Sanskrit syntax problem: Double bind constructions

[Richard MAHONEY]

On Sun, Mar 14, 2004 at 10:11:07PM -0600, Lawrence McCrea wrote:

[snip]

> > now and then we meet with ambivalent syntactic constructions in
> > Sanskrit, that is, with cases where a particular part of a
> > sentence -- say, a genitive construction -- is strategically
> > placed so as to be connected to both the preceding and the
> > subsequent elements with equal strength in terms of semantic
> > possibilities.

[snip]

> The principle that allows terms to construe backwards and forwards
> at the same time is generally referred to as the
> "si.mha-avalokana-nyaya"-- "the rule of the lion's glance".  Lions
> are said, either when pursuing prey or fleeing a hunter (I've seen
> it explained both ways), to periodically leap into the air and cast
> a quick glance backwards to see what's behind them, and this
> provides an analogy for the grammatical phenomenon.  There are brief
> entries on it in Apte, Monier-Williams, and MacDonell, but none
> cites any passages.

[snip]



from "Sik.saasamuccaya p. 357 lns. 13--14 (Bendall's ed):

sadaa 'pramaado [or sadaapramaado] hy am.rtasya muula.m satvaarthayu-
                                           <--- ^^^^^^^ --->

[ Cambridge MS f163b ---> ]

ktasya ca bodhicitta.m |

yad yoni"sa"s caiva vivekacittam aparigraha.h sarvasukhasya muulam iti ||


Best regards,

 Richard Mahoney


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