[INDOLOGY] Claude

Fri Aug 8 18:58:50 UTC 2025

For whatever it's worth, the DeepSeek AI provided the following textual
references:

1. Sanskrit (यकृत् / Yakṛt) – Ayurvedic Texts

The liver is extensively discussed in classical Ayurveda as part of
the *"Raktavaha
Srotas"* (blood-carrying channels).
Key References:

   -

   Charaka Samhita (चरकसंहिता, ~300 BCE–200 CE)
   -

      *Chikitsāsthāna 15/16* – Discusses liver disorders (*yakṛd-dalyudara*,
      enlarged liver).
      -

      *Sūtrasthāna 28* – Lists *yakṛt* among major organs.
      -

   Sushruta Samhita (सुश्रुतसंहिता, ~4th century CE)
   -

      *Sharīrasthāna 4* – Describes the liver’s anatomical position.
      -

      *Nidānasthāna 7* – Diagnoses liver diseases (*yakṛt-plīhodara*).
      -

   Ashtanga Hridaya (अष्टाङ्गहृदय, 6th century CE)
   -

      *Sūtrasthāna 12* – Mentions *yakṛt* in the context of digestion.

Example Verse (Charaka):

*"यकृत्प्लीहानमुदरं गुल्मः..."*
*("Disorders of the liver, spleen, and abdomen...")*
— *Charaka Samhita, Chikitsāsthāna 15*

------------------------------
2. Pali (यकन / Yakana) – Buddhist Texts

The Pali Canon refers to the liver in medical and metaphorical contexts.
Key References:

   -

   Vinaya Piṭaka (विनयपिटक, Mahāvagga VI.14.6)
   -

      Prohibits monks from consuming animal livers (as part of strict
      dietary rules).
      -

   Milindapañha (मिलिन्दपञ्ह, ~1st century BCE)
   -

      Compares the liver to a "storehouse of blood" in anatomical
      discussions.
      -

   Pali Jātaka Tales (e.g., Jātaka 319)
   -

      Metaphorically uses *"yakana"* in descriptions of bodily suffering.

Example Passage:

*"Yakanaṃ hadayaṃ kilomakaṃ antogataṃ..."*
*("The liver, heart, and kidneys are inside...")*
— *Vinaya Piṭaka commentary*

------------------------------
3. Jain Prakrit (जिगर / Jigara) – Ardhamāgadhī & Śaurasenī

Jain texts in Prakrit use *"jigara"* (from Sanskrit *yakṛt*).
Key References:

   -

   Uttarādhyayana Sūtra (उत्तराध्ययन सूत्र, 5th–3rd century BCE)
   -

      Verse 36.75: Lists *jigara* among organs affected by karma.
      -

   Sūtrakṛtāṅga (सूत्रकृताङ्ग 1.6.27)
   -

      Forbids harming creatures "from liver to bones" (*jigara-aṭṭhi*).
      -

   Paiyalacchi (पैयलच्छी, 10th-century Prakrit lexicon)
   -

      Defines: *"Jigara = Yakṛt"* (यकृत्).

Example Verse (Sūtrakṛtāṅga):

*"जिगर-अट्ठी-मज्जाणं..."*
*("From liver to bones and marrow...")*
— *Sūtrakṛtāṅga 1.6.27*

------------------------------
4. Apabhraṃśa (जिगरु / Jigaru) – Medieval Jain & Medical Texts

The transitional form *"jigaru"* appears in late Prakrit/Apabhraṃśa.
Key References:

   -

   Bhavisayatta Kaha (भविसयत्त कहा, 8th–10th century CE)
   -

      A Jain story describing a king’s *"jigaru-roga"* (liver disease).
      -

   Ravidatta’s Medical Works (रविदत्त, ~9th century CE)
   -

      Uses *jigaru* in prescriptions for liver ailments.

Example Line:

*"जिगरु दुक्खु"* ("Liver pain")
— *Bhavisayatta Kaha*

------------------------------
Evolution Summary:

   1.

   Vedic Sanskrit: *Yakṛt (यकृत्)*
   2.

   Pali: *Yakana (यकन)*
   3.

   Early Prakrit: *Yakai (यकइ)*
   4.

   Later Prakrit (Jain): *Jigara (जिगर)*
   5.

   Apabhraṃśa: *Jigaru (जिगरु)*
   6.

   Modern Hindi/Urdu: *Jigar (जिगर)*

These references contain the use of *jigara *or *jigaru *from ancient Jain
Prakrit texts and Apabhraṃśa texts. The Deśīnāmamāla also lists it.
Assuming these textual references are accurate, the word *jigar/jigaru *goes
back to Prakrit/Apabhraṃśa ancestry. I wonder if we would still consider it
a borrowing from Persian.

