Indian Palaeography c12.s5.33

c12.s5.33

The dental *sa* has an additional hook in the same direction attached to the long arm of the form of *pa* (Fig. 5. VIII). This hook is sometimes angular as in the Erragudi inscriptions (Pl. IV*b*), and is sometimes lengthened (Pl. III*b*, Kalasi R.E. I–IX); in some cases this hook starts just where the long arm of *pa* ends, and in rare cases it drops from the curve of *pa* (Pl. III*b*, Kalasi R.E. XI–XIV). In this last variety it is often confused with *sha*. In rare cases, e.g. at Girnar (probably owing to the engraver's mistake), the long arm is extended and the curve is added later, e.g. [Figure:] (Pl. IV*b*). At Sarnath the cursive form is also seen, in which case the long arm is bent inwards.