Mahapurana of Puspdanta

Author(s): Ratna N Shriyan
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 22

NATURE OF DESYA ELEMENT
11
In the commentary on the above mentioned passage of Jñātāsūtra, atthārasadesībhasā is explained to mean eighteen types of scripts. But we need not restrict the sense to scripts only. We can very well take it as the dialects of various countries. So, for example, compare reference to eighteen countries given in Kuvalayamālā noted below. For further eluci. dation compare Pischel S 30.
(iv) From Vipākasūtra
tattha nam vān yagäme kāmajjhayā nāmam ganiyā hottha būvattarikalāpandiya causatthigan vägunova veyā egūnalisavisese ramamāni ekkavisaratigunappahāņā baltisapurisovayārakusalā navamgasutta padibohiyā atthārasadesibhasāvisāraya singāraçāruvesā giyarai gamdhavvaṇattakusala /
[ā. Samiti p. 45] 'In Vanijagrāma there was a courtesan named Kāmadhvajā. She was proficient in Seventytwo arts, possessed sixtyfour qualities befitting a courtesan, twentynine ways of love-sports, twentyone Ratiguņas, skilful in thirtytwo ways of pleasing men, alert in all the nine senses, well-versed in eighteen local dialects, possessed of as beautiful dress as the abode of love and expert in dance and song.' (v) From Rājapraśniya Sūtra
tae nam se dad hapatinne dārae ummukkabalabhave vinnāyaparinayamitte júrvanagamaņu palte bāvattarikalapamdie attharasavihadesippagārabhāsā-visārae navaṁgasulta padibohac gīyarai gamdhavvanattakusale simgāracāruvese x x
[ā. Samiti, p. 148 ]
"There that boy firm in determination, who had given up his child. hood, efficient in sciences, who attained youth, proficient in seventytwo arts, well-versed in eighteen types of local dialects, alert in all the nine senses, skilful in dance and putting on costume as beautiful as the abode of the erotic sentiment or love.' (vi) From Brhatkalpa ņāņādesikusalo
[p. 831 ] 'Skiful in various local dialects.'
(vii) From Vātsyāyana's Kāmasūtra (circa 350 A. D.)
(a) nätyantam samskytenaiva nātyantaṁ deśabhāṣayā / kathāṁ gosthişu kathayaṁlloke bahumato bhavet // 1, 4, 50 //
'One who narrates stories among the people neither too much in Sanskrit, por too much in the colloquial regional dialect becomes highly honoured in the cultured assemblies or gatherings.'