Quote for the day!

ഉന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തു-
ന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്താളെയുന്തു്

(According to legend, the very first couplet in
മഞ്ജരി inspired by which കൃഷ്ണഗാഥ was written.)

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Moving words

The root സര in Sanskrit means to move, to flow, etc.  Some of the commonly used words in Malayalam are derived from this root, however, their meanings are very different today and one has to look deeper to get the connection with the flow.

പാദസരം  is anklet. പാദത്തിൽ സരിക്കുന്നത് = that which moves around the feet. This derivation is quite straight forward.

അവസരം is opportunity. It comes from അവ (downwards) + സരം (moving). Literally it means "befalling". Of course, opportunity befalls many times.

പരിസരം means environment. പരി (around) + സരം. That which moves around - which is the environment.

അനുസരണം means discipline. If we look closely at the components we see that it comes from അനു (following) + സരണം  (the act of moving). So literally, it means following behind, trailing behind etc. Of course, when you are acting in discipline you are following some set of norms or rules or guidelines.

പ്രസരണം means to spread out. It comes from പ്ര- (outwards) + സരണം (movement).

There are some other words, like ഉത്സരം (upward moving) which are used very closely in meaning with original Sanskrit.

Do you know other words that contain the സരം root?

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