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SOME ASPECTS OF PRAKRIT VERSES IN ALAMKARA WORKS
Mention of Prakrit Literature in Alahkara Works
Bhamaha speaks of three literatures: Sanskrit, Prakrit and Apabhramsa. Dandi speaks of four by adding Miśra to Bhamaha's list. Rudrața alludes to six: 1. Prakrit, 2. Sanskrit, 3. Magadhi, 4. Paisaci, 5. Suraseni (-Sauraseni) and 6. Apabhramsa. Rudrata quotes some of his own Prakrit verses in his Kavyalamkära. It is Anandavardhana who, for the first time sets the tradition of freely quoting Prakrit verses. He quotes some 45, a few of his own composition and others from well-known works, to illustrate various types of Dhvani, Alamkäras, etc. Abhinavagupta, his celebrated commentator follows his lead in his Locana. Dhanika, the well-known commentator of Dasar paką quotes some 26 Prakrit verses in his Avaloka. The distinction of quoting hundreds of Prakrit verses, in his Sarasvartkanthabharaṇa and Sṛngaraprakāka, however, goes to Bhoja. The first work contains over 350 Prakrit verses; and the second work over 1650 Prakrit verses. Among other reputed Alamkarikas, we find Kuntaka, Mahimabhatta. Mammata, Ruyyaka, and his commentator, Jayaratha, Hemacandra, Sobhakara and Viśvanatha quote 15, 28, 64, 15, 38, 80, 163, and 23 Prakrit verses respectively. Some of these are reproduced from Dhvanyaloka and Locana. A large. number of verses cited by Bhoja in his two treatises are repetitions.
No Separate Work on Prakrit poetics
The Prakrit citations in such a large number in Sanskrit works on poetics calls for an explanation which is not far to seek. Notwithstanding the difference in language
1. Kavyalamkara I. 16.
2. Kavyadarśa 1.32.
3. Kavyalamkara II. 11-12.
4. Kavyalamkara IV. 11-15, 17-21.
5. Dhvanyaloka.
6. Bhoja's classification of Prakrit and Apabhra mśa languages is unique. It may be shown in a tabular form as follows :
Sahaja
11 Sanskrit-Sama
Uttama
|2 Desya
Prakrit
Lakṣita
| 3 Mähäräṣṭra
14 Saurasena
Apabhramsa
Madhyama
1 Avantya
Latiya (etc.)
Abhira Gaurjara (etc.) Kāśmira All these varieties are duly illustrated.
| 5 Paiśāca
Ślista
16 Magadha
Kanistha I
Paurastya (etc.)
