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Prakrit and Apabhraíśa Studies
These quotations suggest the following points about the character and value of Hāla's Deśya lexicon :
(1) Hemacandra cites Sātavāhana only so far as the latter differs from the position acceptable to him. Nowhere has he cited him in his support on a controversial point, unlike most of the
her early authorities on Desya which Hemacandra cites (at times agreeing, at times disagreeing with his own position.)17. This suggests that Sātavāhana's work might have been of a limited scope. But the fact that Hemacandra quotes him several times is indicative of the traditional authority acquired by the work.
(2) Sātai āhana's lexicon gave Sanskrit meaning equivalents for Deśya items.
(3) Unlike most of ther known lexicons which have been composed in Gāthā, Sātavāhana's work seems to have been composed in Anustubh. Of course, one cannot be quite definite about this in view of the very meagre material available, but the rhythm of the fragments cited is felt more like that of the Anuştubh.
(4) The work may have been in the form of just a glossary i.e. a collection of selected words with only meaning equivalents and without illustrations.
14. If Hāla-Sātavāhana has composed a work on Prakrit metres, it is reasonable to believe that he might have written several Prakrit poems also besides those Muktakas in Gātha that are preserved in his Gāthā-kośa. And fortunately we can point out something actual to support such a belief. The Apabhramśa poet Svayambhū has quoted in his Svayambhū-cchandas two illustrative stanzas, one under the name of Sālāhaņa and another under the name of Hāla. He has illustrated the metre Udgīti with a verse of Sālāhana, 18 and for the Varņavștta Sārdūlavikridita le has quoted two examples, one of which is said to be from Hāla.19 This second quotation signifies that Hāla had used some VarnaVrttas also in his Prakrit compositions.
