Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute

FOREIGN ELEMENTS IN PALI

Author(s): Madhusudan Mallik
Source: Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Vol. 51, No. 1/4 (1970), pp.
77-82
Published by: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41688675
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 FOREIGN ELEMENTS IN PALI

By

Madhusudan Mallik

From its very origin Pali came into contact with a nu

languages and dialects, some of which have left vivid tr
vocabulary of Pali.

Foreign words are introduced into a language in mani

and vary considerably in the number and extent with whi
come naturalised. This may come about through prolong
extending over several centuries, through conquest, throu
tion, through the influence of literature or through voluntary
tion. In the history of a language it often happens that a
word is borrowed more than once in several periods of the e
though in a more or less modified or altered form. Foreign
once accepted are turned and turisted according to the spee
the people who happen to borrow them. Flexions and suffix
terminational elements are frequently attached to the
compounds - of nouns and nouns, of adjectives and nouns e
the strength of the language.

Pali as a MIA is the result of the transformation of OIA and

consequently inherits its ' Sprachgut ', i. e. ' spoach-goods ' or ' language-
commodities ' in the shape of words, roots and flexions ( more or less al
tered following the law of phonetics). Ancient Indian grammari
and rhetoricians classify Prakrit words into three broad categories- (
Tadbhava ( 2 ) Tatsama and ( 3 ) Desi. By ' tadbhava ' they mean
those words which derive their origin from 'that', i. e. Sanskrit or
Vedic or original Indo- Aryan speech. Tatsama ( tat = that = Sanskrit
and sama = equal ) denotes those words which are identical in form or
spelling with Sanskrit. The term Desi meant those words which could
not be traced to Sanskrit, i. e. aboriginal or native words including
onomatopoeia.

Considered from historical stand points, the above classification

is open to objection. The terms tatsama, tadbhava refer only to the out-
ward forms of the word and do not concern themselves with their histo-
rical developments. The modern philologists understand by ' tad-
bhava ' those MIA words which trace their origin from OIA modified by
phonetic laws from generation to generation. The term 1 tatsama ' is

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?8 Annals of the Bhandarkaï Oriental Řeséárch Institute

used in a new sense to include words introduced from Sanskrit at the

learned language. Desi words were of uncertain origin and mostly
traced to aboriginal sources, viz. Austrie, Dravidic etc. The Prakrit
grammarians refuse to call those words 'Desi' which occurred in
Sanskrit.

We now come to real foreign work ( Videsi elements ) in Pali.

Ancient Indian grammarians sadly neglected this aspect of the langu-
age. There was no mention of any foreign elements in Sanskrit which
*s the language of the gods was in no need of any foreign borrowings.
Curiously enough a number of such foreign elements crept into
Sanskrit. Pali as a MIA inherited with phonetic modifications ( if
necessary ) some of these foreign elements.

In the present article I would like to include under the designa-

tion ' Foreign Elements ', aboriginal ( i. e. Austrie and Dravidic ) as well
as Videsi ( i. e. Greek, Persian etc. ) elements. The number of foreign
elements introduced into Pali has not yet been properly ascertained.
In the following a short list of words ( for which Austrie sources with
reasonable plausibility have been assigned ) is given, -

Alãbu ( M. i. 80 ) 'a long white gourd ', Skt. alâbu, cf. Malay
labu, labo, Khmer lbow, Batak labu etc.
kadall ( Vin. ii. 188 ) 4 the plantain cf. Sakai telui, kelui, Nicobar
talüi, Palong kloai ' plantain ', savara kin-ten ' banana '
kappãsa ( J. iii. 286 ) ť the silk-cotton tree, cotton' cf. Malay kapáš,
cf. Gr. kárpasos.
jambãla ( A. ii. 166) 4 mud cf. Santali jobo 'damp', kharia
jobhi ' swampy ground ', Ho. jobe ' mud '
tambula ( J. i. 266 ) ' betel or betel leaves cf. Alak balu, kha
balu, salanng più, cf. Austro- Asiatin balü, cf. also Aus. Asiat,
prefix ' ta ' with an intermediate nasal * tan ' indicating names
of plants.
nangala ( J. i. 57 ) 4 a plough ', Ved. längala, cf. Baluci nangãr,
Makassar nañkala, Malay teñgala, tangäla. This word is very
interesting, since Dra vidian has borrowed it independently from
the same source, cf. Tam. ñancil, Ka. negai.
marica ( Vin. i. 201 ) ' black pepper ', cf. Savara m£rid-sã.
sãsapa ( J. vi. 174 ) ' a mustard seed cf. Skt. sarsapa, Pkt.
sãsava, cf. Malay sesawi, cf. O. Tam. aiyavi<*sasavi, an
independent loan from Austrie.
The other source for the study of foreign elements is the
Dravidian languages. In the following a list of words supposed to be
Dravidic in origin has been compiled, -

