INTRODUCTION xxxvii also gives an alternate reading viriñcaḥ which would mean the god who is borne by birds, namely swans: विभिः हंसै रिच्यत उद्यते विरिञ्चः इति वा पाठः । The readings mentioned above are but a few specimens out of the hundreds which he has indicated and explained. When a word has a meaning which is not directly con- nected with its derivation, it is called rūḍha.1 The origin of such words has been forgotten. In such cases a commentator has to resort to imagination to establish the meaningfulness of the word. The word pupa (flattened cake) in Amara's pupo pupah pistakaḥ syāt is so called, says Sūrin, because the ashes from the fire in which it has been cooked have been rubbed off! पूयते पाकसमये लग्नं भस्म मृज्यतेऽस्येति पूपः । पूञ् पवने । (p. 583) Amara gives sūta as one of the synonyms of mercury: rasaḥ sūtaś ca parade. Sūrin's explanation of the word is based on the popular belief that gold can be produced out of mercury: süte hemadikam iti sutaḥ (p. 612). His explanation of maireya (a kind of intoxicating drink) is that it eclipses ordinary liquors. इरां सामान्यसुरां स्वरुच्या मेति प्रतिषेधयतीति मेरा । सैव मैरेयम् । (p. 644). A pupil is called chātra because he screens, out of a sense of respect and gratitude, the defects of his preceptor: गुरोरसच्चरितं छादयतीति छात्र: । (p. 457) 2 A subtle sense of humour is also seen in Sūrin's explana- tions: The word nānā given in the Avyaya section of Kānda III 1 K. K. Raja, Indian Theories of Meaning, ALS 91, 2nd ed., p. 60. 2 It is more likely that he is an umbrella bearer, when the preceptor goes out in the sun; for the greatest fun that a boy gets in student life is in the exposure of the mannerisms and weaknesses of the teacher. cf. Maha- bhasya on Pāṇini, IV. 4. 62; see also ALB 29, p. 181 n.
