Book Title: Collected Research Papers in Prakrit and Jainology Vol 02
Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: University of Pune

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Page 109
________________ v] Through some of the phrases used by the author, one can relish the rustic flavor and rhythm of sub-dialects. a) fafers youts veu fafi3 43 yuf p.111.30 One should spread one's feet according to the length of his blanket. M - 34246U (9126U) 416-7 पाय पसरावे. b) ius des fins que es ans Taug Hoa fa p.239.8 The lady was doing all types of household works like cooking, cutting, pounding, grinding and carrying waterpots. c) a BTTHET 3 fayode RHU HUT p.234.1 The medicinal shrubs are in the Himalayan mountains while the serpent is near one's head. d) When one reads the phrase "faze , it reminds the specimen of Mahārāstrī noted in Kuvalayamālā viz. fuug, - A.N.Upadhye, intro.p.83. The above mentioned chosen examples are quite enough to prove that Somaprabha's Jaina Mahārāstri exhibits the peculiarities of classical Prakrit. It is really creditable because Somaprabha's other three treatises exhibit that he is a through Sanskritist, logician and grammarian. Hemacandra's contribution to Sanskrit and Prakrit literature is recognized from many angles. His Desi-nāma-mālā is really unique in the field of Dictionary-making. It is noteworthy that Somaprabha's Desya words and Dhātvādesa's are easily traceable in Deśi-nāma-mālā. This fact confirms that Somaprabha has employed the contemporary colloquial language in his narratives to bring out the desired impact on common people. B] Characters Comprising All Layers of the Society This characteristic is true about the Prakrit narratives in general and it applies to KumāPra in particular. Merchant class of the society is represented in almost every narrative. Three layers of the merchant class are mentioned separately as Ibhya, Śrestin and Vanik. The daily and occasional happenings in the life of merchant class are described with minute details since the Srāvakas and Śrāvikās comprise a large part among the followers of Jaina religion in the contemporary society of Gujarath. We can enumerate the other male characters as - a king, prince, chief minister, minister, councilor, different persons appointed in the royal court like court-poet, ambassador, messenger, spy, soldier, police chief (kottavāla-kotavāla), village-accountant (talavara-talāthi), aggregate of five juries (pañca), servant, slave, village-head, householders of different classes, wandering ascetics-monks-sages, tribals, professionals like teacher, doctor, confectioner, farmer, gardener, fisherman, milkman, cowherd wrestler, chieftain of cowherds, painter, artist, elephant-driver, charioteer, bullock-driver, fortune teller, snake-charmer, magician, gambler, potterman, hunter, washerman, goldsmith, barber, evil-speller, monkey-carrier, juggler (gārudi), grave-digger (domba), acrobat (dombārī), group of wicked rascals or vagabonds, all kinds of thieves like a robber, housebreaker, plunderer, filcher and also the chief of the settlement of thieves (cora-palli-pati). 109

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