M. aho dhamaghoe vimanadraana astine

E. aho dhamaghose vimnadasan hathini


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Skt. abhavat dharmaghoa vimnadaranni hastidaranni

P. ahu/ahuv dhammaghosa vimnadassanni hatthidassanni

Pli closest to none Gir. K. Dh. M.

E.

K. Dh. E hatthi =K. Dh. E

dassanni= Gir.

Gir. ca agikadhni ca ani ca divyni rpni

K. agikadhni anni divyni lupni

Dh. agikadhni anni diviyni lpni

Sh. jotikadhani aani divani rupani

M. agikadhani aani divani rupani

E. agikadhni anni diviyni lpni

Skt. agniskandh anyni divyni rpni

P. aggikandh ani dibbni/divyni10 rpni

Pli closest to Gir. K. Dh. M. E. Gir. Sh. M. Gir. K. (based onthe verse form)

Gir. Sh. M.

Gir. dassayitp jana yrise bahhi vsasatehi

K. dassayitu janassa dis bahuhi vasasatehi

Dh. dassayitu munisna dise bahhi vasasatehi

Sh. draayitu janasa yadia bahuhi vaaatehi

M. draeti janasa adie bahuhi vaaatehi

10divyais the verse form, dibba, the prose form, per PED.


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E. dasayitp janasa dise bahuhi vasasatehi

Skt. dasayitv jana/janasya yda bahbhi varasatai

P. dassetv jana/janassa ydiso bahhi vasasatehi

Pli closest to none Gir. K. Sh. M.

E.

Sh. all Gir. K. Dh.

E.

Gir. na bhtapuvve trise aja vahite devnapriyassa

K. n hutapuluve tdise aj vahite devnapiyass

Dh. no htapuluve tdise aja vahite devnapiyassa

Sh. na bhutapruve tadie aja vahite devanapriyassa

M. na hutapruve tadie aja vahite devanapiyasa

E. no hutapuluve tdise aj vahite devnapiyasa

Skt. na bhtapurva tda adya vardhita devnpriyasya

P. na bhtapubba tdiso ajja vahito devnapiyassa

Pli closest

to

none K. Dh. E all all K. Dh. M. E.

Gir. priyadasino ro dhamnusasiy anrabho

K. piyadasine ljine dhamanusatthiye anlabhe

Dh. piyadasine ljine dhamnusatthiy anlabhe

Sh. priyadraisa rao dhramanuastiya anarabho

M. psiyadraine rajine dhramanuastiya anarabhe


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E. piyadasine lajine dhamnusathiy anlabhe

Skt. priyadarina rja dharmnuaaye anlambha

P. piyadassino rao dhammnusatthiy anrabbho

Pli closest to K. Dh. E. Gir. Sh. K. Dh. E. M.

Gir. prna avihs bhtna tna sampatipat

K. pnna avihis bhutna ntina sapaipati

Dh. pnna avihis bhtna ntisu sapaipati

Sh. praana avihisa bhutana tina sapaipati

M. praana avihisa bhutana atina sapaipati

E. pnna avihis bhtna ntina sapaipati

Skt. prn avihis bhtn jatn sampratipatti

P. pna avihis bhtna tna sapaipatti

Pli closest to K. Dh. E none Gir. Dh. E. Gir. Sh. all

Gir. bramhaasamana sampatipat

K. babhanasamanna sapaipati

Dh. samanabbhanesu sapaipati

Sh. bramaaramaana sapaipati

M. bamaaramaana sapaipati

E. samanababhanna sapaipati


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Skt. brhmaaraman sampratipatti

P. brhmaasamanna sapaipatti

Pli closest to brhmaa, Sh. Gir. samanna, Gir. K. Dh.

E.

all

Gir. mtari pitari susrus thairasusrus esa

K. mtpitisu sussus ese

Dh. mtipitu susss vuhasusss esa

Sh. matapituu vuhanasurua eta

M. matapituu surua vudhrana surua ee

E. mtpitu suss vuha ssus esa

Skt. mtpitsu urs vddhaurs etad

P. mtpitusu susss vuhasusssor

therasusss

eta/etad

Pli closest to K. Sh. M. K. Dh. E. vuha Dh. Sh. Err. Sh.

Gir. ae ca bahuvidhe dhamacarae vahite

K. c ane bahuvidhe dhamacalane vadhite

Dh. ane ca bahuvidhe dhamacalane vahite

Sh. aaca bahuvidha dhramacaraa vahita

M. ae ca bahuvidhe dhramacarae vadhrite

E. ane ca bahuvidhe dhamacalane vahite


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Skt. anyaca bahuvidha dharmacaraa vardhita

P. aaca bahuvidha dhammacaraa vahita

Pli closest to Gir. Sh. M. all Gir. Gir. Dh. Sh. E

Gir. vahayisati ceva devnapriyo priyadasi

K. vadhiyissati cev devnapiye piyadasi

Dh. vahayisati ceva devnapiye piyadas

Sh. vahiati ca yo devanapriyasa priyadraisa

M. vadhrayiati yeva devanapriye priyadrai

E. vahayisati yeva devnapiye piyadasi

Skt. vardhayiyati eva or caiva devnpriya priyadar

P. vahessati ceva, yeva devnapiyo piyadassi

Pli closest to Sh. forceva:Gir. K.

Dh. , foryeva, M.E.