Madhav M. Deshpandee
Professor Emeritus, Sanskrit and Linguistics
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Senior Fellow, Oxford Center for Hindu Studies
Adjunct Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, India

[Residence: Campbell, California, USA]

On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 11:46 AM Madhav Deshpande <mmdesh at umich.edu> wrote:

> Dear Rolf,
>
>      I am not an expert in all these languages. But from the information
> provided by Open.AI and Claude.AI, it seems to me that the Persian *jigar
> *is cognate with Sanskrit *yakr̥t*. The reason I am reluctant to think *jagrī
> *coming from Persian *jigar*, is that such a borrowing does not explain
> the *ī *at the end of *jagrī*, and then we have to assume that somehow
> the *i *of *jigar *changed to *a* of *jagrī*. That requires too many ad
> hoc changes. On the other hand, in numerous modern IA languages, the *y *of
> Sanskrit is replaced with *j*, and the *r̥ *is routinely pronounced as *rī
> *in North India. The loss of final Sanskrit consonants is a common
> feature of all Prakrit languages. Given these considerations, I see more of
> a clear line of connection between Sanskrit *yakr̥t* and your *jagrī*,
> than to the Persian word. This is my thinking.
>
> Madhav
> Madhav M. Deshpande
> Professor Emeritus, Sanskrit and Linguistics
> University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
> Senior Fellow, Oxford Center for Hindu Studies
> Adjunct Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, India
>
> [Residence: Campbell, California, USA]
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:57 AM Rolf Heinrich Koch <
> rolfheiner.koch at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Dear Madhav,
>>
>> just learning the Open.ai system, I asked Open.ai exactly the same as you
>> did with Claude.ai.
>>
>> This is the answer (which I cannot fully understand):
>>
>> The Persian word *jigar* (جگر), meaning *“liver”*, has a
>> well-established history within the *Indo-Iranian branch* of the *Indo-European
>> language family*. Here’s the full etymological breakdown:
>> ------------------------------
>> 🔹 1. *Persian jigar (جگر) – meaning: liver*
>>
>>    -
>>
>>    In *Classical Persian*, *jigar* refers both to:
>>    -
>>
>>       The *anatomical liver*, and
>>       -
>>
>>       *Metaphorical qualities* like *courage*, *passion*, and *deep
>>       emotion* — much like how “heart” is used in English.
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> 🔹 2. *Etymology: from Middle and Old Iranian*
>>
>>    -
>>
>>    *Middle Persian*:
>>    -
>>
>>       The word appears as *jigar* (same as modern) or *jekar*.
>>       -
>>
>>    *Old Persian*:
>>    -
>>
>>       The word is not directly attested, but is *reconstructed* based on
>>       related Avestan and Indo-Iranian forms.
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> 🔹 3. *Reconstructed Indo-Iranian and Proto-Indo-European (PIE) roots*
>>
>>    -
>>
>>    *Avestan* (East Iranian):
>>    -
>>
>>       *yakarə* (liver) – a clear cognate.
>>       -
>>
>>    *Proto-Iranian*:
>>    -
>>
>>       Reconstructed as *jigar* or *jakar*, derived from an earlier
>>       Indo-Iranian form.
>>       -
>>
>>    *Proto-Indo-Iranian*:
>>    -
>>
>>       Reconstructed as *yákṛt* (same as Sanskrit *yakṛt* = liver)
>>       -
>>
>>    *Proto-Indo-European (PIE)* root:
>>    -
>>
>>       **iék̂wṛ̥* → This is the PIE word for *“liver”*, and it gives rise
>>       to many cognates across Indo-European languages.
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> 🔹 4. *Cognates in other Indo-European languages*
>> Language Word for "liver" Notes
>> *Sanskrit* *yakṛt* (यकृत्) Exact Indo-Aryan match
>> *Avestan* *yakarə* East Iranian cognate
>> *Latin* *iecur* PIE root preserved (with changes)
>> *Ancient Greek* *hēpar* (ἧπαρ) Different root, not cognate (likely
>> non-IE origin)
>> *Old English* *lifere* → *liver* Possibly unrelated, or influenced by
>> metaphorical use ("life-organ")
>> ------------------------------
>> 🔹 5. *Semantic development in Persian*
>>
>>    -
>>
>>    In Persian and later Urdu and Hindi, *jigar* became *highly
>>    metaphorical*:
>>    -
>>
>>       *jigar-dil* = “liver-hearted” → brave
>>       -
>>
>>       *jigar-pāra* (lit. “a piece of liver”) = a beloved person
>>       -
>>
>>       *jigar khun hona* (“liver bleeding”) = intense grief
>>
>> This is *cultural* — just as the *heart* became the seat of emotion in
>> European traditions, *the liver* was seen in Persianate culture as the
>> seat of *strong emotions*, especially *courage and deep love*.
>> ------------------------------
>> ✅ Summary:
>>
>>    -
>>
>>    *Jigar (جگر)* is *an authentic Iranian word*, descending from *Proto-Indo-European
>>    *iék̂wṛ̥* via *Indo-Iranian *yakṛt*.
>>    -
>>
>>    It is *cognate with Sanskrit yakṛt*, Latin *iecur*, and Avestan
>>    *yakarə*.
>>    -
>>
>>    The *metaphorical richness* of the word in Persianate cultures
>>    (courage, love, pain) is a *later cultural development*, not
>>    etymological.
>>
>> Would you like a linguistic family tree of this word across Indo-European
>> languages?
>>
>>
>>
>> Am 08.08.2025 um 16:59 schrieb Madhav Deshpande via INDOLOGY:
>>
>> https://claude.ai/share/2fe502db-185f-447d-b742-88e87ff1c17c
>>
>> Some interesting connections of the Persian word jigar to Sanskrit word
>> taker for liver.
>>
>> Madhav Deshpande
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> INDOLOGY mailing listINDOLOGY at list.indology.infohttps://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology
>>
>> --
>> Dr. R. H. Koch - Germany/Sri Lanka www.rolfheinrichkoch.wordpress.com
>>
>>
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