Advanced Prakrit Grammar Part 1

Author(s): Kamalchand Sogani, Shakuntala Jain
Publisher: Apbhramsa Sahitya Academy

Page 14

Lesson 1 Noun, Pronoun and Numerals
Analysis of Sutras Introduction
It is an acknowledged fact that Acārya Hemacandra wrote the Śabda Anušāsana of which one section is devoted to Prāksta Grammar. In composing the section on Prākṣta Grammar, he chose the Saṁskṛta language as the medium of exposition. In order to make intelligible the Prākṣta Grammar, the established sūtra-style of Saṁsksta Grammar was adopted. Although the Sūtras are expressed in Saṁskṛta language, it should not imply that a special knowledge of Saṁskrta is required to understand Praksta Grammar. A thoughtful analysis of the Sūtras has shown us that a basic knowledge of Saṁskṛta and Hindi or English will suffice to comprehend these Sūtras.
In Lesson 1, we shall decipher and explain the Sūtras concerning the formation of Nouns, Pronouns , Numerals, etc. used in Prāksta Grammar. In order that the Sūtras may be properly assimilated, ordinary knowledge of Vowel combination, Consonant combination and Visarga combination in Saṁskṛta is necessary.
Additionally, the symbols that represent certain suffixes should be understood. In Prāksta, there are two numbers Singular and Plural. Therefore, the Suffix-Symbols (S-S) are grouped into two columns, singular and plural, according to the cases as follows:
S-S/Singular
Si
S-S/Plural
Jas Śas Bhis
Am
Inflection Nominative Accusative Instrumental Dative Ablative Genitive Locative
Tá
Bhyas
Ne Nasi Nas
Bhyas Ām Sup
Ni
Advanced Prakrta Grammar