Jain Journal 1991 10

SR No.: 520104
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1991
Total Pages: 58
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 49

132
JAIN JOURNAL
One of the words occuring in an Asokan inscription at Brahmmagiri in Karnataka is 'isila' (3rd c. B.C.). This word has been interpreted earlier as Prakrit ‘rși', but the derivation of wbich was doubtful. Later in 1958, Prof. D. L. N. in his lecture on the oldest datable word in Kannada' has pointed out 'isila' as a Prakritised Kannada word. It is derived from Kannada esil (a fort); eyil is a cognate word in Tamil. Kannada esil, 'Tamil eyil both come from a common Dravidian verbal base ec-eccu (to shoot an arrow); eecu, ese, esu are the variant forms of the same meaning. Therefore the Prakrit word 'isila' from Kannada language, signifies only as a place for shooting (arrows) ; i.e., a fort from where arrows were shot ; other scholars have also endorsed this suggestion.
Scholars have discussed about some Kannada word used in Gähāsatta-sai of Hala, who has styled himself as a Chief of the People of Karanataka (Kuntala janapadeśvara). Kannada nouns such as potta (stomach), tuppa (ghee) ; and verbs like pețța (to strike), tir (to become possible) are freely used in this Prakrit work.
Dr. A. N. Upadhye's paper 'Kanarese Words in Desi Lexicons' exclusively deals with this aspect, where he has very positively affirmed Kannada influence. It is but expected that Kannada must have influenced Prakrit because of the closer contacts of those two languages for nearly ten centuries. Apart from linguistic findings, a study on literary impact of Kannada literature on Prakrit is still a desideratum. All said and done, it should not be forgotten that there are matters which still await critical investigation.