Some Important Shiksha Vedangas (study)
by Mala Laha | 2021 | 31,647 words
This page relates ‘“Doubling� type of phonetic change� of the study dealing with Shiksha Vedangas—a crucial component of Vedic literature focusing on phonetics and pronunciation in ancient texts. The researched texts include the Paniniya, Yajnavalkya and Naradi Shiksas, among others. The study also investigates historical phonological transformations between Sanskrit and Pali, exploring the evolution of sounds and pronunciation.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 5 - The “Doubling� type of phonetic change
Doubling is one type of phonetic change. There are many evidence of original doubling in the Vedas. In the ṻ岹 there are three words, �ciccika� (name of a bird) (X.146.2), �jajphatiriva� (Sound of the water) and �īṛtⲹ�(sound of frogs) which are original evidence of doubling. Similarly, in the Yajurveda, there seem to be only five words which prima facie indicate original doubling. These words are �ṛk峾� (XXV.8), �پٳپī� (XXIV.18), �ܰṭa� (I.16), �첹첹ṭa� (XXIV.32) and �辱辱� (XXIII.12). The first example of Yajurveda is probably formed from the root �ṛk�+ the suffix �k�, the next three, being names of birds or animals, represent onomatopoeic sound as in �cuckoo�, while �辱辱� is a doubling of the word �pili� with an interesting sound “p�. Other doubling in the Yajurveda are either clear cases of assimilation or of two consonants coming side by side. In the 峾岹 a single word �jyokka� (II.9-B,3), may indicate such doubling, but the original form of the word being jyot, this may be the result of the assimilation of �t� into the succeeding suffix �kas�. Similar remarks may apply to three words in the Atharvaveda-�pippalam� (IX.14.20), �pippalt� (VI.109.1), �ṛkkau� (VII.101.1).
In the ī Śṣ� of 峾岹 is stated the limits of doubling. For example according to this Śṣ� the doubling cannot occur in a group of second and fourth consonants and this Śṣ� also restricted the doubling of �r� and �h�.�
� रेफे वा हकार� वा द्विर्भावो जायत� क्वचित� �
� � वर्गद्वितीयेषु � चतुर्थ� कदाचन॥na rephe vā hakāre vā dvirbhāvo jāyate kvacit |
na ca vargadvitīyeṣu na caturthe kadācana||(ī Śṣ� 2/2/6)
The majority of Indian Grammarians[1] is unanimous that �h� (h) is not doubled. But a few exceptional cases were actually noticed by Indian Grammarian where �h� can be optionally doubled. Thus ṭa[2], commenting upon ṻ岹prātiśākhya (VI.2) states �h�(h) like any fricative, can be optionally doubled when it is a member of consonant group–e.g. ṻ岹, I.35.1, begins with the expression �峾ⲹԾ� which could be optionally pronounced as �ṇmⲹԾ�. With regard to �h� before �r� we find divergent views. Thus while according to �īٲ� (ղٳپīⲹپśⲹ, XIV.9), �h� was not doubled when it preceded �r� (r) as in �duduhre�, �ahraya�, it was on the other hand, doubled according to the Cārāyaṇīya Śṣ�. According to this Śṣ� and the Lomaśī Śṣ�, �h� (h) is also doubled when it occurs between �r� and �y� as in �etarhhyagni�. The Lomaśī Śṣ� says that �h� after or after an Գܲ or before �r� was doubled–e.g.–�barhha�, �ṃh�, �徱ī�.
Rules of Doubling
According to ī Śṣ� only that consonant was doubled which was the member of a consonant group—\
चतुर्थ� तु तृतीये� द्वितीयं प्रथमे� तु�
आद्यमन्त्य� � मध्य� � स्वाक्षरेणैव पीडयेत्॥caturtha� tu tṛtīyena dvitīya� prathamena tu|
ādyamantya� ca madhya� ca svākṣareṇaiva pīḍayet||(ī Śṣ� 2/2/7)
The ī Śṣ� prescribed some general rules of doubling[3]. For example�
1. Գܲ + consonant Group�
The ī Śṣ� states that after an Գܲ� the first member of a consonant group was doubled. It is interesting to note that the ṻ岹prātiśākhya has also mentioned this same condition�
स्वरानुस्वारोपहितो द्विरुच्यत� संयोगादि�.
svarānusvāropahito dvirucyate saṃyogādi�.
(ṻ岹prātiśākhya, 6/7)
2. ī + Consonant Group -
The ī Śṣ� also give a second general rule that a consonant after ܱ貹īⲹ is doubled. The Śܰⲹܰ岹پśⲹ also admitted this same rule�
जिह्वामूलीयोपध्मानॶयाभ्याञ्�
ᾱ峾ūīDZ貹īñ
(Śܰⲹܰ岹پśⲹ 4/104).
3. ᾱ峾ūīⲹ + Consonant Group-
In accordance with the general rule of the ī Śṣ�, a consonant after a ᾱ峾ūī �a� is doubled.
4. �R� + consonant�
The ī Śṣ� explains another general rule that a consonant after �r� is doubled. The
ṚkٲԳٰ also mentioned this rule-ṃh (5/6/5)
5. �h� + consonant-
According to the ī Śṣ� a consonant after �h� is doubled�
रहपूर्वे संयुते चाऽप्युत्तरं क्रमतेऽक्षरम्॥
rahapūrve saṃyute cā'pyuttara� kramate'kṣaram||
(ī Śṣ�, 2/2/11)
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ҳܳٲī Śṣ� (Śṣāsaṃgraha, p.450), Māṇḍūkī Śṣ� (Śṣāsaṃgraha, p. 473), Atharvavedaprātiśākhya (3.31)
[2]:
ṻ岹prātiśākhya, 6.2
[3]:
ī Śṣ�, 2/2/11