Page:Sanskrit Grammar by Whitney p1.djvu/245

 our welfare; grant unto us to wake again; (RV.) may there be to us a son; let that favor of thine be ours. It is not very seldom the case that versions of the same passage in different texts show different modes as various readings.

c. There is, in fact, nothing in the earliest employment of these modes to prove that they might not all be specialized uses of forms originally equivalent — having, for instance, a general future meaning.

576. As examples of the less characteristic use of subjunctive and optative in the older language, in independent clauses, may be quoted the following: (RV.) those later ages will doubtless come;  (RV.) if thou thinkest "I shall not die";  (RV.) they do not become lost; no thief can harm them;  (RV.) to what god shall we offer oblation?  (RV.) by Agni one may gain wealth every day;  (AV.) one should give her, however, to a Brahman; in that case she will be propitious and favorable;  (ÇB.) one should give every day.

577. The uses of the optative in the later language are of the utmost variety, covering the whole field occupied jointly by the two modes in earlier time. A few examples from a single text (MBh.) will be enough to illustrate them: I will not eat of the remnant of the sacrifice, I will not perform the foot-lavation;  let her go to her relatives;  she should not act thus at any time;  how can I know king Nala?  but in case of her abandonment there may be a chance; she may also find happiness somewhere;  how can I cut off the garment and my beloved not wake?

578. The later use of the first persons subjunctive as so-called imperative involves no change of construction from former time, but only restriction to a single kind of use: thus, let us two play;  what shall I do for thee?

579. The imperative negative, or prohibitive, is from the earliest period of the language regularly and usually expressed by the particle with an augmentless past form, prevailingly aorist.

a. Thus, (AV.) fly away, do not stay here;  (AV.) both let my foe be subject to me, and let me not be subject to my foe;  (RV.) I would win broad fearless light, O Indra; let not the long darknesses come upon us;  (RV.) do not