K. Dh. E. K. Dh. E

Gir. rj dhamacaraa ida putr ca

K. lja dhamacalana ima put ca

Dh. lj dhamacalana ima put pi cu

Sh. rao dhramacaraa ima putra pi ca

M. raja dhamacaraa ima putra pi ca

E. lja dhamacalana ima put ca


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Skt. rj dharmacaraa ida putr api ca

P. rj dhammacaraa ima/ida putt pi ca

Pli closest

to

Gir. M. Gir. M. all K. Dh. E all but Dh.

Gir. potr prapotr devnapriyasa

K. kanattle pantiky devnapiyas

Dh. natti panatti devnapiyasa

Sh. kanataro pranatika devnapriyasa

M. ka natare paatika devanapriyasa

E. kanatale pantik devnapiyasa

Skt. naptara/pautr pranaptara devnpriyasya

P. nattro panattu devnapiyassa

Pli closest to Sh. M K. Dh. M. E K. Dh. E.

Gir. priyadasino ro pravadhayisati ida

K. piyadasine ljine pavahayisati ceva

Dh. piyadasine ljine pavahayisati yeva

Sh. priyadraisa rao pravadheati yo

M. psiyadraine rajine pavahayiati yo

E. piyadasine lajine vahayisati yeva

Skt. priyadarina rja pravardhayiyanti ida/ya/caiva


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P. piyadassino rao pavahessanti ida/ya/ceva/

yeva

Pli closest to K. Dh. E. Gir. Sh. Sh. all

Gir. dhamnussana dhamacarae pi na bhavati

K. dhamnussana dhamacalane pi c no hoti

Dh. dhamnussan dhamacalane pi cu no hoti

Sh. dhramanuaana dhramacaraa pi ca na bhoti

M. dhramanuaana dhramacarae pi ca na hoti

E. dhamnussan dhamacalana pi ca no hoti

Skt. dharmnusana dharmacaraa api ca na bhavati

P. dhammnussana dhammacaraa pi ca na bhavati/hoti

Pli closest to Gir. K. Dh. E. Gir. Gir. Sh. M. all but Sh.

Gir. aslasa ta imamhi attamhi vadh ahnica

K. asilas se imas atthas vadhi ahinic

Dh. aslasa se imasa ahasa vah ahnica

Sh. ailasa so imisa athrasa vahi ahinica

M. ailasa se imasa athrasa vadhri ahinica

E. aslasa se imasa athasa vahi ahinica

Skt. alasya s arthasya vddhi ahnaca

P. aslassa s atthassa vuhi/vahi ahnaca


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imasa/imamhi

Pli closest to all all but Sh. for

imasa/imamh;

none fors

Gir. K. E. Dh. Sh. none

Gir. sdhu etya athya ida lekhpita

K. sdhu etye athye iya likhite

Dh. sdh etye ahye iya likhite

Sh. sadhu etaye ahaye ima nipista

M. sadhu etaye athraye iya likhite

E. sdhu etye ahye iya likhite

Skt. sdhu etasmai arthrya iya likhita/likhpita

P. sdhu etya atthya ida likhita/likhpita

Pli closest

to

all Gir. Gir. Gr. K. Dh. M. E.

Gir. imasa athasa vadhi yujatu

K. imas athas vadhi yujatu

Dh. imas ahasa vah yujat

Sh. imisa ahasa vahi yujatu

M. etasa athrasa vadhri yujatu

E. imasa ahasa vahi yujatu


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Skt. asya/etasya arthasya vddhim yujantu

P. imasa/etasa atthassa vahim yujantu

Pli closest to all but Sh. Gir. K. Dh. Sh. E. all

Gir. hni ca no locetavy dbdasavsabhisitena

K. hini ca m alocayisu duvasavabhisitena

Dh. hni ca m alocayis duvdasa vasni

abhisitasa

Sh. hini ca ma loceu badayavaabhisitena

M. hini ca ma alocayisu duvadaavaabhisitena

E. hni ca m alocayisu duvasavasbhisiten

Skt. hna ca m locayitavya/alociu? dvdaavarbhisiktena

P. hna ca m locetavy/locesu? dvdasavassbhisittena

Pli closest to none Gir. K. Dh.E.

? (Gir. Sh.) Gir.

Gir. devnapriyena priyadasin r ida

K. devnapiyen piyadasin ljin

Dh. devnapiyasa piyadasine ljine ya idha

Sh. devnapriyena priyadraina raa ana hida

M. devanapriyena psiyadraina rajina iya

E. devnapiyen piyadasina ljina iya


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Skt. devnpriyena priyadarin rj ida/jna iha

P. devnapiyena/assa piyadassin ra ida/a

Pli closest

to

K. Dh. E. K. Dh. E. Gir. Sh. Gir. Dh. Sh. Dh.

Gir. lekhpitam

K. lekhit

Dh. lekhite

Sh. nipesitam

M. likhapite

E. likhite

Skt. lekhita/likhpita

P. lekhita/likhpita

Pli closest to K. Dh. M.


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Total correspondence with Pli lexical forms by RE and percent11

Gir. 40 19%

K. 40 19%

Dh. 42 20%

Sh. 31 15%

M. 19 9%

E. 39 18%

Total 211

Total correspondence with Pli lexical forms by area.

West (Gir.) 40 19%

North and northwest (K. Sh.

M.)

90 43%

East (Dh.) 42 20%

South (E.) 39 18%

11percentages total more than 100% because of multiple answers (Pli is similar to more than one rock

edict form). All and None were omitted from count.


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Dritte Folge, Nr. 117.English version in Buddhist Studies Review, 8 1-2 (1991):24-34.

Bechert, Heinz. 1992. The Writing Down of the Tripitaka in Pli. Wiener Zeitschrift fr die Kunde

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