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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1887.
led to consider that that dialect was not the local etymologically correct forms. Neither one nor one of the district. The ancient inscriptions of other is subject to definite rules. Neither one the Stapa of Bharhut, half way between Rapnath nor other has escaped individual caprices and and AllahAbad, perhaps contemporary with certain local influences. The conclusion of this Piyadasi, or certainly not much later than him, essay will show us, and it is this which gives and which are certainly cou. 19d in a tongue a real interest to these facts, that this state of analogous to the local idiom, present no trace of affairs marks the first stage of an evolution Màgadhrsm. So also at Sanchi..... These which was destined to be carried out still further. facts are sufficiently significant. The employment We shall see in the following epoch, on one of the Magadhf dialect in the edicts does not hand the mixed Sanskpit, on the other hand the prove that it was the current vulgar language monumental Prakrit, continuing in parallel lines of the places where they are found. The centre
the tradition of which we find here the most of Piyadasi's empire was in Magadha. Magadht
ancient manifestations." must have been the official language of his
M. Senart next sets himself to answer his third chancery. It is easy to suppose that he employed question, as follows:-On several occasions in the it over the extent of his dominions, to address
preceding observations, he had occasion to speak of himself to his people, and more specially to his
"a learned language" and "a learned orthography." officers, the representatives of his power. But,
These expressions may lead to misunderstandings, it will be objected, -how did the inscriptions of
which it is necessary to avoid. After having the extreme North-West and those in the direction explained his opinions on the popular language, he of Surashtra escape this official language? The
says that it remains to determine what was the question appears to M. Separt to be susceptible
linguistic situation from the point of view of of two explanations, which mutually strengthen
that other factor which was so important-Vedic each other. It camot be doubted that it was in
or classical Sanskřit. Palæographical facts hold the North-West and West that a graphic system, here the first place. Some are common to both adapted to the necessity of the Hindu languages,
the written styles of Piyadasi. while others are was first elaborated. The inscriptions of Kapur.
peculiar to one or other of them. The alphabet di-Giri and of Girnar bear witness to a peculiar of the North-West possesses no special signs to orthographical system, already constituted, and indicate the long vowels. With Sanskrit, how. having traditions of its own. That was a fact ever, which does not present itself to us under which Piyadasi found established, and which it ordinary conditions, the case is different. It is was difficult to avoid taking into account. Besides a language partly artificial and learned, coming this, it will be noticed that this division of the two forth ready-made, and almost unchangeable from orthographies, or, if it is preferred, of the two la long preparation, and it had a
a long preparation, and it had a grammar before it dialects in the usage of Piyadasi, coincides exactly was reduced to writing. It shows no trace, either with the distinction of direct dominion, and of in its orthography or in its forms, of a progres. provinces which were merely Vassals; a fact, which sive development. It has only been possible to. M. Senart considers that be has elsewhere proved write it, since it has commenced to be written on perfectly independent grounds to have existed under the same conditions as those under which It was natural that Piyadasi should accommodate it has continued to exist. For a language so himself to the local usage of regions which were elaborated, an alphabet incapable of indicating only attached immediately to his empire, and where the long vowels would never have served as a traditions probably existed from beforehand means of notation. which it was proper and useful to respect.
Again, both Piyadasi's written styles have a M. Senart then goes into particulars, not quoted common feature. Neither of them expresses the here, and concludes this portion of his essay with
doubling of similar or homogeneous consonants. the following reply to the first question which he Now Sanskrit, from the earliest time that it had set himself to answer :-" To sum up, the appears to us, observes this doubling wherever it inscriptions of Piyadasi divide themselves from is etymologically required. Neither the Vedic a linguistic point of view into two series, of which nor the grammatical and classical Sanskrit is ever one--that of the North-West-presents certain written without observing this practice. But if secondary signs of a dialectic sub-division. The this practice had been established for the learned other must represent the official language of language, it would certainly have introduced itself the royal chancery. They show us two sharply into the popular language, as in fact we see did divided orthographical systems, of which one occur in the case of the literary Praksite. Indeed is more nearly related to the popular speech, it may well be asked how the orthography of our while the other aims at reproducing learned and dialects did not of its own accord adopt a usage
