Indo-Arica
By Sukumar Sen
Summary
This linguistic note scrutinises two secondary affixes in Sanskrit: –vya and –cara. The author notes that only a few words, such as the Vedic bhrātṛvya ('father’s brother’s son') and the classical pitṛvya ('father’s brother'), are reliably formed with –vya. Other supposed derivatives like vedic śravyā ('arrow‑shot') and saravya ('target') actually derive from roots with the –ya suffix. Similarly, the word dravyá ('substance') comes from a root plus –ya, not –vya. The rarity of genuine –vya formations cautions against overextending the affix. The article also discusses the gerundive suffix –tavya and relates –vya to other affixes such as –maya. Moving on to –cara, Panini prescribes this suffix to indicate actions of the remote past, as in adhyacaraḥ (one who studied long ago) and kṛṣṇacaraḥ gauḥ (a cow formerly belonging to Kṛṣṇa). The suffix –cara is related to cira ('long'), traced back to Indo‑European *gwero‑, and has cognates in Prakrit and Avestan. By clarifying the morphology of these affixes, the note contributes to the precision of Sanskrit philology and highlights the importance of historical linguistics in interpreting Panini’s rules.
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Conclusion
This philological investigation highlights how a meticulous examination of affixes dispels misunderstandings in Sanskrit etymology. By demonstrating that –vya derivatives are exceedingly limited and that many alleged examples belong to other affixal formations, the author calls for careful morphological parsing. Similarly, tracing the suffix –cara to its Indo‑European roots underscores the importance of historical linguistics in interpreting Paninian prescriptions. Such studies refine our comprehension of Indo‑Aryan word‑formation and illustrate the interconnections between Vedic forms and broader Indo‑European morphology.