Prakrit Verses in Sanskrit Works on Poetics Part 02

Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: B L Institute of Indology

Page 48

Prakrit Verses in Sanskrit Works on Poetics
8. How far are the claims of Prakrit Poetry just ?
The above claims forcefully put forward by S.P. Pandit, and many other scholars whose partiality for Prakrit language and literature is well-known, deserve consideration. These claims are undoubtedly just in the case of Prakrit poetry as represented by Gāthāsaptaśatī, Vajjālaggaṁ and other Prakrit Anthologies. But when we think of poetic works like Setubandha and Gaüdavaho an impartial and dispassionate reader or critic will have to admit that the above claims are, if not preposterous, and wholly unjustified, are at least highly exaggerated and unwarranted. R. Pischell has rightly observed :
"Mahārāstrī is also the language of artificial epics, of which up till now two have been published, the Rāvanavaho and the Gaüdavaho --- They are very strongly influenced by Sanskrit patterns and are written in thoroughly high-flown and artificial language, with unending compounds, as are found in the dramas of Bhavabhūti and occasionally in Mịcchakatika as well. '53
S.P. Pandit explains away Vākpati's partiality for long compounds 'as a vice of the age' and adds in his defence that we must not judge him independently of what the scholarship of his age considered as essential and beautiful. S4 The fact, however, remains that the major portion of the poem is difficult to comprehend even for advanced students of Prakrit without the help of Sanskrit commentary. N.G. Suru's comments regarding the pompous style (of a major portion) of Gaudavaho are apposite :
"When one reads portions of the Poem given in an ornate, highflown style, full of long compounds, one gets the impression that this is all Sanskrit Prakritised by the Poet to cater to the literary tastes of his times. It is Prakrit distorted --- He probably first put his ideas in a Sanskrit draft --- and then dressed them in a Prakrit garb in verse."55
9. Mention of Prakrit Literature in Alamkāra Works
Bhāmahas speaks of three literatures : Sanskrit, Prakrit and Apabhramsa. Dandis speaks of four by adding Miśra to Bhāmaha's list. Rudrata58 alludes to six : 1. Prakrit, 2. Sanskrit, 3. Māgadhī, 4. Paiśācī, 5. Sūraseni (-Saurasenī) and 6. Apabhramsa.
53) Comparative Grammar of the Prakrit Languages, pp. 13-14; italics (ours). 54) Introduction to Gaüdavaho, B.O.R. Institute, Poona, 1927 edition, p. Liv. 55) Introduction to Gaüdavaho, Prakrit Text Series No. 18, 1975, p. xcix 56) Kávyālaskāra 1.16. 57) Kávyādarśa 1.32. 58) Kávyālaskāra II. 11-12..