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 Foreign Elementa in Pali 79

agalu ( Yv. A. 158 ) ' fragrant aloe wood ', cf. Skt. a
akalu ( J. iv. 440 ), cf. Heb. ahälim ' aloe ', Gr. aloe
Tam. Mal. akil, Tu. agilu.
añkola ( J. vi. 535) ť a species of tree Alangium He
Tam. ariñcil, Mal. ariññil.
akka ( M. i. 429 ) i Oalotropis Gigantea', cf. Skt.
erukku, Mal. erikku, Kan. erke, ekke, yakka.
ala8a ( J. iv. 30 ) c lazy, idle ', Tam. alacu ' ť to be e
alayuka ' to be wearied ', Kan. alasu ' to become we
uñcha ( J. iv. 23 ) ' anything gathered for sustenanc
Tam. uriñcu ' to rub ', Kan. ujju ' to rub
udukkhala ( J. i. 502) 'a mortar', Skt. ulukhala,
' postla ', Mai. ulakka, Kan. oloke.
elaka ( J. i. 166 ) ' a ram, a wild goat ', Skt. edaka,
Mal. ãtu, Kan. ädu, Tu. ëdu, Tel. etä.
kaňka ( J. v. 475 ) ' a heron ', cf. Tam. Mal. Kan. Ko
Tu. korghu ' crane ', Tel. konga.
kajjala ( Vin. ii, 50 ) ' lamp-black or soot used as
Tam, Karical * blackness '.
katuka ( J. ii. 201 ) ' bitter, pungent ', Tam. katu
katu ' extreme Kan. Tel. Tu, Kadu ' severe '
kathina ( Dhs. 44 ) 1 hard, firm ', Tam. katti ť anythin
Kan. Kadugu ' become hard ', Tel. kattedi 1 hard-he
kalusa ( DA. i. 275 ) ' muddy ', cf. Skt. kalusa, Tam.
come turbid '.
kañjika ( J. i. 230 ) ' sour rice-gruel '. Tam. kañci, Mal. kañfíi,
Kan. Tu. Tel. gañji.
kãnana (Sn. 1134 ) ť a glade in the forest, a grove, wood ', Tam,
Kã%an ' woodland grove '
kãlã ( M. i. 246 ) ' black Tam. kär, Kan. kãr ' blackness '.
kuta ( J. i. 120 ) ' a pitcher ', Tam. Mal. kutam, Kan. kodã.
kutikä ( Vin. iii. 35 ) * a little hut ', Tam. Mal kutï, Kan. Tu. Tel,
gudi * hut
kutila ( J. iii. 112 ) ' bent, crooked ', Tam. kotu ť crooked Mal,
kotu, Kan. kudu 4 crooked
kundala ( A. i. 254 ) ' ring, ear-ring ' cf. Kan. gunda, gundu
* round ', Tu. guadala * an ear-ornament '.
kundikã ( J. i. b ) ' a water-pot ', cf. Tam. Kuta etc.
kuddãla ( J. i. 45 ) ' a spade, a hoe Kan. guddali ' hoe ', Tu. gud-
doli, Tel. guddali.
kuvalaya ( DA. i. 50) 'the water-lily, lotus', Tam. Ku valai, Ka»,
komale, koval, kõle.

