Reviews
By Sushil Kumar De, Mano Mohan Ghosh, U. N. Ghoshal, Batakrishna Ghosh, D. L. De
Summary
Sukwnar Sen's *The Use of the Cases in Vedic Prose* (1926–30) examines Vedic syntax through case usage, drawing from extensive textual analysis. While praising Sen's industry and contribution to Indian Vedic scholarship, the reviewer critiques methodological flaws and inaccuracies. Key concerns include Sen's excessive categorization of grammatical types without sufficient justification, inconsistent distinctions between transitive/intransitive verbs, and misinterpretations of specific examples (e.g., misreading *daradam* as temporal). The work also lacks accent marks in cited texts, complicating verification for scholars. Sen's classification of the predicative nominative with *ripdm kar-* is questioned, as it lacks etymological or contextual grounding. Similarly, his treatment of cognate nominatives and impersonal verbs is deemed speculative, with alternative explanations (e.g., omitted natural elements as subjects) suggested. The reviewer further challenges Sen's creation of an "instrumental nominative" category based on sparse evidence and queries the validity of adverbial examples cited. Despite these shortcomings, the work is acknowledged as a meritorious effort to advance Vedic philology in India, though marred by occasional errors in detail and analysis. The reviewer emphasizes that these critiques do not negate Sen's overall contributions but highlight areas requiring further scrutiny.
AI-generated summary, automatically checked against the article text.
Conclusion
This work represents a significant contribution to Vedic philology, offering a comprehensive analysis of case usage through meticulous examination of Vedic prose. While Sen's categorization and proliferation of examples occasionally lack justification, and some methodological shortcomings—such as inconsistent referencing and accentuation—are noted, the study's thorough compilation of material and attention to minute details underscore its value. The work fills a critical gap by making complex Vedic grammatical concepts more accessible to Indian scholars, despite occasional inaccuracies in interpretation. Its detailed engagement with challenging topics like the nominative case and verbal phrases highlights the ongoing importance of rigorous philological research. Despite critiques, Sen's scholarship advances Vedic studies in India, setting a foundation for future scientific inquiry in this field.