Notes On Some Words In Oherlies Avasyaka Studien Glassar

This document, "Notes on Some Words in Oherlies 'Avasyaka-Studien Glossar'" by H.C. Bhayani, is a scholarly analysis and clarification of various Prakrit words, particularly those found in Thomas Oberlies' glossary of the Avasyaka text. The author aims to provide more accurate derivations, meanings, and etymological connections for these terms, drawing on comparative linguistic evidence from Sanskrit, Old Gujarati, Modern Gujarati, and other Prakrit and Indo-Aryan languages.

Here's a breakdown of the key points for each word discussed:

anguṭṭhi: The author questions the derivation from Sanskrit a-v gunth- due to phonological difficulties. Considering variations and the Pali form, scribal corruption is suspected, and the form ogumtthi- is considered potentially more genuine.

āla: This word, meaning "false charge" or "to accuse falsely" (as seen in alo dinno), is linked to Modern Gujarati al ('false charge') and al devu ('to accuse falsely').

ūvār: Related to uvvar ('to be saved, to remain'), the author explains that the vowel remaining after the loss of intervocalic non-aspirate stops is termed udvṛtta svar ('saved vowel'), as seen in the Prabandhakośa. This is connected to Hindi ubarna and Gujarati ūgarvu.

Ūsemtiya: The term ūsemtiyaim is equated with paribhūyaim ('insulted, disdained'). The author suggests this meaning was originally secondary. He references DN. for simḍha meaning 'whistling through the nose, snorting' and proposes that the variant simta should be preferred over simḍha based on NIA language forms. DK. also records simți as 'sound of sneezing'. The author concludes that ūsemitia- likely meant 'loud snorting made as a gesture of disdain, insult or disapproval', with ū- deriving from Sanskrit ud-.

Kattaliyā: This is identified with Gujarati kātlī (or kätali), meaning "a piece, consisting of the portion between the two joints in the stalk of sugar-cane, juvār, bājrā etc."

khada-pūlaya-: Linked to Gujarati khad no pulo, meaning "a bundle of grass."

Gaccha: The original meaning is given as "a tree." The author draws a parallel between a tree and its branches (sākhā) and the Jain gacchas (branches or sub-orders) which also have sākhās. The Sanskritization gaksa and gaddi are noted as being similar to vaptā for bappa.

gālanaga: Identified with Gujarati galnu (or galanū) meaning "cloth filter to filter water, strainer," and Gujarati gālavu ('to filter').

jhāda: The author proposes an Indo-Aryan origin for jhāda ('bush, thicket'), suggesting it derives from Sanskrit jatā- ('root'). The formation of jhada from jata- is explained by the common change of initial Sanskrit j- to jh- in several NIA languages.

thiggaliyā: This word is equated with Gujarati thig-dū, meaning "a patch especially put on cloth to mend a rent."

dullalia: Along with duvviaddha, both are interpreted to mean "highly fond of, addict of, addicted to," and their common occurrence in Prakrit literature with this shifted meaning is noted.

dhikkı: Identified with Gujarati dhīko, meaning "hard blow with the fist," specifically with an initial retroflex consonant.

dhijjaiya: Besides its literal sense, the author notes an implied artificial etymological connection with Sanskrit dvijatika-.

phettā: Defined as "stroke." The author cites its appearance in Agastyasimha's commentary on the Dasakāliya-sutta, giving the example "a ram may strike with his horns or deal a head-stroke." This is compared with Gujarati phet (or phet mārvī), meaning "to slap," and marvũ ('to strike').

billagira: Interpreted as "bilva-juice." The author analyzes the components: giri from Desya suggests bījakośa ('seed-vessel'), as found in Nis. Cū. and Desikośa. He considers a possible derivation from giri + om ('tiny'), linking it to Gujarati gar ('pulp of a fruit'). The equivalence of Desya giri with Gujarati gar is supported by B. Doshi's translation of Hemacandra's Desīnāmamālā. Therefore, Billa-gira means "pulp of the bilva fruit."

Vajjhā: Derived from Sanskrit vadhya- ('killing'). The meaning of govajjhā ('killing of a cow') has evolved. Gujarati gojhāru ('guilty of murder or killing; a place associated with incidents of murder or suicide and hence inauspicious') is traced back to Prakrit gojjārayam and Sanskrit govadhyākārakam. The author discusses the semantic generalization of govadha / gohaṭyā ('killing of cow') and compares it to semantic shifts in goyuga and gomaya. Vajjhā is also compared to thā-vajjasha in the Kathākośaprakaraṇa.

Väuliä: The term vāulia-parisasaṇa is analyzed. The author suggests that vāulia-sabdaḥ ('a small ditch') is a deśī word, possibly meaning 'small pit'. He believes vāuliā might be a corrupt reading and that the actual word was vāhaliā. This is supported by DN.'s record of vāhali meaning 'a small stream' and its occurrences in the Vajjalagga. The author connects it to Old Gujarati vāhalā, Modern Gujarati vahelo, and Marathi vahali, all meaning 'a streamlet', as a derivative from vaha ('stream') with the diminutive suffix -la-. The term võkalo is noted as related but requiring separate investigation.

Saudi: This word refers to "the covering sheet, blanket etc. spread over the body from head to foot and pressed under the sides, in the state of lying down." It is shown to have come down to Modern Gujarati as sod. The phrases soḍ tāṇine sūvi ('to lie down in the above manner') and soḍ-mā levũ ('to take somebody under such a cover') are explained. An anecdote from the account of Cellana illustrates its usage in describing a covering blanket.

sunaha: The author observes the suffix -bha in many Sanskrit animal names (e.g., ibha, kacchabha) and its corresponding forms in Prakrit (karaha-, kalaha-). By analogy, he suggests sunaha- is for sunaa- and that a hypothetical sunakha- is unnecessary.

In essence, Bhayani's notes are a vital contribution to the understanding of Prakrit lexicography and etymology, offering linguistic precision and historical context for terms used in Jain literature.