Universal Values of Prakrit Texts

Author(s): Prem Suman Jain
Publisher: Bahubali Prakrit Vidyapeeth and Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan

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Śṛngaraprakāśa of Bhoja alone cites as many as 1650 of such verses. Prof. V.M. Kukarni has done monumental work by giving us a critical edition of Prakrit verses quoted in the Sanskrit texts of Alamkaraṇāstra. Most of the verses cited by the authors of Alamkaraṇāstra are charged with eroticism. Many of these deal with illicit or clandestine love. They rejoice in adultery. They are are cited as examples of obscenity or Aslila Dōṣa bordering on vulgarity. This again is viewing from a angle that relies on fragmented approach. Fiction in Prakrit has has brought out a panorama of some of the wonderful female characters. The Uttarādhyayana Sūtra brings out the value of renunciation through the character of Rājīmatī. Candanabālā or Nammayasundarī are some of the most noble characters of Indian literature.
On the other hand there are dashing and courageous women, challenging the male dominance. A lady could raise her voice this way -
तुह असमं सोहग्गं अमहिलसरिसं च साहसं मज्झ ।
GIVE TIGHT ARRtdeed || (Śṛṇgaraprakāśa, VIII.24, part I, p. 402) [My undaunting courage, quite unbecomeing of a lady, the courage that the flooded waters of Godavari and this midnight of rainy season alone know.]
In sharp contrast to the timidity and subjugation that has been a mark of middle class females in India, the women in Prakrit muktakas come out with the undaunted courage and even raise to voice of challenge to the taboos and system of fixed values created by men. The are relavent to us for the the quest for freedom and a tendency towards breaking the barriers and created by men; and also, a firm denial to the idea that women could find fulfillment only through servitude. There are ladies belonging to lower middle class or lower class families who endure and suffer. Again a lady in one of the Gathas quoted by Bhoja says
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