jaññā

Dear all,

The second and third person singular optative is sometimes formed with the ending -yā (Skt. -yāḥ and -yāt, respectively; Geiger § 129A). Thus, the second and third person singular optative of √jñā can be jaññā (there are other forms, of course).

In Cone’s “A Dictionary of Pāli” (s.v. jānāti), jaññā is also listed as a third person plural optative. A number of passages are quoted which seem to support this. Assuming Cone is correct, does anyone know the historical process that led to this form? Is the ending -yā found in other third person plural optative verbs?

Regards,
Chris