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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THE ANTIQUITY OF THE ARDHAMAGADUT AGAMA TEXTS AND THE PLACE OF THEIR COMPOSITION
palimamthaga II. 713, palimokkha 717, palipāga 732, 33, palikkhīņa 850, etc.
antalikkha (10, p.23.5), palichanno, (45.45) in the Isibhā. apalichanna in the Vyavahārasūtra.. palichanna in the Bșhatkalpasūtra. palimadda in the Niśīthasūtra; etc
inliis Prakrit Grammar, Pischel (257) has quoted numerous such examples, viz., amtalikkha (antariksa) pariyāla
(parivāra), paliyanta (paryanta), ruila (rucira), etc., from the Ācā., Uttarā., Daśavai., etc.
In this matter, he remarks that the usage of r = 1 occurs frequently in the Ardhamāgadhī as compared to other Prakrits. From this viewpoint, this language seems to be akin to the Māgadhī, and isolated from the Mahārāștrī (Pischel, 257)
In the Ashokan inscriptions of the Eastern region, mostly I is found in place of r; hence, this characteristic clearly belongs to the Eastern region, and there is close affinity of the composition of the Ardhamāgadhi literature with the Eastern region i.e., the Magadha country leaves without any doubts. (H) k = g
The change of the medial -- = -g- is frequent in the Ardhamāgadhī; and the medial -g-is mostly retained. It was due to the influence of this language that this process must have continued in the Jaina Sauraśenī and Jaina Mahārātrstrī (Pischel, 202). In other Prakrits also we sometimes find - g. in place of -k.
The examples from the Ardhamāgadhi are loga, asoga, āgāsa, egamega, jamagasamaga, kulagara, sāgapāgāe, silogagāmi, appaga, phalaga, etc.
According to Mehendle (p.271), the process of changing -k-to -g- belongs to the Eastern region, and it gradually spreads to the Central, Southern and Western regions.
The examples from the Ashokan inscriptions are loga (loka) in the separate inscription of Jaugada, while on the other hand icia is found in others.
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