The History of Indian Literature c9.35

c9.35

201a In connection with the word *Pahlava*, Th. Nöldeke, in a communication dated 3d November 1875, mentions a point which, if confirmed, will prove of the highest importance for determining the date of composition of the Mahá-Bhárata and of the Rámáyaṇa (see my Essay on it, pp. 22, 25), as well as of Manu (see x. 44). According to this, there exists considerable doubt whether the word *Pahlav*, which is the basis of *Pahlava*, and which Olshausen (v. sup., p. 4, note) regards as having arisen out of the name of the *Parthavas*, Parthians, can have originated earlier than the first century A.D. This weakening of *th* to *h* is not found, in the case of the word *Mithra*, for example, before the commencement of our era (in the MIIPO on the coins of the Indo-Scythians, Lassen, *I. AK.*, ii. 837, and in *Meherdates* in Tacitus). As the name of a people, the word *Pahlav* became early foreign to the Persians, learned reminiscences excepted: in the Pahlaví texts themselves, for instance, it does not occur. The period when it passed over to the Indians, therefore, would have to be fixed for about the 2d–4th century A.D.; and we should have to understand by it, not directly the Persians, who are called Párasikas, rather, but specially the Arsacidan Parthians. and as the old friend of Yudhishṭhira's father; see *I. St.*, v. 152.—In the name of the Yavana prince Kaserumant, we appear to have a reflex of the title of the Roman Cæsars; see *Ind. Skiz.*, pp. 88, 91; cf. L. Feer on the *Kesarí-námasamgrámaḥ* of the *Avadána-Śataka* in the *Séances de l'Acad. des Inscr.* (1871), pp. 47, 56, 60.