Ketlak Alpagnat Ke Agnat Mulna Gujarati Shabdaprayogoni Charcha

Added to library: September 2, 2025

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First page of Ketlak Alpagnat Ke Agnat Mulna Gujarati Shabdaprayogoni Charcha

Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Ketlak Alpagnat ke Agnat Mulna Gujarati Shabdaprayogoni Charcha" by H.C. Bhayani:

This text is a detailed linguistic analysis of several Gujarati words, exploring their origins and meanings. The author, H.C. Bhayani, delves into etymology, tracing the evolution of these words from Sanskrit and Prakrit into Gujarati, and discussing various shades of meaning they have acquired.

The summary can be broken down by the words discussed:

1. Khamaṇ, Khāmaṇuṁ, Chhoṇavuṁ:

  • Khamaṇ: Refers to a "pulp or mash made by grating" (e.g., "koprānuṁ khamaṇ" - grated coconut).
  • Khamaṇavuṁ / Khamaṇī: Refers to a "tool used for grating."
  • The author traces these words back to Sanskrit: kṣay ("to decay," "to diminish") and kṣapaẏ ("to cause decay," "to diminish"). This evolves through Prakrit: khavai to khavaṇ, and finally to Gujarati khamāṇ.
  • Khāmaṇuṁ: Has a different meaning, signifying a "shallow pit," a "shallow field for planting," or a "raised platform made for placing vessels."
  • The origin of khāmaṇuṁ is suggested to be from khamaṇ (the act of digging a hole or a pit).
  • The author notes the general Gujarati tendency to transform Sanskrit kṣa to chha (like kṣīṇa becoming chīṇuṁ, chīṇī, chīṇ). However, instances of kṣa becoming kṣa are also found, suggesting influences from languages where this is common (like Hindi, Marathi). He refers to Pishel's Prakrit Grammar for further details on these phonetic shifts.

2. Ghāyā paḍaghāyā (घायां पडघायां):

  • This term translates to "wounded and responded," or metaphorically, "those who died from wounds or drowning, etc."
  • A specific ritual is mentioned: the shrāddha (ancestral remembrance ceremony) for such individuals is performed on the 14th day of the Bhadarva month.
  • A similar term, "Bāḷāmbhoḷāṁ," refers to the ritualistic remembrance day for infants who died similarly.
  • The author connects this to the word paḍagho (echo), paḍachhando (reflection), and other words beginning with paḍi (like paḍajībha, paḍabhīnta, paḍapūchha, paḍikamaṇuṁ).
  • These words derive from Sanskrit prati and Prakrit paḍi. He again refers to Pishel's Prakrit Grammar for paḍi.

3. Jaḍ (जड):

  • Jaḍ (1): Means "inanimate," "lacking feeling, intelligence, or vitality" (from Sanskrit and Prakrit jaḍa).
  • From jaḍa, the word jaḍḍa (meaning "heavy" in Apabhramsa) evolved, and then jāḍu in Gujarati, signifying a change in meaning (similar to Hindi "moṭā" meaning "big").
  • Jaḍ (2): Means "root." This is seen in compound words like jaḍamūḷ (synonymous compound). It originates from Sanskrit jaṭā (matted hair, roots) and Prakrit jaḍā, jaḍa. Examples include "jaḍ ukheḍī nākhavī" (to uproot), "jaḍathaḍ" (deeply rooted), "jaḍiyuṁ" (rooted), "jaḍadhuṁ" (uprooted). In jaḍībuṭṭī (herbs), jaḍi implies "a root with medicinal properties" or "a magical root."
  • Jaḍ (3): Means "nail" or "a nose ornament worn by women." The author suggests this meaning might have developed from the "root" meaning (point 2). The word sajjaḍa is thought to be related to this.
  • Jaḍavuṁ (4): Means "to seat firmly," "to fit something into a base."
  • Jaḍavuṁ (5): Means "to be found," "to come across." Jaḍatuṁ means "fitting," "matching." The word jaḍatī (investigation, search) is likely connected.
  • Jaḍ vāsavī (6): Refers to a ritual for Hindu children where a ring is tied to the hair during the thread ceremony or before marriage. The author is unsure of the exact origin of jaḍ and vāsavūṁ in this context. The origin of ajjada is also unclear. He dismisses the idea that ajjada is related to "adulterer" as baseless speculation.

