Proceedings of the Seminar on Prakrit Studies 1973

Author(s): K R Chandra, Dalsukh Malvania, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 144

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which is to be very useful to us when we study the question of distribu. tion of dialects among the various characters in dramas. The lay-out is, In short, as follows :- (1) Pais. covered the modern Dardistan from Kashmir to N. W. Frontier Provinces, Peshawar (which is now in Pakistan). Šaur. covered the whole of West India jncluding modern Sind, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Matbura, Brindaban etc. The Māg. covered modern Bengal, Bangladesh, Bibar, Orissa, Bundelkband, Patna-almost the whole of Eastern India. The Ardh-Māg. was a small but important area between Sauraseni and Māgadby. The Mahārāştri spread as for as Vindbya and reached Avanti, Madhya Pradesha, Vidarbha and Konkaņa. Later it became the standard Pkt. and was an all-India medium for Pkt. Poetry.
II. Dramaturgists: Nātya-šāstra : Of 37 chapters and 9000 kārlkas in the work, the section on Language is only a part of one (17th) chapter and is finished in 60 karikās. Language is merely a pathya (stuff for recitation from their point of view. Thejr interest in languages ends as soon as they can identify it and assign it to one or more of the actors and actresses.
However, the classifications of languages and the discovery of special dialects are their original contribution.
Classification: There is language for gods, animals, trees and mountains. Language is all pervading. This is their Philosophical aspect which is of no use to us. We take the next classification ;
Languages are devided into two groups : (a) Bhāṣās (or major dialects) and (b) Vibbāşās (minor dialects).
The former are developed and have literature, the latter are used for speaking by uncultured tribes and people and have no written literature, but only some oral stanzas, Bhāṣās are 7: Māgadbi, Avantikā, Prācya, Śaurasens, Ardhamāgadhi, Bāhlikā and Dākşiņātya. The Vibhāṣās are also 7;-Śabarı, Abhiri Cāņdāli, Khası, Drāvidi, Audri, Vanacars. The second list is original contribution of N. $. to the language group.
Distribution :- (a) Bhaşās: Māg: for people working in harems of kings. Pracyā: for Ceta (megsenger), song of harlots (rajaputras), and wanderers. Saur: for Nāyikā, Queens, ber friends; This is the general dialect of the women folk in plays, Daks: for warriors, leading citizens, gamblers, drunkers. Bablika : for North Western Indlans, of country Balkh. Prācu or Avantikā for Viduşaka.
(6) Vibhaşas : Khasi for Khaşa-tribesmen, nomads. Pancalı: for untouchables, Candālas. Sābarı: for people of hunting tribes, 1.e., Śabaras. Ābbirokti: for goat herds and shepherds, and those dwelling in huts away from town.