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

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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
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ear, father, mother, brother, I, thou etc. as to have been derived from thcir corresponding Paisací ones. It is Grierson, who devoted the major part of his life to the study of the Indian languages, has also given considerable thought to Paisacī, its sub- dialects and its legacy.
In his esteemed treatise, the Pisaca Languages of North-Western India, 22 this distinguished linguistician has presented a thorough study of the North-Western languages viz Kāfir, Kho-wār (Citrāli) and Dard i.e, Eastern group viz., Sina, Kasmiri, Garwi and Maiya; and this study shows that these languages are undoubtedly related with our archaic Paisací : "I think I am justified in saying that nearly every characteristic of that form of specch (Paisacī), as recorded by the Prakrit grammarians, is present in them. I therefore, consider myself justified in clasing them together under the name of Modern Paisacī.»23 He concludes the study with the following lincs : “The Modern Paisací languages are neither of Indian origin nor of Eranian origin, but form a third branch of the Aryan stock, which separated from the parent stem after the branching forth of the original of the Indian languages, but before the Eranian languages had developed all their peculiar characteristics.":24
At this stage one feels like raising a question as to what has Grierson to say about the various sub-dialects of Paisacī as mentioned by grammarians like Markandeya? Yes, Grierson does take note of Markandeya with the following observations : “I do not deny that in later times there may have been people called Pisacas or even Pisaca colonists, in other parts of the country, but that opens out too wide. a question to be discussed here." And Dr. Upadhye has suggested20 a fairly reasonable solution to the problem of the appearance of the so called Psisaci colonies in widely separated parts of India : "It may be stated that the North-West of India was possibly the original home of Paisacī, but the dialect in the mouths of an itinerant tribe travelled in different parts of the country and was popular near Vindhyas some time before Rajasekhara. This conclusion has been further supported For Private & Personal Use Only