Lexicographical Notes On Taranglola

Here's a comprehensive summary of Thomas Oberlies' "Lexicographical Notes on Taranglola," based on the provided text:

Overview:

"Lexicographical Notes on Taranglola" by Thomas Oberlies is an academic exploration of the Jain text Tarangalolā, focusing on its linguistic richness, particularly its use of Deśi (vernacular/local) words. The author aims to highlight the significance of the Tarangalolā for Prakrit lexicography and discusses the challenges and ongoing efforts in producing a new, annotated edition of the text.

Origin and Purpose of Tarangalolā:

The text begins by quoting the author of Tarangalolā, Nemicandra, who explains his motivation for re-writing an older work called Tarangavai. Nemicandra states that Tarangavai, composed by Pālittaya, was rich in Deśi words and had an entertaining yet detailed story. However, its heavy reliance on Deśi vocabulary made it accessible only to the educated. To ensure the story wouldn't be forgotten and to make it enjoyable for a wider audience, Nemicandra decided to abridge it, removing many of the Deśi words.

Linguistic Significance and Lexicographical Value:

Despite Nemicandra's intention to reduce Deśi words, Oberlies notes that the Tarangalolā still retains a significant number of them. This suggests the original Tarangavai must have been exceptionally rich in such vocabulary. The author highlights that Pādalipta, the composer of Tarangavai, is credited with creating a Deśikośa (lexicon of Deśi words).

Oberlies emphasizes that a systematic evaluation of the Tarangalolā would greatly enrich Prakrit dictionaries. He points out that many words in the text are either attested for the first time in literature or are variations of known words, providing valuable data for linguistic research.

Challenges and Future of Tarangalolā Studies:

The article delves into the complexities of producing a new edition of the Tarangalolā. Oberlies recounts his past collaboration with Professor H. C. Bhayani in 1999 to create an edition with explanatory notes and a detailed glossary, a project that was unfortunately halted by Bhayani's passing.

Oberlies has recently resumed work on this edition, obtaining manuscript copies from the L.D. Institute. He acknowledges the difficulty of the task and stresses the critical need for access to more manuscripts, ideally multiple ones, to ensure a truly satisfactory edition. He appeals to the Jain community for information about any extant manuscripts in Jain Bhandārs.

Examples of Lexicographical Entries:

The bulk of the provided text consists of detailed lexicographical notes, listing specific Deśi words found in the Tarangalolā, along with their:

• Possible etymologies: Tracing their origins from other Prakrit or Sanskrit words.
• Meanings: Providing definitions and explanations.
• References: Citing specific verse numbers from the Tarangalolā and cross-referencing with other Prakrit texts and dictionaries (like Deś, Pāiyalacchi, Hc - Hemacandra's works).
• Discussions on interpretation: Sometimes presenting differing scholarly views (e.g., LEUMANN's and BHAYANI's interpretations of "kolamba-").

Specific Words Examined (Illustrative Examples):

The notes include a wide range of words, such as:

• uppehada-: "excellent, superior"
• karamari-: "female slave"
• kalamka-: "arrow"
• kino: "why?"
• koyanda-: "bow"
• kolamba-: "(pan), plain, platform" (with discussion of potential meanings like "pride")
• khanda-: "playground"
• khandaya-: "sword"
• khanṇuya-: "wedge"
• khunțai: "to mutilate, to pluck off"
• cakkāya-: "a kind of bird (most probably the ruddy shelduck)"
• cangoda-: "casket, box"
• cāemi: "to be able"
• cikkaņa-: "sticky fluid"
• chaiya-: "covered"
• tappara-: "large (of ears)"
• dantaya-: "bee-hive"
• dara-: "half, a little bit"
• nisāmaņņa-: "extraordinary"
• nisudhai: "to press down [by a load]"
• paļāli-: "small hut"
• pattala-: "full of leaves"
• padda-: "village"
• parivvaya-: "provisions for the journey"
• paheņaya-: "message"
• pāliya-: "lobe of the ear"
• piucchiyā-: "father's sister"
• pilla-: "young of a bird"
• pulli: "lion"
• phāriya-: "opened"
• bappha-: "a hot vegetable, onion"
• bhāna-: "vessel"
• mallahaḍi-: "something like a drum"
• mundha(n)-: "head"
• ribhiya-: "singing"
• velamba-: "mockery, derision"
• vehava-: "widowhood"
• vodrahi-: "young woman"
• saņņi-: "barren"
• samdāņiya-: "bound"
• samālāhana-: "unguent"
• sāmiddhi-: "wealth"
• siddha-: "spoken"
• sudhiya-: "tired, exhausted"
• sūriya-: "broken"
• somāņa-: "staircase, stairs"
• soņdaya-: "bent on, mad after"
• solla-: "roasted meat"
• hayāsa-: "cruel, hunter"

Overall Contribution:

Thomas Oberlies' "Lexicographical Notes on Taranglola" serves as a crucial scholarly contribution to the study of Jain literature and Prakrit linguistics. It sheds light on the linguistic heritage preserved in the Tarangalolā, highlights the challenges in textual scholarship, and underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to make these valuable texts more accessible and understood. The detailed examination of individual words demonstrates the meticulous research involved in understanding the nuances of ancient Prakrit dialects.