Mahapurana of Puspdanta

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

Page 23

DESYA WORDS FROM THE MAHĀPURĀṆA
(b) Desabhaṣavijñānaṁ. 'knowledge of the languages and dialects prevailing in different countries was considered one of the sixtyfour accessory arts to be studied by one proficient in the art of love.1 (viii) From Mṛcchakatika of Śūdraka (2nd to 6th cent. A. D.)
12
Candanaka-are! ko oppaccao tuha / vaaṁ dakkhinatta avvattabhasino | khasakhatti-khado-khadattovilaa-kannata-kannappāvaraṇaa-daviḍa-cola-cina-barbara-khe
rakhāna-mukha-madhughādapahudāṇan milicchajādiņam
jaheṭṭham mamtaāma diṭṭho diṭṭhā va ajjo ajjaā vā /2
1.
2.
3.
4.
-Act 6th
'Candanaka-"Oh! what (this) disbelief of yours! We southerners (are) not very accurate (or, distinct) talkers. We, conversant as we are with the spoken dialects of many countries, of the Mleccha tribes, such as Khasa, Khatti, Kada, Kadaṭṭobila, Karṇāṭa, Karṇaprāvaraṇa, Dravida, Cola, Cina, Barbara, Khera-khana, Mukha, Madhughata, speak out at our will: Aryah dṛṣṭaḥ or dṛṣṭā; Arya dṛṣṭaḥ or dṛṣṭā."
(ix) From Mudrārākṣasa of Visakhadatta (circa 375-413 A. D.)
prayuktas ca sva paksa-parapakṣayor anurakta paraktajanajijñāsayā bahuvidha. deśa-veṣa-bḥāṣā-ācāra-sañcāra-vedino nānāvyañjanāḥ pranidhayaḥ 13
oneadesabhāsābhinṇā
'Spies who are well-trained in the art of putting on disguises appropriate or befitting to countries and possessed of knowledge of various local dialects, customs and movements, were appointed with a view to know the people of their own party and the enemy party, people who are loyally devoted or are inimical.'
(x) From Prakṛtalakṣaṇa of Canda1
siddham prasiddham prakṛtam tredha triprakaram bhavati || samskṛtayoni ... samskṛtasamam......desiprasiddham ["
'Prakrit is of three types: (1) that which is originated from Sanskrit, (2) that which is same as in Sanskrit and (3) that which is well-known from local spoken dialects.'
(xi) From Visņudharmottara Purana (500-600 A. D.)
samskṛtam prakṛtanı caiva gitami dvividham ucyate / apabhraştam tṛtiyai ca tadanantam naradhipa / deśabhasa-viseşena tasyanto neha vidyate /
5.
[Book 3, Chapter 3.]
See Kamasutra of Vatsyayana, 1 3 16, no. 47. Mṛcchakatika, edited by Karmarkar, p. 194,
As quoted by Gandhi, L. B., in Apabhraṁśa-kavya-trayī, p. £5.
See for the discussion of the date of Canda, New India Antiquary volume II, 1939 pp. 135-142,
Prākṛta Lakṣaṇa of Candakavi, Caritra Memorial Book Series no. 28, p. 2.