The work contains all the requisites of an elementary grammar. It undertakes to analyse and classify the grammatical forms of the Tibetan language. It recounts all the parts of Speech, the Declension and Conjugation systems, Pronunciation, Syntax and Prosody. As exercises in grammatical rules it contains specimens of composition from the standard works, particularly the extracts from the text of Situ Sum-Tag, the exhaustive Commentary on Thonmi Sam Bhota's Sum-Chu-pa, Tag-jug-pa, Dag-je-Salwai Melong and others.
In this work the author has followed the monumental work of Alexander Csoma de Körös, supplementing it here and there with materials drawn from Situ-Sum-Tag, the exhaustive commentary on Thonmi Sam Bhota's Sum-Chu-paand Tag-jug-pa.
In accordance with the prophecy of our Teacher, in the Manja Qri müla Tantra, there reigned at Lha-Man (Lhasa) in Central Tibet, a succesion of Dharma Rajas sprung from the Li-tsa-bya race. Among them, the most illustrious was Mihilha (Naradero), surnamed Sron-htsan agam-po the wise and just king. Among his many eminent ministers, Thu-mi SamBhota was distinguished for his literary aptitude and attainments. In ebedience to the command of his King, impelled by the earnest prayers (of a former life) for sequiring Bodhi (spiritual enlightenment) he proceeded to Arga deça (India). There he studied the Arts, both of the Brahmans and the Buddhists, under Pandida Deva-vid Simba (in Tibetan, Lha-rigpabi Séngé), the Brahman Lipikara (in Tibetan Libyin ic., Lipi-datta.
and other eminent teschers. On his return to Tibet, he resided in the castle of Mara near Lhaan where he shaped the Tibetan character after the model of the Nagari. He wrote eight grammatical works, out of which, Sum-ztags only is extant to this day. This work comprises two books namely, dum-chu-pa and Rtags-kyi hjug-pa which treat of the orthography and orthopy of the Tibetan language.
The Sum-chu-pa is embodied in thirty verses and forms the basis of Tibetan grammar. Hence its name, in Sanskrit, is Vyd-karona måls triment name, in Tibetan: Lun ston-partsa-wa Sum-chu-pa. After reverentially bowing to Buddha, the most rare One, the author Thu-mi SamBhota begins his work with salutation to Maiju ghosa, the lord of speech.
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