4. Jūṭuṁ, Eṭuṁjūḍhuṁ Jūṭuṁ (जूटुं, एटुंजूढुं जूटुं):

  • Jūṭuṁ: Means "false," "untrue." This leads to derivatives like jūṭh, jūṭhāḍu, jūṭhāṇuṁ ("lies are quickly caught, the liar is eventually embarrassed"). It's also used to indicate intensity.
  • Jūṭhṁ: Means "leftover grain," "indigested food," "remnants." This is linked to jamavuṁ (to eat) and jūṭhṇuṁ.
  • The author, referencing Turner (5255, 5256, 5257), suggests the origin is Sanskrit juṣṭa (used, corrupted by use, tasted) and Prakrit juṭṭa.
  • Gujarati jūṭhaṇ means "leftover grain." In the context of bhavāī (folk theatre), jūṭhaṇ refers to a character who is deceitful but also amusing ("rangalō").
  • The phrase eṭuṁ (or eṁṭuṁ) jūḍhuṁ is also discussed. The author notes the difficulty in connecting the origins of eṭuṁ and ajītuṁ to Sanskrit ucchiṣṭa (remnants) and Gujarati uchchīṭhṁ due to phonetic discrepancies, particularly the transformation of u followed by a consonant cluster to a and chha becoming j (e.g., ucchiṣṭa to ujchhiṭa).

5. Jhāḍ, Jhāḍavuṁ-Jhūḍavuṁ (झाड, झाडबुं-झूडवू):

  • Jhāḍ (1): Means "tree," "bush." It comes from Sanskrit jhāṭa ("thicket," "bush") and Prakrit jāḍi ("cluster of vines").
  • Gujarati jhāḍī (bush), jhāḍavūṁ (to sweep), jhāḍ (tree) are derivatives. Jhāḍ can also mean "a clump of roots" or "a thicket." This is again linked to Sanskrit jaṭā (matted hair, roots) and Gujarati jaḍ (root).
  • Jhāḍavuṁ-Jhūḍavuṁ (2): Means "to wash," "to slap." It's associated with the idea of "sweeping and cleaning the house." This is compared to jhāṭakavuṁ becoming jhūṭakavuṁ and jhāpaṭa becoming jhūpaṭa. Jhāḍuṁ (broom) is also mentioned. Jhūḍuṁ (in Latin) means "to beat severely."
  • Jhāḍo (3): Means "diarrhea." The author is unsure if this is connected to the meaning in point 2.
  • The phrase "jhāḍe pharavā" is mentioned, where jhāḍe might refer to the tree in point 1.
  • The term jhaḍī (continuous rain, storm) has a separate origin and is not related to jhāḍ.

6. Paḍachho (पडछो):

  • Paḍachho (1): Refers to the "leafy end part of a sugarcane." This is derived from Sanskrit chada ("leaf"). Therefore, pratichhada could mean "opposite leaves" or "leaves situated across from the stalk." The etymology suggested is Sanskrit pratichhada, Prakrit paḍichchada, leading to Gujarati paḍachho.
  • Paḍachho (2): Means "support," "basis." The phrase "paḍachho na levo" means "not to go near." The meaning of "paḍachhe nākhavuṁ ke mūkavuṁ" (to place or put nearby) as "to make a comparison" is unclear to the author.

In essence, the book is a scholarly exploration of the nuanced etymological journeys of common Gujarati words, highlighting their connections to older languages and the evolution of their meanings within the Gujarati lexicon.