254 
Kajendralala Mifcra —The Yavanas of Sanskrit Writers, [No. 3, 
enough in its appearance and different enough from the alphabet of the 
Hindus to explain the fact that its name called for the formation of a new 
word.”* * * § In either case, the term Yavana in Panini’s time indicated, not the 
Ionian Greeks, hut either the Persians or the Assyrians. Professor Max 
Muller is of opinion that the writing referred to by Panini is a Semitic one. 
He says : “ Yavana is by no means the exclusive name of the Greeks or 
Ionians. Professor Lassen has proved that it had a much wider meaning, 
and that it was even used of Semitic nations. There is nothing to prove 
that Panini was later than Alexander, or that he was acquainted with 
Greek literature. In the Lalita Vistara, where all possible alphabets are 
mentioned, nothing is said of a Yavanani or Greek alphabet. The Sanskrit 
alphabet, though it has always been suspected to he derived from a Semitic 
source, has certainly not been traced back to a Greek source. It shows more 
similarity with the Aramaean than with any other variety of the Phoenician 
alphabet.! Yavanani lipi most likely means that variety of the Semitic alpha¬ 
bet which, previous to Alexander, and previous to Panini, became the type 
of the Indian alphabet.”! Weber first supposed that it meant “ the writing 
of the Greeks or Semites” (Ind. St. I., p. 144), but he subsequently changed 
his opinion, and took the word for the writing of the Greeks alone. (Ind. S. 
IV., p. 89). It was evidently the necessary consequence of the Greek 
theory which he had then matured. Lassen brings down Papini to the time 
of Chandragupta. But Max Muller and Goldstiicker have so clearly de¬ 
monstrated the pre-Buddhistic antiquity of Panini, that nothing further need 
he here said on the subject. 
Manu refers to the Yavanas several times in his code of laws, along 
with the S'akas, Ivambojas, and other rude tribes on the borders of 
India; but he affords no clue to their identification. In one place (X. 43, 
and 44) he states, however, that “ the following races of Kshatriyas, 
by their omission of holy rites and by seeing no Brahmans, have sunk 
among men to the lowest of the four classes : viz., Paundrakas, Odras, 
and llravidas ; Ivambojas, Yavanas, and S'akas ; Paradas, Pahlavas, Chinas, 
Iviratas, Daradas, and Khasas.” All these tribes, along with several others, 
are generically named Dasyus, or wild people, who were descendants of the 
four original castes, mixing promiscuously with each other and neglecting 
their religious observances. § Elsewhere these tribes are called Vratyas or 
mulattos. The Aitareya Brahmana, likewise, assigns the name Dasyu to 
* Manava Kalpa Sutra. Introduction, p. 16. 
f Lepsius, Zwei sprachvergleichende Abhandlungon, p, 78. Sctmlze’s Conjectures 
about Mesnud. Weber, Indische Skizzen. 
J Ancient Sanskrit Literature, p. 521. 
§ Book X. v. 12 to 24. 
