Apbhramsa Hindi Vyakaran

Added to library: September 1, 2025

Loading image...
First page of Apbhramsa Hindi Vyakaran

Summary

This document is the "Apbhramsa Hindi Vyakaran" (Apabhramsha Hindi Grammar) by Kamalchand Sogani and Shakuntala Jain, published by Apbhramsa Sahitya Academy. It is a comprehensive grammar of the Apabhramsha language, presented in Hindi, and based on the sutras (aphorisms) of the renowned scholar Acharya Hemachandra.

Here's a breakdown of the content based on the provided pages:

Core Purpose and Philosophy:

  • Bridging Ancient and Modern: The book aims to make the study of Apabhramsha accessible to modern Hindi speakers, highlighting Apabhramsha as the source of Hindi and other North Indian languages. It emphasizes the historical and linguistic importance of Apabhramsha in the development of Indian languages.
  • Accessibility: The grammar is designed to be easy to understand, even for those without a strong background in Sanskrit.
  • Promoting Apabhramsha Studies: The Jainvidya Sansthan Shri Mahavirji, through its Apabhramsha Sahitya Academy, is actively promoting the study and teaching of Apabhramsha, offering courses and publications like this grammar.

Key Content Areas Covered (based on the Table of Contents and sample pages):

  1. Introduction and General Information about Apabhramsha:

    • Alphabet: Details the vowels and consonants of Apabhramsha, noting the usage of certain letters in different contexts.
    • Grammatical Features: Explains basic grammatical categories like number (singular, plural), gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), and person (first, second, third).
    • Case System (Vibhakti): Outlines the eight cases (Prathama to Sambodhana) for nouns and seven for pronouns (Sambodhana is absent in pronouns). It lists the typical case endings.
    • Verbs: Mentions the two types of verbs: transitive and intransitive.
    • Tenses (Kaal): Identifies four main tenses: present, past, future, and imperative/optative. It notes the significant use of past participle constructions for the past tense.
    • Word Classes: Discusses six types of words based on their final vowel sounds (akaranta, akaranta, ikaranta, etc.).
  2. Detailed Grammar Sections (based on sample pages):

    • Suffixes for Noun Declension (Pratyay): This is a major focus, detailing how different suffixes are added to various noun endings (akaranta, ikaranta, ukaranta, etc.) for each case and number. Examples are provided using Hindi words that are transliterated into Apabhramsha forms.
      • Examples: The declension of 'Dev' (god) and 'Kamal' (lotus) are shown with suffixes for cases like Prathama, Dwitiya, Tritiya, Panchami, Shasthi, and Saptami in both singular and plural.
    • Suffixes for Pronoun Declension: Similar to nouns, the declension of pronouns is explained with specific suffixes for different cases. Pronouns like 'Savva' (all), 'Ta' (he/she/it), 'Ja' (who), 'Kavaṇa' (who/what), and personal pronouns like 'Tumha' (you) and 'Amha' (I) are covered.
    • Tense-Indicating Suffixes for Verbs: This section details the suffixes used to form different tenses (present, past, future) and moods (imperative/optative) for verbs.
      • Examples: The formation of present tense forms for 'Has' (to laugh), 'Tha' (to stay), and 'Ho' (to be) are shown with various personal endings. Past tense formation with suffixes like '-īa' is also explained.
    • Kṛdanta (Verbal Participles/Derivatives): This covers various types of verbal derivatives with their specific suffixes:
      • Vidhi Kṛdanta (Dutiful Participle): Indicating obligation or necessity (e.g., "should be done").
      • Sambandhaka Bhūtakṛdanta (Adverbial Participle of Past Action): Indicating a completed action done before another (e.g., "having laughed").
      • Hetvārthaka Kṛdanta (Gerundive/Infinitive of Purpose): Indicating purpose (e.g., "for laughing").
      • Bhūtakālika Kṛdanta (Past Participle): Indicating a past action.
      • Vartamāna Kṛdanta (Present Participle): Indicating an ongoing action (e.g., "laughing").
    • Bhāvavācya (Impersonal Voice) and Karmavācya (Passive Voice) Suffixes: Explains how to form impersonal and passive voices from intransitive and transitive verbs respectively, detailing the suffixes and case changes involved.
    • Svārthika Pratyaya (Emphatic Suffixes): Suffixes added to nouns for emphasis without changing the core meaning.
    • Preraṇārthaka Pratyaya (Causative Suffixes): Explains how to form causative verbs.
    • Numerals (Sankhyāvācī Śabda): Discusses the forms of numerals like 'ekka' (one), 'duve'/'do' (two), 'tiṇṇa' (three), 'cattāri' (four), and 'pañca' (five) in different cases and numbers.
    • Adverbs (Avyaya): Lists various adverbs used in Apabhramsha for expressing manner, place, time, quantity, etc.
    • Miscellaneous (Vividha): Includes other grammatical points and observations.
  3. Appendices:

    • Rūpāvalī (Declension Tables): Detailed tables showing the declension of various nouns (masculine, feminine, neuter, with different endings) and pronouns.
    • Kriyārūp va Kālabodhaka Pratyaya (Verb Forms and Tense Suffixes): Tables illustrating verb conjugations for different persons, numbers, tenses, and moods.
    • References to Acharya Hemachandra's Sutras: A crucial section that links the grammatical rules presented in the book to the specific sutras in Acharya Hemachandra's Prakṛta Vyakaraṇa.
    • Bibliography: A list of reference books used in the compilation of this grammar.

Overall Significance:

"Apbhramsa Hindi Vyakaran" is a valuable resource for students and scholars interested in the Apabhramsha language, its grammar, and its evolution into modern Indian languages. It provides a structured and systematic approach to understanding this important linguistic stage, directly drawing from the foundational work of Acharya Hemachandra. The book's commitment to clarity and accessibility makes it a significant contribution to the field of Indian linguistics, particularly from a Jain scholarly perspective.