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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAN
language) which was developing (in evolution) to be later recognised as the Apabhramśa language.
On the basis of these characteristics of the language the Paumacariyam cannot be held to be composed in the first century A. D. But its date should go to some centuries later. (See. Supra Chapter One.).
SECTION 2. PROSODY Metres in the Paumacariyam
There are two classes of Indian metres-viz.. Mātrta-chanda and Varna-chanda. The metres of the former class are measured by the quantity of morae (mātrās) while those of the latter by the number of syllables (varņas). Our epic poem, Paumacariyam is composed mainly in the mātrā-chanda called Gāthā which has its own advantage of greater freedom in construction and more suitability in singing. The poet has stated in the beginning and in the end that he has composed the work in the Gatha-chanda (raiyam gähähi pāyadaphudattham 1.3; gāhānibaddham kayaṁ 118.102). Gathā is the oldest Prakrit metre even as Anuştup is of Sanskrit. The cause of employing the metre in the PCV is quite apparent from the fact that it had become a sacred metre of the Jainas on account of its very common use in the Jaina canonical licerature. Further the introductory chapter of the PCV reveals that the poem is being recited before the audience (ettham ciya parisãe.........bhaņāmi...... sampai.........sankheveņam nisāmeha 1.14,16,31). The reciting can produce an appealing effect upon the audience provided it is done in a sing-song manner and the Mátra-chandas are well suited to it. In addition to the Gatha metre, other matra-chandas also are employed. They are generally used in the ending verse of the chapters and are seldom employed in the main body. For example the use of other matrā-chanda at 28.47 is purposeful, because that verse contains the eulogy of the Jina. But the purpose of departing from the running metre and using some other mätrā. metres at 14.70; 17.107; 53.115 and 106.1 is not clearly under-standable because at these places there is no change of topic. Further the schemes of 14.70 & 53,115 are defective and they need correction for identifying their metres with some of the derived varieties of Gatha-proper. It is just possible that they were composed in Gathā-proper but have got corrupted in the hands of the scribes.
Besides the matră-chandas, the varna-chandas are also employed. Generally the ending verse of every chapter is composed in Varpachanda. These verses are generally devoted to the paise of religion,
