Siddha Hemchandram Adhyay 08 - Book Summary

Based on the provided text, here is a comprehensive summary of the content, focusing on the grammatical rules and explanations presented by Richard Pischel for Hemacandra's Siddhahemchandram, Adhyaya VIII:

Book Title: Hemacandra's Grammatik der Prâkritsprachen (Siddhahemchandram Adhyaya VIII) Author: Richard Pischel Publisher: Verlag der Buchhandlung des Waisenhauses, Halle a. S. Year: 1877 (Part I: Text und Wortverzeichniss), 1880 (Part II: Übersetzung und Erläuterungen)

I. Context and Background:

Author: The text is a critical edition, translation, and explanation of the eighth chapter (Adhyaya VIII) of Hemacandra's comprehensive grammar, the Siddhahemchandram.
Purpose: Hemacandra's Prakrit grammar was composed at the request of King Jayasimhadeva (also known as Śrîsiddharâja), a ruler from the Calukya dynasty, who was a descendant of Mūlarāja. This places Hemacandra's active period around the mid-12th century CE, with his death noted as 1172 CE at the age of 84.
Significance: This eighth chapter serves as an appendix to Hemacandra's Sanskrit grammar. It systematically details the grammatical rules and transformations of Prakrit, a vernacular language derived from Sanskrit.
Editor's Contribution: Richard Pischel, the editor, aimed to make Hemacandra's work accessible to linguists, particularly those unfamiliar with traditional Indian grammarians. His translation and explanations are intended to clarify the linguistic principles for a broader academic audience.

II. Key Themes and Grammatical Concepts Covered in Adhyaya VIII:

The text extensively details various phonetic and morphological changes that occur in Prakrit, particularly in comparison to Sanskrit. The primary focus is on sound transformations (lautlehre) and word formation, often highlighting variations and providing examples from literature. Key areas include:

Introduction to Prakrit (Verse 1-3):
- Defines Prakrit as derived from Sanskrit, with an emphasis on its relationship to Sanskrit grammar.
- Mentions the concept of "lokât" (from the vernacular) and the exclusion of Prakrit forms not originating from Sanskrit.
- Outlines that Prakrit grammar generally follows Sanskrit rules regarding roots, suffixes, genders, cases, compounds, and technical terms.
- Specifies exceptions for the Prakrit alphabet, excluding certain Sanskrit sounds like ș, ș, visarga, and pluta, but including others like ñ, ñ, ś, and s.
- Introduces "bahulam" (frequently, often) as a significant qualifier, indicating that many rules have exceptions or are applied variably.
- Mentions "arsham" (related to the sages) as a term for Prakrit, implying a distinct and often exceptional linguistic tradition, possibly referring to Jain usage.
Vowel and Consonant Changes: The bulk of Adhyaya VIII is dedicated to a detailed exploration of sound changes (like vowel lengthening/shortening, assimilation, elision, substitution of consonants) that characterize Prakrit. Pischel meticulously lists numerous rules (sutras) and provides examples illustrating these changes. These rules cover a wide range of transformations affecting vowels, consonants, and their combinations, particularly in relation to sandhi (euphony), case endings, verb conjugations, and word formation processes.
Specific Transformations and Examples:
- Sandhi (Verse 5-7): Explains that Sanskrit sandhi rules may or may not apply in Prakrit ("padayor sandhir vā").
- Elision (Verse 10-14): Details the elision (lug) of final consonants, vowels (like i, o), and specific sounds.
- Vowel Changes (Verse 15-28): Covers transformations of final vowels, including changes to 'atva', 'ra', elision of anusvara, and substitutions for certain vowels like 'e' and 'o'.
- Consonant Changes (Verse 29-83, and extensively thereafter): This is a major part of the chapter, detailing numerous changes:
  - Changes to final consonants (e.g., nasalization, elision).
  - Substitutions of consonants (e.g., k > c, g > j, ṭ > d, th > dh, p > b, bh > h).
  - Assimilation of consonants (e.g., gd > gg, nt > nn).
  - Specific changes based on context (e.g., sandhi rules, context of gender, case, verb roots).
  - Transformations of specific letters like k, g, t, th, d, dh, n, p, bh, m, y, r, l, v, s, ș, ç, h.
- Verbal Conjugation and Noun Declension: The text delves into how Sanskrit verbal roots and noun stems change when forming Prakrit words, including the formation of tenses, moods, and various cases. It highlights variations in these processes compared to Sanskrit.
- Pronoun Changes (Verse 148-160, 178, 206, 212-214, 246-251, 260-268, 271-279, 283-294, 301-302, 307, 310-318, 320-323, 325-327, 330-333, 335-338, 340-341, 343-345, 350-358, 360-364, 365-376, 379-380, 383-448): A significant portion details the numerous changes pronouns undergo in Prakrit, particularly in Apabhramśa and other dialects, offering extensive examples.
- Apabhramśa Features: A considerable part of the latter half of the chapter (especially from roughly verse IV, 240 onwards) focuses on the specific features of Apabhramśa, a late stage of Prakrit that bridges Prakrit and modern Indo-Aryan languages. This includes:
  - Phonetic changes specific to Apabhramśa.
  - New grammatical forms and substitutions not found in earlier Prakrit.
  - The influence of regional dialects (like Caurasenî, Magadhî, Pâiçâcî) on these forms.
- Specific Roots and Their Transformations: Pischel's notes often refer to Hemacandra's Sanskrit grammar and provide comparisons with other Prakrit grammarians like Trivikrama and Simharaja, as well as Pali and Sanskrit, highlighting the lineage and evolution of these forms.
- Textual Criticism: Pischel's edition is noted for its critical annotations, addressing variants found in different manuscripts (A, B, C, D, E, and others). He often discusses interpolations and manuscript reliability.
- Praise for Hemacandra's Work: Despite critiquing Hemacandra's lack of originality and scientific rigor, Pischel acknowledges the immense importance of his work in preserving the results of Indian linguistic research and providing a foundation for future scientific grammars of Prakrit.

III. Editorial Approach:

Critical Edition: Pischel aimed to create a textually sound edition based on various manuscripts, noting variations and providing critical commentary.
Translation and Explanation: The second part of the publication is not a direct translation but rather explanations and critical notes to elucidate the rules and examples provided by Hemacandra. Pischel emphasizes brevity due to the technical nature of the text and the target audience of linguists.
Use of Sources: Pischel utilized several manuscripts (A, B, C, D, E, and others) and compared Hemacandra's work with predecessors like Trivikrama and Vararuci, as well as later Prakrit grammarians and published texts. He also refers to modern works on Indian linguistics and philology.

IV. Overall Summary:

Hemacandra's Siddhahemchandram, Adhyaya VIII, as presented by Richard Pischel, is a detailed and critical examination of Prakrit grammar. It meticulously outlines the phonetic and morphological changes that distinguish Prakrit from Sanskrit, with a particular focus on sound shifts, consonant and vowel substitutions, and the formation of verb and noun paradigms. The extensive word index and Pischel's critical notes highlight the editor's thorough research and his effort to provide a comprehensive understanding of Hemacandra's work within the broader context of Indian linguistic traditions. The text serves as a foundational resource for the study of Prakrit languages.