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80 Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute

kupa ( J. iii. 126) 'the mast of a boat* Ved. küpa, Skt. kùka,
Tam. Mal. kùmpu, Tu. küve.
ketaka ( J. iv. 482 ) 1 Pandanus odoratissimus ', Tam. kaitai,
kaital, Mal. kaitã, Kan. këdage, Tel. gedage.
kona (Vin. ii. 137) 'a corner', Tam. kõn 1 corner, angle', Mal.
kõn ' corner ', Tel. kona ' corner '.
koraka ( J. ii. 265 ) ' a bud ', Tam. kurai ' sprout, shoot ', Malt,
qoroce ' to sprout ', kui, koru ' new shoot or bud'.
khala ( Vism. 120) ' the threshing-floor', Tam. Mal. Kolam
ř ' threshing floor '.
ganda ( J. i. 293 ) ' an abscess ', Kan. gadda ' a lump, a bulbous
root

gula ( M. iii. 95 ) ' a ball ', Tel. gudusu ' a circle, round
guddu ' eye-ball Kan. guddu 4 eye-ball '•
guna ( J. iii. 431 ) ' a wood-worm ', cf. Skt. ghuna, Kan. gonne,
cikkhala (J. i. 196) ' mud ', Skt. cikkana, cikkala, Tam. Mal.
cikku ' to be stuck fast ', Kan. sikku.
catura ( J. iii. 266 ) J clever ', Tam. catur • ability, skill ', Tel.
caduru ' cleverness ', Tu. cadupu ' skill '.
candana ( J, v. 420 ) ' sandal wood', cf. Tam. cãntu ' paste, sandal
paste ' Kan. sãdu ' a fragrant substance '.
cumbati ( J. ii. 193 ) 'to kiss', Tam. cùppu 'to suck', cüuipu 'to
suck

culä ( J. i. 64 ) ř tuft of hair', Skt. cúdã, Tam. cùtu 'to wear on the
head, hair-tuft ', Kan. sùdu, Mal. cutaka 'to wear on the head',
tála ( Vin. ii. 148 ) ' a key', Skt. tãlaka, B. Skt. tãdaka (Divy.
577), Tam. tãr 'belt, bar', Mal. Kan. tãr, Tu. tãrkolu.
tala ( J. i. 202 ) c the palmyra tree ', Kan. tãr, Tel. tãdu.
tùia (Vin. ii. 150) 'cotton, down', Tam. Mal. tůval 'feather,
down'.

daiida (* J. ii. 102 ) 'a stick, a cudgel', Tam. tantü 'staff, stalk',
Kan. dantu 'stalk', danda 'stalk', Tel. dantu 'stalk'.
niggundi ( Milu-223 ) ' Yitex negundo ', Skt. ñirgundí, Tam. Mal.
nocci, Tu. nekki, Kan. nekki.
patola ( Vin. i. 20) 'cucumber', Tam. putal, Mal. puttal Kan.
potla.
pana ( J. iv. 488) ' a shop', a usual meaning 'wager', Tam. puiiai
' to tie ', Kan. pone ' bound, bail '.
pandaka ( Vin. i. 86 ) ' an eunuchř weakling', Skt. panda, pandaka,
cf. Tam. pen, peiitu, ' woman Kan, pen, penda, ' woman Tel.
penti ' female ', pedi ' eunuch '

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 Foreign Elements in Pali 81

