Page:Sanskrit Grammar by Whitney p1.djvu/105



225. Since the lingual sibilant, in its usual and normal occurrences, is (182) the product of lingualization of after certain alterant sounds, we might expect final radical, when (in rare cases) it comes to stand where a  cannot maintain itself, to revert to its original, and be treated as a  would be treated under the same circumstances. That, however, is true only in a very few instances.

a. Namely, in the prefix (evidently identical with √); in  (adverbially used case-form from √); in (RV.)  and, from √; in  (RV.), from √; and in , from  as secondary form of √. All these, except the first two, are more or less open to question.

226. In general, final lingual ष्, in internal combination, is treated in the same manner as palatal श्. Thus:

a. Before and  it remains unchanged, and the latter are assimilated: e. g., ,.

This is a common and perfectly natural combination.

b. Before, , and , as also in external combination (145), it becomes a lingual mute; and is made lingual after it: e.g. , , , , , ;.

c. So also the of  as ending of 2d pl. mid. becomes after final  of a tense-stem, whether the  be regarded as lost or as converted to  before it (the manuscripts write simply, not ; but this is ambiguous: see 232). Thus, after of -aorist stems (881 a),, ,  (the only quotable cases), from  +  etc.; but  from  +. Further, after the of -aorist stems (901 a),, , ,  (the only quotable cases), from  +  etc. Yet again, in the precative (924), as , if, as is probable (unfortunately, no example of this person is quotable from any part of the literature), the precative-sign   is to be regarded as present in the form. According, however, to the Hindu grammarians, the use of or of  in the -aorist and precative depends on whether the  of  or of  is or is not “preceded by a semivowel or ” — which both in itself appears senseless and is opposed to the evidence of all the quotable forms. Moreover, the same authorities prescribe the change of to, under the same restriction as to circumstances, in the perf. mid. ending also: in this case, too, without any conceivable reason; and no example of  in the 2d pl. perf. has been pointed out in the literature.

d. The conversion of to  (or ) as final and before  and  is parallel with the like conversion of, and of  and  in the  and