Page:Sanskrit Grammar by Whitney p1.djvu/108

 232. In general, a double mute (including an aspirate which is doubled by the prefixion of a non-aspirate) in combination with any other consonant is by the manuscripts written as simple.

a. That is to say, the ordinary usage of the manuscripts makes no difference between those groups in which a phonetic duplication is allowed by the rules given above (228, 229) and those in which the duplication is etymological. As every after a vowel may also be properly written, so  and  may be, and almost invariably are, written as  and. As is also properly, so  (from ) is written as. So in inflection, we have always, for example, etc., not, from. Even in composition and sentence-collocation the same abbreviations are made: thus, for ;  for. Hence it is impossible to determine by the evidence of written usage whether we should regard or  (from √),  or  (from √), as the true form of a second person plural.

233. a. Instances are sometimes met with of apparent loss (perhaps after conversion to a semivowel) of or  before  or  respectively. Thus, in the Brāhmaṇas, and  with following  etc. often made,  (also , ); and other examples from the older language are - ( + √); , , ,  ( + , etc.);  ( + );  ( + ); , ,  ( + , etc.);  for ;  ( + ); ,  ( + , etc.); probably  for  (RV.),  ,  for  (RV.);  ( + ); and the late  for. More anomalous abbreviations are the common ( + ); and  ( + : S.) and  ( + : Āpast.).

Further, certain cases of the loss of a sibilant require notice. Thus:

b. According to the Hindu grammarians, the of -aorist stems is lost after a short vowel in the 2d and 3d sing. middle: thus, and  (1st sing. ),  and  (1st sing. ). It is, however, probable that such cases are to be explained in a different manner: see 834 a.

c. The between two mutes is lost in all combinations of the roots  and  with the prefix : thus,, , , , etc.

d. The same omission is now and then made in other similar cases: thus (for -: RV.);  (for ) and  (for : K.); the compounds  ( + : PB.) and ; the derivative  (√). On the other hand, we may have (RV.),, , etc.

e. So also the tense-sign of the -aorist is lost after a final consonant of a root before the initial consonant of an ending: thus,