Page:The Origin of the Bengali Script.djvu/136

100 13. Da:—

(a) The Māndā inscription shows the transitional form in which the curve at the end has not fully developed. Cf. Aiḍadeva (L. 6) and Krīḍati (L. 7).

(b) The Kamauli grant shows the use of the older form in which the vertical line has got a curve to the left in its middle.

(c) We find a similar form in the Torpondighi grant in nicaḍahāra (L. 33).

(d) The Dacca inscription shows the finally developed Bengali form in the ligature ṇḍi in Caṇḍī (L. 2).

(e) In the Bodh-Gayā inscription of the time of Asokacalla we find the modern form of the ligature ṇḍa in Paṇḍita (L. 5).

(f) W G frd by the partly complete form of this letter in the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gaya in Ḍallano (L. 6) ; and Śoḍaś-aiva (L. 8).

The only change needed to complete the development is the lengthening of the curve at the foot of the vertical straight line.

14. Ḍha is also rarely met with:—

(a) In the Kamauli grant it has the form of a Ța of the Māndā inscription.

(b) In the Torpondighi grant we find the letter two or three times; uttarāḍhā-vāpa (L. 36) bhumy-āḍhā (L. 33) and in these cases we have the same form as that in the Kamauli grant.

The extreme rarity of this letter makes it difficult for us to trace the changes in it. The only change needed is the straightening of the curve to the left.