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INTRODUCTION
(b) Mk recongnises Bhāṣā as of five kinds.
20. Unlike Pu and Rt, Mk quotes the view of an unknown author regarding the classification of Pkt dialects in the introductory portion of his work (See Intro. 4). In this long quotation, the source of which is unknown, the first four lines bear close resemblance with NŚ. XVII. 48 and 49 with the exception that M is taken as one among the bhāṣās in the former whereas the latter does not recognise it.
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Keeping in view the passage referred to above, let us consider the observations of Mk on the classification of Pkt dialects. The first verse of the passage which enumerates eight kinds of bhāṣā includes Amg, Bāhlikī and Dākṣiņātya, which Mk refuses to recongnise as separate categories on the following grounds:
i) Amg differs very little from Mg which in turn is close to S. This he cites as the view of the same author who takes Amg as a separate dialect. Thus he refutes the contention of his predecessor in his own words.
ii) As for Dākṣiṇatya, Mk says that since its distinctive characteristic has not been ascertained, its existence as a separate dialect cannot be accepted.
iii) Speaking of Bahliki he says that it ought to be included in Avanti due to its dfferering from the latter only in respect of r changing into l. This minor change cannot be taken as a distinctive characteristic of the dialect, for even in Skt r and I are sometimes taken to be indentical.
Jain Education International
8. The reading in NS. XVII. 49 seems to be corrupt. This can be corrected in the light of Mk's reading in the correspondind passage.
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