Concept:
In Hindi linguistics, words are classified into तत्सम and तद्भव categories. Tatsama words are those that are directly borrowed from Sanskrit without any phonetic or structural modification, whereas tadbhava words are modified forms that evolved naturally over time due to pronunciation simplification.
Step 1: Understanding the base word
The modern Hindi word घोड़ा is a tadbhava word. It has evolved from its Sanskrit root through gradual phonetic transformation. The original Sanskrit form associated with this word is घोटक.
Step 2: Etymological transformation process
The linguistic evolution can be represented as:
\[
\text{{\hindifont घोटक} (Sanskrit)} \rightarrow \text{{\hindifont प्राकृत रूप}} \rightarrow \text{{\hindifont घोड़ा} (Hindi)}
\]
During this transformation, consonant softening and vowel modification occurred to simplify pronunciation for everyday spoken usage.
Step 3: Evaluation of options
• अश्व: A classical Sanskrit synonym for horse, but not the direct root of “ घोड़ा”.
• बाजि: Literary Sanskrit term used in poetic contexts.
• सैंधव: Refers to a horse from the Sindh region, not a linguistic root form.
• घोटक: The direct Sanskrit base form that evolved into “ घोड़ा”.
Step 4: Final conclusion
Since घोटक is the direct Sanskrit equivalent form from which the tadbhava word “ घोड़ा” evolved, it is the correct answer.