THE STUDY OF SANSKRIT 61
to asura did not originally belong to it at all but was imported into it subsequently, though we cannot now say why. When once the word asura became established in its new sense, its initial syllable a was easily mistaken for the negative prefix and a spurious word sura came into use with the meaning of ‘god’ the opposite of < demon’. Thus we see that a compar- ision of asura with a word found in a cognate language has disclosed to us that the current explanation is as far from the truth as it can possibly be. It was not asura that was derived from sura but it was the reverse that happened. Instances of this kind may be multiplied but this example is sufficient to indicate the necessity, in the interests of truth, for pursuing the comparative method in studying Sanskrit.
The application of this method to the study of Sanskrit presents certain difficulties to the Indian student for it pre- supposes an acquaintance with other Indo-Germanic languages and literatures and there is no provision now in Colleges for teaching even the more important European classical and modem languages. We may hope that these difficulties will be removed in course of time. Till they are removed the student must fight his way through them as best as he can. Although it is difficult now to ledrn European languages, there are other kindred languages which can be learnt with relatively less trouble. There is Persian for example and there are the northern Sanskrit ic vernaculars like Bengali and Hindi, a knowledge of which will be of great use in dealing with Sanskrit Philology. The equipment of the Sanskrit student in respect of linguistic knowledge has hitherto been very meagre and the useful work he may do has accordingly become considerably limited.
In the scheme of studies now sanctioned by the Mysore University French is included among second languages and provision for teaching it will soon be made. I trust that many of you will take advantage of this opportunity to widen your outlook on Sanskrit study.
My reference to the historical and comparative methods will indeed be incomplete if I do not lay special stress on the spirit with which they should be pursued. Whichever be the method we apply to a particular case, we must exercise the maximum amount of care in the collection as well as in the
