गर्दभ

Sanskrit

Alternative scripts

Etymology

    Of unclear origin.

    Perhaps a derivation from the possibly onomatopoeic root गर्द् (gard, to cry), with a suffix formed by analogy to the one in ऋषभ (ṛṣabha, bull).[1]

    An alternative theory considers the word as a Dravidian borrowing, formed as *गर्द (*garda) + an Indo-European animal suffix *भ (*bha) as seen in ऋषभ (ṛṣabha) above; compare Tamil கழுதை (kaḻutai), Kuvi ଗା୕ଡ଼୍ଦେ (gāṛde), Duruwa [script needed] (garad).[2] However, the formal mismatch between the Dravidian and Sanskrit forms, the Sanskrit word's Vedic status, the gratuitous attachment of a bound suffix of supposed Indo-European origin to a loaned word, and the fact that donkeys were well-known to steppe tribes (including the Indo-Iranians), casts doubt on this derivation.[1][3]

    Possibly related to Tocharian B kercapo (donkey), perhaps via a borrowing from Sanskrit to Tocharian, though further details are uncertain.[3]

    Pronunciation

    Noun

    गर्दभ • (gardabhá) stemm

    1. ass, donkey

    Declension

    Masculine a-stem declension of गर्दभ
    singular dual plural
    nominative गर्दभः (gardabháḥ) गर्दभौ (gardabhaú)
    गर्दभा¹ (gardabhā́¹)
    गर्दभाः (gardabhā́ḥ)
    गर्दभासः¹ (gardabhā́saḥ¹)
    accusative गर्दभम् (gardabhám) गर्दभौ (gardabhaú)
    गर्दभा¹ (gardabhā́¹)
    गर्दभान् (gardabhā́n)
    instrumental गर्दभेन (gardabhéna) गर्दभाभ्याम् (gardabhā́bhyām) गर्दभैः (gardabhaíḥ)
    गर्दभेभिः¹ (gardabhébhiḥ¹)
    dative गर्दभाय (gardabhā́ya) गर्दभाभ्याम् (gardabhā́bhyām) गर्दभेभ्यः (gardabhébhyaḥ)
    ablative गर्दभात् (gardabhā́t) गर्दभाभ्याम् (gardabhā́bhyām) गर्दभेभ्यः (gardabhébhyaḥ)
    genitive गर्दभस्य (gardabhásya) गर्दभयोः (gardabháyoḥ) गर्दभानाम् (gardabhā́nām)
    locative गर्दभे (gardabhé) गर्दभयोः (gardabháyoḥ) गर्दभेषु (gardabhéṣu)
    vocative गर्दभ (gárdabha) गर्दभौ (gárdabhau)
    गर्दभा¹ (gárdabhā¹)
    गर्दभाः (gárdabhāḥ)
    गर्दभासः¹ (gárdabhāsaḥ¹)
    • ¹Vedic

    Derived terms

    • गर्दभक (gardabhaka, of or relating to a donkey)
    • गर्दभी (gardabhī, female donkey / jenny)
    • गार्दभ (gārdabha, of or relating to a donkey)
      • Kannada: ಗಾರ್ದಭ (gārdabha, donkey)

    Descendants

    References

    1. 1.0 1.1 Mayrhofer, Manfred (1992) Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen [Etymological Dictionary of Old Indo-Aryan]‎[1] (in German), volume 1, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 473
    2. ^ Burrow, T., Emeneau, M. B. (1984) “1364”, in A Dravidian etymological dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 126.
    3. 3.0 3.1 Mayrhofer, Manfred (1956) Kurzgefasstes Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen [A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary]‎[2] (in German), volume 1, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 328