Fragments of the earliest Eastern Prakrit Grammarians

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_
Catalog link: https://jainqq.org/explore/250097/1

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Fragments of the earliest Eastern Prakrit Grammarians* (Sakalya, Mandavya, Kohala and Kapila) DR. SATYA RANJAN BANERJEE A T the top of the Eastern School mention may be made of Sakalya, Mandavya, Kohala and Kapila, the earliest reference to whom as Prakrit grammarians is found in the works of Purusottama1, Ramatarkavagisa1 and Markandeya1, who occasionally adopt their views in their treatises of Prakrit grammar. Markandeya, while referring, with warm admiration, to his predecessors on whom he depended mentions not only Sakalya and Kohala but also Bhara, Vararuci, Bhamaha and Vasantaraja in the preamble of his grammar PrakrtaSarvasva.2 Mandavya is mentioned only by Ramatarkavagisa. Kapila is referred to by both Ramasarma and Markandeya. As all these authors belong to the eastern school, it is, therefore, possible to surmise Paper Read at the 22nd session of the All India Oriental Conference, 1960. 1 For all these references, vide Appendix. 2 Sakalya - Bharata - Kohala - Vararuci - Bhamaha - Vasantarajadyaih/ proktan granthan nanalaksyani ca nipunam alokya// avyakirnam visadam saram svalpaksara-grathitapadyam/Markandeya-kavindrah Prakrta-sarvasvam arabhate//

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FRAGMENTS OF EARLIEST EASTERN PRAKRIT GRAMMARIANS : 271 that Sakalya, Mandavya, Kohala and Kapila may have also belonged to this school, or their views were accepted by the easterners. We do not know anything of Sakalya, Mandavya, Kohala and Kapila as the authors of Prakrit grammar, nor do we know any Prakrit grammar, still extant, under their names. However, their views, culled out from the text of Purusottama, Ramatarkavagisa and Markandeya with regard to some of the forms of Prakrit accepted and supported by them, are given below. 7.1. Formative Suffixes: (a) Consonantal feminine word is formed with i (Sa. 10) only; otherwise, with i or a, e.g., manini, manamsini, but sohana and sohani. (b) "matup" is formed with ha (Sas & Ma? 2); otherwise, alla or ella; e. g., ekkaho, but ekkallo, ekkello; puttaho, but puttallo, puttello. (c) In the past participle ("kta"), in the infinitive ("tum") and in the indeclinable participle ("ktva") e or i is added (Sa & Ma 5). (No example is given.) 2. Declension of the Second Personal Pronoun. (a) Accusative plural-tumbhe (Sa & Ma 4), otherwise, tujjhe, tumhe. (b) Locative plural.tumbhesu (m), tujjhesu (m) and tumhesu (m) (sa 11) 3. Future. It is formed with instead of hi; (Sa 1). (No example is given.) 4. Gerund: Ktva is formed with tu, tum (or tumam) ($a & Ma 3). (No example is given.) 5. Verbal substitute: (sa 6 & 7) Skt. V tvar > Pkt. tuvara-i. , V bhid > ,, bhinda-i, chid > chinda-i. 6. Sauraseni. Two verbal substitutes of this dialect are given. Skt. V bhu thau. ho (Sa 9.& 12). >> V grah , gahi (not genha) (Kay 14 & 15) in tavy a and kta. 7. Magadhi. Magadhi is spoken by demons (raksasas), by religious mendicants (bhiksu), by the Jainas (Ksapanaka) and by the menials (ceti) (K03 13). 3 Here sa, Ma, ko & Ka stand for Sakalya, Mandavya, Kohala and Kapila respectively; and the number after them refers to the text, for which, vide Appendix A.

