________________
296
Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
in it. The theory that from Vedic descended classical Sanskrit and from classical Sanskrit descended Prakrit, is held to be unscientific because several linguistic features of the Vedic language are nearer to those of Prākrit than to the corresponding ones of Sanskrit; and a number of Prakritisms are surprisingly found in the Vedic literature itself. Jules Bloch rightly holds that the oldest language, which was considered sacred, gave a model, but not birth to the latter viz., Classical Sanskrit," Similarly Sanskrit cannot be the basis for Prakrit as is stated by some grammarians and scholars. Hence Prakrit can be interpreted as the natural language of the masses and Sanskrit as the refined or cultivated language of the sistas, the elite, who used is for literary purpose in the early days. Leaving aside thc elaborate discussions advanced on this topic by eminent scholars in India and abroad, I may quote here Dr.P.L. Vaidya's view presented about two decades ago in simple but lucid words : "Prakrit is the oldest and natural language of Indian people, spoken by all from their childhood, out of which Sanskrit, the polished language of the cultured classes has developed. Some of you may feel that this is a startling statement made to magnify the importance of the Prakrit language. Far from it, there are evidences available to prove my statemeni; and they are culled from the oldest and most reliable works in Sanskrit itself. If you take the Mahabhasya of Patañjali (2nd century B.C.), you find the words like goņā and gonī, which mean a cow, are mentioned by Patañjali, the great grammarian and champion of Sanskrit, who asks his listeners not to make use of these words, as they are Apabhramsa, degraded, and as such unsit to bc uscd by cultured classed at least on sacred occasions like the performance of a sacrifice. But words like gonī, gonā, gona were so popular and current among the people, that completely banning their use became impossible, and so they made it a rule, recorded by Patañjali himself or by his immediate predecessors that one must not use such words at least on sacred occasions: yajáa-karmani nāpabhrmsatavai. Later classicists like Bhartrhari went a bit further
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
