Wilson Philological Lectures on Sanskrit and the Derived Languages c7.30

c7.30

The vowel ऋ is changed to अ as in कसि for कृषि, तण्हा for तृष्णा, गह for गृह, घत for घृत, मचु for मृत्यु &c.; to इ as in दिट्ठ for दृष्ट, तिण for तृण, मिग fcr मृग, तित्ति for तृप्ति, गिद्ध for गृध &c.; and to उ as in भुस for भ्रश, मुदु, for मृदु, भुसा for मृषा, बुस for वृष, बुट्ठि for वृष्टि &c. The last change generally takes place when the vowel is preceded by a labial; so that the vocal position of the consonant influences that of the vowel. When there is no such influence, it is changed to अ and इ. Now, the vowel ऋ is composed of a consonantal and a vowel element, the former of which is subordinated to the latter. On this account it does not give to the consonant to which it is added the character of a conjunct, and the preceding vowel is not rendered heavy³. In Pâli this consonantal element disappears in virtue of the inherent inability, which we have considered at such length, of passing from one vocal position to another without letting off the breath; but the previous consonant is not doubled because the usual character of a conjunct is absent. Or the disappearance may be accounted for by the fact that the consonantal element is so subordinated to the vowel element as to escape