Book Title: Studies in Jainology Prakrit Literature and Languages
Author(s): B K Khadabadi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Page 345
________________ 330 Studies in Jainology, Prakrit fiftysix Indian daughter languages born of the three and-a-half mother languages, as stated by Nagavarma and others. That there is no agreement between the eleven Paisací sub-dialects and the eleven Paisací speaking regions or provinces, itself creates doubts regarding the genuineness of the linguistic or geographical classification. Beside some sub- dialects are noted on the ground of difference of very minor points. Ramasarman, disapproves of such trend because it would be just like “differentiating between the sweetness of molasses and that of sugar.20 Again how can Kannada originate from a sub- dialect of Paisaci as well as from three and-a-half languages? In these circumstances we cannot take one or two particular grammarian's enumeration of the Paisaci sub-dialects for the purpose of establishing the theory of the Paisací origin of the Kannada language and that too ignoring the geographical, historical and linguistic factors. (iv) It has already been observed above that Pampa’s Vengimandala or the Vedic bekanāta do not help us to identify Karnatak with the Pisaca country. (v) And lastly, we do not understand how the Agastya-Vindhya episode and the southward march of Rama, described in the Rāmāyana, go to establish the Paisāci origin of the Kannada language. On the other hand, the reference of the Mahabhārata to the country of Pisacas noted by Pischel and the Kaśyapa-Krodhavašā legend or the legend of Kapiśā noted by Grierson, are much more appealing with their present day geographical background and linguistic conditions. Thus none of the two scholar's grounds viz, literary evidence (Purānic, epic or modern), etymologiging words like bel, vengi or bekanāta, and particular grammarians classifications of the sub-dialects of Paisacī, give us any scope to say that the Kannada language originated from the Paisaci one. Keeping aside the question of duly applying the principles of modern Linguistic Science, neither of the scholars has listed even a few commonest Kannada words for such as hand, leg, eye, Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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