Prakrit Ke Kuch Shabdo Ki Vyutpatti

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Prakrit ke Kuch Shabdo ki Vyutpatti" by Dr. Vasant Gajanan Rahurkar, in English:

This research paper, presented at the Third Prakrit Seminar by Dr. Vasant Gajanan Rahurkar of Bombay University, attempts to derive the etymology of four Prakrit words. These words are identified as "deshi shabda" (native words) in the "Paiyasahamaḥaṇṇao" (Prakrit Kosha).

The paper focuses on investigating the origins of these words, with specific examples:

1. Ambadiūna (अंबाडिऊण):

   • The word appears frequently in the "Gāmellaya Akkheyana" within "Dharmopadeshamālāvivaraṇa," a commentary on Jayasimhamuri's "Dharmopadeshamālā." The phrase is "sa ambāḍīūṇa sikkhaviō" (having been taught by Ambadi).
   • The suffix "ūṇa" indicates it's a past participle derived from the verb "ambāḍa."
   • "Paiyasadahamahannao" provides "kharaṇṭa" as a synonym for "ambāḍa." A quote from "Nishithachūṇi" states: "camaḍheti kharaṇṭeti ambāḍeti uttaṁ bhavati" (meaning chamaḍa, kharaṇṭa, and ambāḍa have the same meaning).
   • Therefore, "kharaṇṭa" means to scold, reprimand, or to blame (to reprove, to censure).
   • The meaning of "ambāḍa" is given as "tirasaḥ + kṛ" (to bear ill will, to pierce the mind with words).
   • Rahurkar's proposed etymology: He argues that the Sanskrit word "āmarātak" (referring to the hog plum fruit, Spondias Mongifera, known as "ambāḍā" in Marathi) could have formed the Prakrit denominative verb "ambāḍya." The fruit's juice resembles mango juice. Extracting this juice requires forcefully pressing the fruit and piercing the seed. This symbolic action might have led to the verb "ambāḍa" acquiring the meaning of "to crush the mind with forceful words" or "to pierce the mind."

2. Ovalane (ओवालणे) and Oamaliya (ओमालिय):

   • In Marathi, "ovālaṇe" signifies a ritual of waving a lamp before someone's face as a gesture of welcome or good wishes.
   • Rahurkar connects this to the Prakrit word "oamaliya" (meaning adorned or worshipped), noting a significant difference in meaning.
   • He references the Sanskrit poem "Shrikantacharitra" by Mankhakavi, where the word "unmālaka" is used to describe the fire of Shiva's third eye. "Unmālaka" here refers to a reward given upon seeing a good event or object, accompanied by the waving of a lamp.
   • Rahurkar's proposed etymology: He suggests the transformation from Sanskrit to Prakrit: unmālaka > unmālaya > oamālaya > ovāḷa.

3. Hātcā Mal (हाथचा मल):

   • This Marathi idiom, also found in Hindi and Gujarati as "hathkā mail," refers to something considered very easy to do.
   • Rahurkar disputes the literal interpretation of "mal" (dirt) in this phrase.
   • Rahurkar's proposed etymology: He asserts a direct connection to the Sanskrit word "hastāmalaka," meaning "an amla fruit kept in the hand." Seeing the entire amla fruit in one's palm is easy and complete. This symbol likely transitioned from Sanskrit to Prakrit and then to regional languages. During this transition, the loss of the initial "ā" in "āmalaka" is natural.
   • He cites "hastāmalakavat nikhilam jagat avalokayatām" from Bāṇabhaṭṭa's "Kadambarī" and "mukhkhovāovā amalago via karatale desiao bhagavayāse" from "Vasudevahiṇḍi" and "Kumārapālachariya" as evidence of the "hastāmalaka" concept.
   • The phrase evolved in Old Marathi as "jeśā kī hātichā āmaḷa" (like the amla in hand), which eventually became the Marathi "hātcā maḷ."

4. Johara (जोहार):

   • The word "johāra" appears in "Pravachana-Sāroddhāra" and "Dharmopadeshamālāvivaraṇa" meaning to bow down in salutation. For example: "Vaccha! Tā paḍhamaṁ dūrāō daḷūṇa māṇiṇijjaṁ mahayā saddēna johārō kīraī" (O child! First, seeing from afar, a respectful salutation is offered with a loud voice).
   • The word is used similarly in Marathi.
   • Both "Paiyasahamaḥaṇṇao" and many Marathi dictionaries consider "johāra" a "deshi" word, linking it to the Persian word "johār."
   • Rahurkar's proposed etymology: He believes the word is neither "deshi" nor Persian but is etymologically closer to the Sanskrit word "yoddha" (warrior). He suggests that subjects addressing kings would often use "He Vīra" (O brave one / O warrior) and bow to them. He posits that the Sanskrit word "yoddhṛ" can be easily transformed into the Prakrit word "johāra," linking it to the act of bowing in salutation: yoddhṛ > joha > johāra.

The paper acknowledges the assistance of Dr. Umeshchandra Sharma in translating the essay into Hindi.