Page:Sanskrit Grammar by Whitney p1.djvu/89

 61 assuming the conversion of in both alike — but probably only as a matter of formal convenience in rule-making.

b. Here, too (as in the similar cases of and  and : 133 c, 176 b), there are examples to be found, both earlier and later, of effacement of the hiatus.

178. Final र्, in general, shows the same form which स् would show under the same conditions.

a. Thus, it becomes when final, and a sibilant or  before an initial surd mute or sibilant (170): thus,, , , ; and (111 c, d) , , , ; ,.

b. But original final preceded by  or  maintains itself unchanged before a sonant: thus,, , , ,.

c. The is preserved unchanged even before a surd in a number of Vedic compounds: thus, ;, , , , ; , ; , , , ; and in some of these the  is optionally retained in the later language. The RV. also has once in sentence-combination.

d. On the other hand, final of the verb-form  is changed to  before a sonant in several cases in RV. And is lost, like, in one or two cases in the same text: thus, ,.

179. A double is nowhere admitted: if such would occur, either by retention of an original  or by conversion of  to, one  is omitted, and the preceding vowel, if short, is made long by compensation.

Thus,, , , ,.

a. In some Vedic texts, however, there are instances of changed to  before initial : thus,.

180. The dental sibilant स् is changed to the lingual ष्, if immediately preceded by any vowel save अ  and आ , or by क्  or र्  — unless the स्  be final, or followed by र्.

a. The assimilating influence of the preceding lingual vowels and semivowel is obvious enough; that of and the other vowels appears to be due to a somewhat retracted position of the tongue in the mouth during