(   2'.)

of the leading names of trees and plants with scientific or vernacular equivalents wherever noteworthy.
It also gives most of the principal Vedic words or senses of words; for though Vedic Literature would
require a dictionary by itself, still I did not think it desirable to omit altogether at least such words as fre¬
quently occur, especially as I intended to make this work as complete and comprehensive as I could. For the
same reason, obscure or unimportant words or senses of words have been inserted, though they may not be
generally met with in classical literature as studied by the University student.

The chief feature   of this Dictionary is that it has aimed at being practical.  With this  view I have
added quotations and references to  the peculiar and noteworthy senses of   words, especially such  as occur in
Works read   by the student at   School or College.    In some cases   the quotations   might appear to some    to
be   superfluous,   but to a student, especially a beginner,   they   are very   useful, as they   supply him    with
cipt    illustrations of   the  senses  of  words,  and enable  kim to provide  himself with   a large   stock    of
choice, idiomatic expressions which are so abundant  in   the language.    Another noticeable feature   of the
Dictionory is that it gives full explanations of the  more   important  technical terms,  particularly in Nydya,
Alankdra,  Vedanta,   Grammar and Dramaturgy,   T^ith  quotations in Sanskrit   wherever necessary; e.g.
see the words ^^^f^^, 3T>Tr^, ^RF^T, ^sr^Hrfq-i^f^r;   ^^f,  ^T^,  ^Tf^'srj^  ^mm,  ^^m^^,  ^rfW,  tf*
^ff^T^f^^, ^S", ?:^, JTf ^^K", ^^^^cR-,  ^^f%Hrf   <^c.    In  the case of Alankaras  I have chiefly dl?awn  upon
the Kavyapraka^a,  though I have occasionally   consulted the Kasagangadhara,  Chandrdloka and   Kuvala-
ySfUanda.    In  the    explanation  of    dramatic terms I have  usually followed the  Sdhityadarpa^ia and  its
translation into English, and have sometimes referred   to the Da^aiApa.    Simikrly, striking phrases, some
choice expressions and idioms or peculiar combinations of words, have  been given under every word where
lecessary or possible ;  e.g. seethe words irJi;, ^g, H^, f^^> ^f; ^i V7 ^%  &c.    Mythological allusions
in the case of all important personages have been   briefly  but   clearly   explained, so as to give the reader
most of the facts connected with them ; e. g. se^ ^f?r, ^^^^^f, %^, ^m^% JJff^,  ^FR^t &'5.   Etymology
has generally been given in the case of every important word, except where it was purely fanciful • e, g. see
^^l^f^. ^l^ftr, ^i^^^i 3'3r, irr^r, f ^r%^ &c. in doing this I have followed the system of native  gramma¬
rians who resolve every word into its ^ prahriti ' and ^ pratyaya ', and the terminations given   according to
Pftijiini's nomenclature will be explained further on.    I have thought it  necessary  to do so at the sugges¬
tion   of several friends, and have   derived  considerable help from the  great  Ydchaspatya which I  have
usually followed, except where the  etymology given    therein appeared to me to be purely arbitrary or fan¬
ciful.   Philological comparisons have been given only where useful and noteworthy.    The work also gives in¬
formation about words which, it is believed, will be very  useful, especially to  the University student ; e. g.
see the words ^e^qc;^, ^g^^ %^, ^^^, ^R^, f^ &c.    Some of the most common   Nydym or  Maxims  have
been collected under the word ?2TR for easy reference j c, g, see ^r^rfr«?'l«^^R, ^r'J?5:2^r^, ^trrt?r3?^r^?=z(r^
&c.    To add to the usefulness of the Dictionary I have added at the end three  Appendices. The first is on
Sanskrit Prosody which attempts to give in a clear and   intelligible form all the common  metres with Defini¬
tions,    Schemes   in   Gai^as,    and   Examples.    In   the  preparation   of   this  Appendix     I    have   chiefly
drawn    upon   the   two     popular     works    on    Prosody,    the    Vi'ittaratndkara    and   Chhando-Manjari,
but    some     common     metres     omitted    in   those   woi?ks    have    been   added    from the    illustrations
found in the works of Magha, Bhdravi, Da}^(jiin, Bha^^i, Sudraka &c.   Colebrooke's Essay on Sanskrit Metres
has also given me occasional help.    The second  Appendix gives the dates,   writings &c. of some of the  im-
portant Sanskrit writers such as Kdlidasa, Bhavabhuti,   Bai;ia.    Here I have selected only those names about
which something definite—something mol^e than mere guesses and surmises—is known, and I have derived
some hints from the Introduction to Vallabhadeva's   Subhashitavali edited  by Dr. Peterson and Pandit
Durga Prasada, and from Prof. Max MiiUer's * India ;   what  it can teach us,' for which my thanks  are due
to the authors   of   both   the   works.     The  third Appendix gives   the   most   important    names in the
ancient   Geography   of  India    with   identifications    on  the   modern]   map   wherever   ascertained     and
in  this part   of the   work   I   have   to   cordially   acknowledge   the   help   I  have  derived   from' Cun-
ningham's    Ancient Geography,   but particularly   from   Mr.   Borooah's    Essay    prefixed   to   the  third
volume of his English-Sanskrit  Dictionary.    I had at first    intended to add two alphabetical indexes to
the principal   events  and    personages   occurring   in  the   Ramayaija   and   Mahabharata,  but    I   have
had to abandon the project, as the publication of  the Dictionary has already been delayed on account of