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272 : SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME Appendix A. [Views of Sakalya, Mandavya, Kohala and Kapila as collected from the texts of Purusottama, Ramatarkavagisa and Markandeya with their English Translation] Purusottama on Sakalya. 1. Dhatorbhavisyati hih// VI. 13. ssasca Sakalyasya // VI. 14. Eng. Tr. According to Sakalya ssa is used in the future tense, while generally hi will come before the terminations. Ramatarkavagasa' on Sakalya and Mandavya and Kapila. 2. Svarthe matau kevalam alla-ellau Sakalya-Mandavya-mate ha-karah// I. V. 19. cf. MK. IV. 48. Eng. Tr. In the sense of "matup" the suffixes alla or ella are used pleonastically; but according to sakalya and Mandavya ha can, however, be used in such a case. As for example: ekkallo, ekkel!o, but ekkaho, puttallo, puttello, but puttaho. 3. Ktvarthe [tu-tum] samsanti ke'pi dhirah Sakalya-Mandavyamate vilokya// I. V. 23. cf. Pu. IV. 24. MK. IV. 38. Eng. Tr. Following the teachings of Sakalya and Mandavya, some grammarians prescribe tu or tum (or tuman if Dolci's reading) in the sense of "ktya". 4. tujjhe ca tushe sasi vo ca vacyah Sakalya-Mandavya-mate tu tumbhe// I. VI. 25. cf. Vr. VI. 28-29. MK. V. 83-84. Eng. Tr. tujjhe, tumhe and vo will be found in the accusative plural (sasi) [of the second personal pronoun]; but according to Sakalya and Mandavya the form tumbhe also will be used. 5. Sakalya-Mandavya-mate tu eva bhavya kta-tum-ktvapara editau ca// I. VII. 14. cf. Vr. VII. 28. MK. VI. 7. Eng. Tr. According to sakalya and Mandavya e or i may optionally be used in the past participle (kta), in the infinitive (tumun) and in the indeclinable perfect participle (ktva); [while in general the suffix will be avi].

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FRAGMENTS OF EARLIEST EASTERN PRAKRIT GRAMMARIANS : 273 6. tvarestu to tuvarae Sakalya-mate. Vitti under I. VIII. 1. Eng. Tr. According to sakalya tvar will always be changed into tuvara. 7. kather hakaro'tha bhidi-cchidorndo bhede ca Sakalyamate tayoh syat// I. VIII. 14. Eng. Tr. In the sense of piercing'(bhede) the roots bhid and chid will take nda in place of da, so says Sakalya; e. g. V bhid > bhindai, chid > chindai. 8. Dhatu-svarupanyaparani pakse Sakalya-Mandavya-matanugani/ Katyayanasyapi mate tathaiva jneyani laksyanubhavakramena// I. VIII. 42. Eng. Tr. Following the foot-steps of Sakalya and Mandavya there are, on the other hand, other forms of these roots; and similarly according to Katyayana there are other forms too. These are to be known from the usage. 9. bho ho ca Sakalyamate bhuvasca. II. I. 25. cf. hosca Sakalyamate syat. MK. IX. 109. Eng. Tr. (In Sauraseni) bho is substituted for the root bhu; but according to Sakalya ho can also be used. Markandeya on Sakalya. 10. halantad id eveti Sakalyah. Vrtti under V. 30. Eng. Tr. The feminine suffix i only takes place after a word ending in consonants-according to sakalya; (otherwise, a and i are irregularly interchanged as the final letter in feminine words ending in a]. cf. The sutra in which he is mentioned. aditau bahulam. MK. V. 30. striyam namna uttare aditau bahulam syatam. sohana sohani/ suppanaha suppanahi/ raha rahi/ kvacid adeva. pia/ vallaha/ asahana/ ahana/ manini/ manamsini/ halantad id eveti Sakalyah// cf. Vararuci aditau bahulam. V. 24 cf. also Vasantaraja's commentary where a couplet is quoted : adantat paramakara ikaro vyanjanad api/ ity evam vyavatisthante bahulagrahanat pare// GJ.V. 18

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274 : SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME 11. tujjha-tumhau supi syatam Sakalyasyata in mate. V.96. cf. RT. I. VI. 29. Eng. Tr. In the locative plural (of the Second Personal Pronoun), the forms will be tujihesu (m), tumhesu (m) and tumbhesu (m) (with or without a final anusvara). Then he adds--etat tu na bahusammatam. 12. hosca sakalyamate syat. IX. 109. (vide No. 9). Markandeya on Kohala. 13. Raksasa-bhiksu-ksapanaka-cetadya Magadhi prahur iti Kohalah. XII. 1. Eng. Tr. Magadhi is spoken by demon (raksasa) by religious mendicants (bhiksu), by the Jainas and by the menials. Ramatarkavagisa on Kapila. 14. Kapilasya tavya-ktayor gahih syat. II. 1. 28. Eng. Tr. Kapila does not want the substitute for the root grah into genha in the gerundive adjective (tavya) and in the past participle (kta). Cf. MK. IX. 130 (vide No. 15). Markandeya on Kapila. 15. na kia-ktavatu-tavyesu Kapile genham icchati. IX. 130. Eng. Tr. Kapila does not want the substitute for the root grah into genha in the gerundive adjective (tavya) and in the past participle (kta) cf. RT. II. 1. 28 (vide No. 14).