In Search of the Original Ardhamagadhi English Translation

Author(s): K R Chandra, N M Kansara, Nagin J Shah, Ramniklal M Shah
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

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ARCHAIC LINGUISTIC ELEMENTS IN THE ARDHAMĀGADHI
(U) A Vedic Adverb:
aṇuviyi, anuviyi, aṇuvii(See, Ācā. Sū. 26, 140, 196, 197). According to Pischel (593) all these are the Prakrit modified forms of the original Vedic word 'anuviti', which is used as an adverbial usage, rather than a gerund. It should be interpreted carefully in the same sense as is found in the Vedic usage. (V) Usages of Archaic Forms of Some Roots : (1) 'bhu' = bhava, bho, hava, ho, hu
In the senior Ardhamāgadhi works" like the Acārānga and the Sūtrakṛtānga, the use of the roots 'bhava' and 'bho'of the Sanskrit root 'bhu'are found in a greater proportion than those of its forms like 'hava', 'ho', and 'hu, which are very rare. The use of the root bhava' gradually tends to be scantier in the later Prakrit works, while that of the Prakritized roots like 'hava', 'ho' and 'hu'go on becoming more popular.
The usages of Prakrit roots 'bhu', 'bhava' and 'bho' are found nine times in the Atthakavagga of the ancient Pāli work like the Suttanipāta, while those of 'ho' and 'hu'are found in twenty-two cases. In the Ashokan inscriptions, too, the usages 'bhū', 'bho' and 'bhava' are found to the extent of 25%, while those of hu', 'ho' and 'hava' are found to that of 75%. This kind of disparity between Amg. on the one hand and Pāli and Ashokan language on the other hand is worth notable for the antiquity of Amg.
Thus, as compared to the other ancient classical literatures and inscriptions, the usages with the archaic forms of 'bhu' and 'bhava' are found to a greater extent in the Acaranga. In view of this evidence, one can have an idea of the antiquity
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