Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
[Ch. II
The core of the language of the BhS and other canonical works is old, having its birth in Eastesn India, although the texts were codified in that dialect in Western India after 800
years transmission by the word of mouth from preceptor to pupil.
This is that they were preserved still in memory from generation to generation in original form in correct pronunciation. In this redaction a care was certainly taken by the Vallabhi Council to retain a part of the old grammatical form, as it is particularly evidenced in the ending of the Nom. Sing. Masc. of the 1st declension in ê, not ô. But a change in the original form of the language of the BhS and other sacred texts took place, as they were reduced to writing in that form which was taken by the language of the time and place of redaction for the comprehension and realization of the common people including the fools and knaves.
"Balastrimandamurkhaṇām nṛṇam caritrakankṣiņām".1 "Anugrahārtham tattvajñaiḥ śiddhanta Prākṛtah kṛtaḥ."
This influence of an inevitable change in the spoken dialect after a lapse of time on the language of the Bhs and other canonical works existing in the form of recitation was possible, as their purpose was at least to make them understandable to the people of that period.
Besides, there can be the main reason of the change in the language that after about 200 years of the demise of Lord Mahavira during the reign of Candragupta Maurya, Magadha was visited by a terrible famine lasting for twelve years when some monks of the Nirgrnutha order under the headship of Bhadrabahu moved off to the part near the sea in the south. "Itasca tasmin duşkale karāle Kalaratrivat | Nirvāhārtham sadhu-samgha-stiram niramd heryayau" (55).
Since that time the cause of inability of Pariślana (study) of the Sutra-Granthas is attributed to the fact that they were forgotten.
1 Daśavaikālika Tika of Haribhadra Suri & Kavyānusāsana of Hemachandra.
Sthaviravali-Carita, Sarga, 9.