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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
INTRODUCTION
xlix
chough other sentiments like the mirthful, the pathetic, the heroic, the marvellous etc., are not absent in it. Prākrit stanzas have varied emotional appeal (2atmad, st. 10). Because it is composed in the language commonly spoken by the masses' and because of its erotic nature and secular character, Prākrit poetry yields a fund of delight to its readers and listeners. That is why Prākrit poetry is styeld as amặta (nectar) in st. 2. Because of the erotic nature of Prākrit poetry its knowledge is said to be a sine que non for one why professes to talk about erotic matters (sc. 2) and for the full appreciation of the coquettish blandishments of beautiful young women (st. 9).
Some of the stanzas in this introductory portion ( 1-31 ) give us an idea about the author's conception of (Präkrit) poetry. Metrical form, charming expression, beauty of ideas, ornateness, emotional appeal and freedom from faults are stated here as the characteristics of Prākrit poetry ( as they are of poetry in general). This conception of poetry conforms to the general view of writers on poetics. Composition of poetry is not an easy thing. The labours of a poet are decailed in st. 22-24. A poet must rake extreme cire in the use of grammatically correct and appropriate words and in the exclusion of in-correct and inappropriate ones. He must pay due attention to the requirements of the various literary styles (märga or riti). He must secure an agreeable sound effect with the help of apt alliterations of single consonants and groups of consonants, and above all he must be very particular about the sense to be conveyed.
Prākrit gāthās have often a subtle, hidden meaning ( f844 st. 11 and 95434 st. 16 ), which can be comprehended only by persons endowed with superior intelligence and genuine literary taste and appreciation (the st. 11 and st. 14). This trait of Prākrit
1. Cf, the Commentator's remark on st. 29: fitfarafa प्राक मतिरिच्यते। आबालगोपालप्रसिद्धत्वात् सुगमत्वाच्च तस्य ।
2. Cf. what Jñāneśvara says about the Marathi language in his exposition of the sixth Adhyāya of the Bhagavadgitā : 4181 Agrofa ata qaram arafer ist für isteri da 377 foi watat II (VI.14)
3. Cf. Bhojā, Sarasvatikanthābharaṇa, 1.2: fazia Inaa 464मलस्कारैरलङ्कतम् । रसा वितं कविः कुर्वन कीर्ति प्रीतिच विन्दति ॥
V.L....4
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