Proceedings of the Seminar on Prakrit Studies 1973

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

Page 148

107
Mudrā : There are many men characters who speak Pkt. of various types and a large number of cases where the speaker shifts from Skt, to Pkt. and vice-versa. This play being full of spies and detectives, who under various guises have to mix with the public and to speak different languages is interesting from that point of view. The snake-charmer, e.g. speaks three dialects---Skt. before Rākşasa, Pkt, in the streets, and Mahārāştri in his poetical composition. The two officers who play the part of executioners, have to speak Cāņdāli, besides his own Pkt. The Buddhist monk speaks Pkt. though according to rule he should speak Skt. Candana. dāsa's wife speaks ordinary Saur. and his little son speaks the Bala-bhāsa of Saur.
MālatıM:- The Abbottess Kāmandaki, though a woman, speaks Skt. as she is the head of the Abbey. Her servant Avalokitā speaks Saus. Mālatı as minister's daughter speaks Pkt. but changes to Skt. as that privilege is granted by NS. Senior members of the Church Kapālakuņdalā, Buddharakşitā, Lavangikä speak Skt., while Käpālika Aghoraghaņța speaks Skt, als Saudāmsñi, though a woman speaks Skt. while her friends speak Pkts.
Veņi: 19 characters speak Pkts. and 13 speak Skt. Draupadi, Bhānumati, Suvadanā, Mātā Gandhari speak elegant Pkt. Saur. wbile Cetis, Sakhis, speak Māg. The Rākşasi, a unique character speaks Paisācı, Here are represented 3 levels of Pkt speakers: (1) The higher, as illustrated by Draupadi; (2) The middle as in case of Sakbis and (3) The lowest, in case of Rākşası.
Ratna : In this small Nātikā, women of higher status like Săgarika, Susangatā, Vasundhara and Ratnávali, speak Saur; their close associates, like Kāñcanamālā, Nipuņikā speak mixed Sauraseni-Magadbı; the inferior women like Madanikā, speak Magadhi. The Magician (aindrajallka) speaks two languages Skt. and Pkt. Vidūşaka, as usual speaks Avanti Pracyā.
Anargh: This play heralds the decline of the Pkt. role in Skt. plays. The Skt. speaking characters out number the Pkt. speaking ones. Only one character of noble rank speaks Saur. But she also changes to Skt. twice and recites long Skt. verses, which is not usual. Other characters are low. Batu. Pasumedhra, Kalahamsa, etc. speak mixed jargons difficult to name. Only Sūrpanakba, a Raksasa woman speaks Paig.
Prasann. R. : This long play has 47 characters of which 10, almost all of minor importance, speak Pkt. Some characters like door-keepers. speak Skt., unusually. Some characters which should speak Pkt. are made to talk in Skt. A few fanciful characters like the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Sarayü, Godavari, Tungabhadrā and the ocean Sagar are introduce which Yamunā speaks Pkt. Others speak Skt. Sıta breaks twice in Skt.