𑀅𑀬𑀧𑀼𑀢

Ashokan Prakrit

Etymology

Etymology tree

Sanskrit आर्य (ārya)

Proto-Indo-European *putlós

Proto-Indo-Iranian *putrás

Sanskrit पुत्र (putra)

Ashokan Prakrit 𑀅𑀬𑀧𑀼𑀢 (ayaputa)

Inherited from Sanskrit आर्यपुत्र (āryaputra, “prince”), from आर्य (ārya, “Aryan”) +‎ पुत्र (putra, “son”). By surface analysis, 𑀅𑀬 (aya) +‎ 𑀧𑀼𑀢 (puta).

Noun

𑀅𑀬𑀧𑀼𑀢 (ayaputa /ayyaputta/) m

1. prince
   • c. 258 BCE, Aśoka, Minor Rock Edict 1 Brahmagiri.1:

     𑀲𑀼𑀯𑀁𑀡𑀕𑀺𑀭𑀻𑀢𑁂 𑀅𑀬𑀧𑀼𑀢𑀲 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑀸𑀡𑀁 𑀘 𑀯𑀘𑀦𑁂𑀦 𑀇𑀲𑀺𑀮𑀲𑀺 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀫𑀸𑀢𑀸 𑀆𑀭𑁄𑀕𑀺𑀬𑀁 𑀯𑀢𑀯𑀺𑀬𑀸 𑀳𑁂𑀯𑀁 𑀘 𑀯𑀢𑀯𑀺𑀬𑀸

     suvaṃṇagirīte ayaputasa mahāmātāṇaṃ ca vacanena isilasi mahāmātā ārogiyaṃ vataviyā hevaṃ ca vataviyā

     • 1997 translation by Romila Thapar

       From Suvarnagiri, on the order of his Highness the Prince, and the officers: good health to the officers of Isila who are to be instructed thus.

Alternative forms

Attested at Brahmagiri and Siddapura.

Dialectal forms of 𑀅𑀬𑀧𑀼𑀢 (“prince”)
Variety	Location	Forms edit
South	Siddapura	𑀅𑀬𑀧𑀼𑀢 (ayaputa)
	Brahmagiri	𑀅𑀬𑀧𑀼𑀢 (ayaputa)

Map of dialectal forms of 𑀅𑀬𑀧𑀼𑀢 (“prince”)
𑀅𑀬𑀧𑀼𑀢 (ayaputa) (2)

References

• Andersen, Paul Kent (1990) “ayaputa-”, in Studies in the Minor Rock Edicts of Aśoka, Freiburg: Hedwig Falk, page 139