Studies in Jainology Prakrit Literature and Languages

SR No.: 001597
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: B K Khadabadi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 460
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Language
File Size: 22 MB

Page 272

Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
257
Prakrit; for instance, mayana, paya, Jasoye (under s. 267). And there are words which are rather Prākrta-bhavas; for instance, bagga (under s. 261), carige (under s. 259). Hence it is quite possible that Kesiraja, the earliest Kannada gramarian, might have included Prakrit words in his list of tedbhavas, which he conventionally calls words derived from Sanskrit.
Lastly, it is worth noting that the text of the Vaddarādhane appears to have been considerably influenced by the linguistec habits and aims of the scribes or copyists. There is evidence ot show that of the differences in readings of words in differnt manuscripts are due to substitution of Sanskrit words for Prakrit rather than scribal errors: For instance, sreni (p. 137.6) has another reading, sredhi (in4), which obviously stands for the Prakrit sedhi. ācāmlavardhana (p. 66.17) has other readings yāyambilamvardhamana etc. (fn8), which all indicaste the Prakrit ayambilavaddhamana to be the possible right reading. jānisuttam (p. 138.3) has another reading, dhyānisuttaṁ (in.1), a clear instance of substitution. There is also an interesting case of scribal ignorance of the meaning of Prakrit terms: y(j)āvajjivam (p. 101.10) has another reading y(i)āvajsīvasbaregam (fn.1), which is a tautological expression.
Thus, the language of the Vaddaradhane is influenced by Prakrit in several ways; and in this respect this work stands un-paralleled in Kannada literature. The text of this Kannada classic with these Prakrit elements exhibits two facts: (a) The author had before him one or more Prakrit sources, most probably one or more Prakrit commentaries on the Bhagavati Aradhanā. (b) He had some special liking for the diction of the Prakrit literary speech.'