On Early Apbhramsa

SR No.: 269488
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: H C Bhayani
Publisher: H C Bhayani
Total Pages: 7
Language: English
Classification: Article
File Size: 665 KB

Page 4

H.C. Bhayani
layamālā was completed in 779 A.D. 11. In the following Prakrit verse, occurring in the Vasudevahiņdi of Sanghadāsagani (about 6th century), we find an admixture of Apabhramsa forms:
pāsim kappim cauramsiya revā-paya-puņņiyam sediyam ca genheppi sasi-ppabha-vanniyam maim suyam pi ekkalliyam sayaņi ņivaņņiyam
savva-rattim ghosei samāņa-savaņņiyam || (p.28) Here the absolutive forms kappim and genheppi are specially noteworthy. We are reminded of similar forms such as broppiņu, broppi, jeppi, gampi, gameppi, jineppi occurring in the illustrations cited by Hemacandra (8-4-391, 440, 441, 442). The second illustration given by Hemacandra in 442 contains also the "Sauraseni' form kiladi.
12. From the above-noted instances it is quite clear that in the case of the Apabhramsa verses in the Mātrā and Raddā metres there was a consistent tradition of using -r- preserving forms and forms with voiced stops. Mātrā, along with its extension Radda, seems to be among the earliest Apabhramsa metres.
Svayambhū (ninth century) was familiar with a narrative poem of Govinda possibly composed wholly in the Raddă metre. He has cited six Mātrās of Govinda, one each of Chailla and Suddhasila, one anonymously; one Raddā of Jinadāsa, and one anonymously. But due to the late date of the manuscripts these verses have not preserved their original phonological features. Bhāmaha's remark that self-standing verses, i.e. Muktakas, were composed in such metres as Gātha (Prakrit), śloka (Sanskrit), and Mātrā (Apabhramsa) also supports our observations.
13. It appears that such poems in the Mātrā and Raddā metres represent an early stratum of Apabhramsa poetry as compared to the bulk which consists of the later "Sandhibandha" and other types of Mahākāvya in standardized Apabhramśa that developed under the impact of literary Māhārāştri. The illustrations under Siddhahemacandra 8-4-396 with voiced intervocalic stops, and several forms which preserve --- in clusters (PISCHEL 268) can be assigned to that early stratum. Phonologically, these latter traits had come to be known as distinguishing marks of Apabhramśa as can be seen from the following two illustrations of the Bhāṣā-slesa of Sanskrit and Apabhramśa given by Rudrața:
(972 A.D.) we find three such instances: vruhu < budhah (16, 11.7), vrāsu < vyāsah (98, 8.6), vrahiu > vadhitah (99, 3.5).
"But due to the late date of the manuscripts, these verses have not preserved all the original phonological features.
Kävyālamkära 1.30: anibaddham punar gātha-śloka-måträdi tat-punah | Here the word mätra has so far invariably been misinterpreted.