22 The most ancient Grammar of the Vedas. [Jan. 



N. B. The second Pratieakhya mentions this case only in so far 

 as the Anunasika before vowels is spoken of in general terras ; the 

 third however has the following passage (II. 3,) apragraha : samanak- 

 sharany anunasikauyekesham padacha pluta cankhayana-kandama- 

 yanayo : akarastu sahitayam api sarvam ekayama purvesham | " The 

 vowels a, i, u, with the corresponding long ones, (when they meet in 

 vivritti) unless they are pragrihya, become nasal, after particular teach- 

 ers ; in the Padapatha the pluta becomes nasal according to Cank- 

 hayana and Kandamayana, a, however also in the Sanhita. According to 

 the opinion of the Piirvayagnika every single vowel becomes nasal." 

 The latter would then relate to the pronunciation in the recitations and 

 hymns of the sacrifice. I do not know, how to explain the ekayanam 

 in any other way than to identify it with the aprikta of the other Prati- 

 cakhyas. 



Panini also recognises the nasal sound, which I have distinguished 

 as the euphonic one, in the Sutras VI. 1, 126, as being the particle 

 a, and in the very general rule VIII. 4, 57. I confess, that I cannot 

 conceive, what the latter is to say, as it is there without any further 

 explanation, (Bothlingk also has not explained it) Does the avasane 

 mean : "at the end of a word" or "at the end of a pada" or "at the 

 end of a sentence ?" The examples of the commentators do not notice 

 it at all. I suppose the latter, and refer it to the elongation of the 

 vowel which terminates the sentence, in ceremonies of sacrifice and 

 similar things. As the mixed vowels were generally elongated by 

 separating their elements, (for example Aitareya Brahma. II. 7, at the 

 end of a praisha adhriga 3, u instead of adhrigo,) so a somewhat nasal 

 sound would have been necessary for the elongation of the single vowels. 

 In fact I would in general give the same signification to the Anunasikhya 

 which is not the substitute for a real consonant. It would only have 

 served to point out the vowel, which was to be elongated with par- 

 ticular emphasis and to be protected from coalescing with the follow- 

 ing one. That the nasal sign was chosen for this purpose, was by no 

 means without foundation, in so far as the vowel, which is lengthened 

 and pronounced in full, easily assumes a nasal sound ; the anunasikya 

 was here so much the more fit, as according to the Indian grammar it 

 does not in fact express any thing belonging to a consonant, but only 

 a quality of the vowel. The calculation of the latter in the measure of 