pandita ( M. i. 423) 'wise, clever', cf. Tel. pandu

' mature ' panda ' wisdom
pâli ( Vism. 242 ) 'row, line, text', Kan. pari 'row
pari. crow, line',
pinda (Sn. 217 ) 'lump, lump of food, esp. cf. alms,
food', Kan. petta, penta, penta, heilte, heiide', clo
earth', Tel. pindali 'a lump or mass',
puñkha (J. ii. 89) 'the feathered part of an arrow',
'arrow head', Kan. piluku, pilku 'feathered part of
pùta (J. iv. 436) 'basket', cf. Tam. puttil 'basket,
putti 'basket of leaves', Tel. puti 'flower baske
' basket '.
punnãga (J, vi. 430) 'calophyllum inophyllum', T
Mai. punna, Kan. ponne, punnike, Tu. ponne, Tel.
baka (J. i. 221 ) 'a heron, crane', Tam. vakkã, vañ
stork ' Tel. vakku 'crane',
bala ( D. ii. 73 ) 'power, strength', Tam. Val 'strong' Tu. balu
' powerful' Tel. vali 'powerful',
bila ( J. i. 480 ) 'a hole, cave ', Tam. vila vu 'cleft, crack ' villu 'to
crack' Mai. villu 'to burst open', villal 'a hollow '.
billa (S. i. 150 ) ' Aegle marmelos', Tam. vitã, vila va, vellil, Mal.
vilã, Kan. belaval, Tel. velãga.
mañku ( Vin. ii. 18) 'staggering, confused' cf. Ved. manku, B.
Skt. madgu, cf. Tam. makku 'to become dull ', ' manku' to grow
dim', Mal. maññuka, Kan. mañku 'dimness'.
mayüra (J. ii. 144 ) 'the peacock', Tam. mayil, Mal. mayil, Tu.
mairu.
mallikã (Dh. 54) 'jasmine', Tam. mullai, Mal. mulla, Kan. molle,
Tel. molla.

masi (J. i. 483 ) 'soot, lampblack' Tam. mai 'blackness', Kan.

masi 'sooť, Kui masi 'dirť.
mahilã (J. i. 188) 'women, female', Tam. makal 'daughter,
woman, wife ', Mal. makal ' daughter '.
mälä(J. iii. 179) 'garland', Tam. mãlai. Mal. Te. mala, Kan.
mâle. ( makula (J. i. 273) 'a bud', Tam. Mal. mukri 'a buď,
Ta. mukai ' to bud ', Kui mago ' bud '.
muttã (Mhvs. 30. 66 ) 'pearl', Tam. mattu, Mal. Kan. Tu. muttu,
muraja ( J. v. 390 ) ' a small drum ' Tam. muracu ' a drum '
muravam ' a drum ', Kan. more ' to hum ', Tel. morayu
' to sound '.

lãlã ( J. i. 66 ) ' saliva ', Kan. Iole, Mal. noia, Tu. mòne.

Il { Annals, B. O. R. L ]

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82 Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute

valaya (J. ii. 197) ' bracelet ', Tam. valai 'bracelet', kan. bale
1 bracelet'.

valli ( J. v. 37 ) ' creeper ', Tam. Mal. valli, Kan. balli, Tel. valli.
Satha (M. i. 32) ' crafty ' Skt. éatha, cf. Kan. sotta 'crookedness',
Tel. kotta 'crookedness'.

suppa ( J. i. 502) la winnowing banket', cf. Ved. sůrpa, Kan. türu

' to winnow ', Tu. tůpu ' winnowing ', Tel. türpidi ' winnowing '.
hintãla ( Vin. i. 190 ) 1 a kind of palm ', Tam. intu ' date-palm ', Mai,
ittäl. Kan. ical, icil.
A few more words which are neither Austrie nor Dravidic are
given below, -
milinda 'name of king', cf. Gr. menandros.
surunga (Mhvs. 7, 14) 'a subterranean passage', cf. Gr. surigks.
horãpãthaka (Mhvs. 35, 71 ) 'an astrologer', late Skt. hora
' hour ' cf. Gr. hora - päthaka ' expert '.
bãberu ' name of a country', cf. Babylon.
patthaka (J. iii. 235 ) 'a book', cf. Skt. pustaka, mid. Per. pothi
Kahãpana ( M. ii. 163 ) ' a square copper coin ', cf. Skt. kãrsãpana
kahã-Skt. kãrsã = P.

muddã ( Dh. A.I. 21 ) ' seal, stamp', cf. Skt. mudrã.

narada ( J. vi. 537 ) 'ointment', cf. Skt. nalada, Heb. nírd, c£
Gr. nardos.

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