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INTRODUCTION
The definition given above by Namisādhu is said to be "surprisingly modern definition of the word Prākṛta " A similar idea about the origin of Prākṛta is also expressed by Vakpati in whose opinion all words merge in and spring from Prakrit, like the waves of the ocean3. Such views may at once strike one as cosmopolitan and it is certainly a revolutionary step to define Prakrit like this by going beyond the beaten track of orthodox grammarians.
2. Desya, a part and parcel of Prakrti.
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Now let us consider the pros and cons of both the definitions mentioned above. The traditional way of defining Prakrit as the derivation from Sanskrit, which has even been accepted by some of the modern scholars presents a practical difficulty according to the critics. The grammarians who define Präkṛta as derived from Samskṛta themselves classify Prakṛta under three heads 1) Tatsama (identical with Sanskrit); 2) Tadbhava (derived from Sanskrit); 3) Deśya or Desi (country-born ) (cf. Mk I. 2, 3). Hemacandra gives the following definition of Desi :
" जे लक्खणे ण सिद्धा ण पसिद्धा सक्कयाहिहाणेसु । ण जे गणलक्खणासत्तिसंभवा ते इह णिबद्धा ॥ देसविसेसपासिद्धीइ भन्नमाणा अनंतया हुंति ।
तम्हा अणाइपाइयपयट्टभासाविसेसओ देसी ॥ DN, I. 3 & 4.
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2 See Prakrit languages & their Contribution to Indian literature, p. 2, by S. M. KATRE, published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay, 1945.
3 सयलाओ इमं वाआ विसंति एत्थ य र्णेति वायाओ ।
एंति समुदं चिय र्णेति सयल च्चिय जलाई ॥ - गउडबहो, ९३
4 Dr. HARAPRASAD SASTRI, in his Bauddha Gan O doha also holds the view of orthodox grammarians about the origin of Prakrit from Sanskrit.
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