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
(i) kajjate (*karyate, a passive voice usage
- Isibhā. 34.3). (ii) kajjati - Ācā. 67,73; Sū. Kr. 747 (MJV.).
Pischel has quoted the form kajjal. (iii) kajjaħti is its plural form (=kriyante)
traced in the Ācā. 87, the Sū. Kr. 714,
etc. (c) kajjamāna - Sū. Kr., 431. (ii) The Usage of the Forms of the Root
kuvva'
kuvvati (Sū. Kr., 376, 417), kuvvasti (Sū. Kr., 262, 418); kuvvamāna (Ācā., 19), kuvvam, (Ācā., 13; Sū. Kr. 753); kuvvitthā (Ācā., 321), kuwaha (Ācā., 117)", kuvveija (Isibhā., 33.7, 17), etc.
Such usages are found in the Pāli Suttanipāta also, as for instance, kubbati, kubbanti, pakubbamăno, kubbetha, kubbaye, etc. (see W. Geiger). The above archaic usages prove the antiquity of the Ardhamgādhī, in comparision with other literary Prakrits, e.g. Māgadhi Śauraseni and Mahārāștrī and at times helps one to realize that it is similar to Pāli. Originally the first redaction of the Ardhamāgadhī canons (i.e. the duvālasamga ganipidaga = 12 Aṁga (texts) was done a few centuries before (i.e. circa 4th Cent. B.C.) the Christian Era". Hence, similar and other usages, comparable with those in the Pāli are found in this literature. This language is definitely senior and elder than (anterior to) the Mahārāstrī and Śaurasenī Prakrits, and there is no doubt that the phonetic changes (such as, the elision of the medial consonants, etc.) as are found in the usages of words, have all crept in during the subsequent period."
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