India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c8.s15.t1.19

c8.s15.t1.19

(11) Names ending in *datta* and *śruta*, and implying blessing (VI.2.148), *e.g.* Devadatta, 'he whom the gods have bestowed,' and Vishṇuśruta 'he whose wishes Vishṇu may hear.' These are examples of names ending in a *Kṛit* suffix of which we hear so often in the *Gṛihyasūtras*. We do not usually come across any real name ending in *śruta* in the Vedic or Buddhist literature. The number of names ending in *datta* is also limited, as Brahmadatta (*Jaim. Br.*, king of Kośala, also called Prāsenajita), Punardatta and Sūryadatta (*Śāṅkh. Ār.* VIII.8); but in Buddhist literature they are more common, as Devadatta, Bhūridatta (*Jāt.* VI.167), Matidatta (*Jāt.* IV.342), Yaññadatta Brāhmaṇakumāra (*Jāt.* IV.30), Somadatta (*Jāt.* VI.170). These become a regular feature in the post-Pāṇinian period, *e.g.* Aggidatta, Vāyu-, Yama-, Id-(=Indra-), Ṛishi- (=Isi-), Brahma- (=Baha-), Upendra- (=Upida- or Upeda-), Uttara-, Vaisramaṇa-, Pushya-, Gaṅga-, Dharma- and Nāgadatta, etc., (Cf. Bühler's Sanchi *List*). According to Kātyāyana (I.4.58-59), Maruddata would be equal to Marutta (*Bhāshya*, I.341). Patañjali cites Yajñadatta and Devadatta as typical names of Brāhmaṇas (*Bhāshya*, I.1.3; I.189), often shortened simply to Datta (I.1.45; I.111).