Bhashana Vikasna Prakrit Pali Bhashano Falo

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Bhashana Vikasna Prakrit Pali Bhashano Falo" by Bechardas Doshi, in English:

This text, authored by Pandit Bechardas Doshi, argues for the significant contribution of Prakrit and Pali languages to the development of all Indian languages. It begins by drawing an analogy between family relationships and language families, stating that just as siblings from the same family might appear different due to variations in attire, food, and lifestyle, languages originating from a common root can also appear distinct. However, a deeper comparative analysis reveals underlying similarities and a shared core.

The author posits that Prakrit and Pali languages played a crucial role in this linguistic evolution. The text traces the history of Indo-European languages, explaining how an original Aryan language diversified into various branches like Hittite, Tocharian, Sanskrit, Old Persian, Greek, Latin, and others. While these languages may seem vastly different, comparative linguistics has proven their common origin through shared fundamental characteristics. The author provides examples of cognates (words with shared etymology) across Sanskrit and other languages to illustrate this point.

A significant portion of the text delves into the history of naming languages. It highlights that ancient language names were often derived from the people or regions speaking them (e.g., Udyichya for northern languages, Prachya for eastern languages, Magadhi for the language of Magadha, Sauraseni for the language of Shurasena). The author points out that terms like "Sanskrit," "Prakrit," and "Apabhramsha" did not appear in ancient texts, not even in the Mahabhashya.

The author then explains the origin of these terms, attributing them to an ancient priestly class (purohitshahi) that, like later autocratic rulers, sought to elevate themselves and their language. This priestly class considered their own language superior and deemed the common people's language as inferior, naming their refined language "Sanskrit" and the people's language "Prakrit" or "Apabhramsha" (meaning corrupted or fallen).

The text strongly refutes the notion of linguistic superiority or inferiority. It asserts that the value of a language lies in its effectiveness in conveying meaning for its speakers. Linguistically, the concept of "standard" versus "non-standard" is considered irrelevant. Linguistics, the author explains, focuses on tracing the scientific rules governing sound changes and transformations to understand the historical evolution of languages.

The developmental lineage of Indian Aryan languages is presented as: Indo-European Language -> Indo-Iranian Language -> Indian Aryan Language. The Indian Aryan language is further categorized into three stages: Old Indian Aryan (represented by Vedic language), Middle Indian Aryan (represented by Prakrit), and New Indian Aryan (represented by modern languages).

Prakrit languages are identified as a vital stage in the evolution of Indian Aryan languages. The author notes that many saints and spiritual figures throughout Indian history, from Lord Mahavir and Lord Buddha to later saints like Jnaneshwar, Tukaram, Tulsidas, Kabir, Nanak, and Narsinh Mehta, used Prakrit languages as the primary medium for their literature. These saints, being representatives of the common people, chose Prakrit for its accessibility and connection to the masses.

The core characteristic of Prakrit is defined as the transitional stage between the ancient Vedic language and the modern spoken languages like Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, and Bengali. The author emphasizes a fundamental linguistic principle: that ancient Indian Aryan languages could only evolve into modern Indian languages after undergoing a transformation through Prakrit. Without this transitional phase, the emergence of these diverse Aryan languages would be inexplicable.

The text asserts that Prakrit languages are responsible for these significant transformations and thus have made the largest contribution to language development. The process of linguistic evolution, governed by scientific and regular sound changes, explains the continuity and connection between ancient and modern language families. This continuity, despite geographical separation, has maintained a sense of shared heritage among speakers of Aryan languages.

The interaction of Aryan settlers in India with indigenous populations led to linguistic exchanges. The Aryan language, after initial struggles, achieved cultural dominance by integrating thousands of words from various indigenous languages. This assimilation was facilitated by the Aryans' open attitude towards foreign influences, akin to rivers merging into the ocean. This process led to a new, integrated society and language, making it impossible to distinctly separate "Aryan" and "non-Aryan" influences.

Examples of linguistic borrowing are provided, including words from Babylonian, Austric, Dravidian, and Tibeto-Chinese languages that were integrated into the Aryan language. The author cites evidence from Babylonian treaties and Vedic hymns, as well as loanwords found in Sanskrit literature from various sources. This indicates a history of linguistic openness and mutual influence.

The text also discusses the influence of Indo-Iranian languages on Indian Aryan languages, citing similarities in vocabulary and grammar found in the Avestan literature. Examples of shared words, inflected nouns, and verbs are presented to demonstrate this close relationship.

Further illustrating the deep history of Indo-European languages, the author provides a reconstructed ancient sentence and compares its potential pronunciation with its reconstructed form from over two thousand years ago. The close relationship between Vedic hymns like the Rigveda and the Gayatri Mantra and their Iranian Aryan counterparts is also demonstrated.

The author reiterates that Prakrit played a crucial role in the development of new Indian languages, acting as a bridge from the Proto-Indo-European language, through the Indo-Iranian stage, to the Indian Aryan stage, and then evolving into various Middle Indian Prakrits, Apabhramshas, and ultimately the modern Indian languages and their dialects.

The text then examines the factors behind the emergence of Prakrit. It explains that the exclusive right of the priestly class to study and teach Vedic texts meant that common people's pronunciations naturally diverged from those of the priests. The priests, with their rigorous training, maintained precise pronunciations, while the common people, lacking such opportunities, developed their own distinct pronunciations. This divergence led the priests to label their language "Sanskrit" and the people's language "Prakrit." Furthermore, as Vedic language became codified and less dynamic, the common people's spoken language, characterized by constant change and evolution, gained prominence. The author states that this shift provided an opportunity for the common people's Prakrit languages to flourish and develop.

The text categorizes the linguistic variations of different regions: Udyichyas (northwest and Punjab) with pronunciations closer to Vedic, Prachyas (eastern regions) with generally more divergent pronunciations, and Madhyadesh (Ganga-Yamuna region) with moderate pronunciations. These regional variations of the common people's language developed and evolved rapidly.

The emergence of spiritual leaders like Kapil, Krishna, Mahavir, and Buddha is highlighted as a significant factor in the development and promotion of Prakrit. These leaders, by rejecting Vedic rituals and the authority of the priestly class, championed the common people's language. While the priestly class emphasized the importance of precise Vedic pronunciation for salvation, Mahavir and Buddha focused on the spiritual purity of the heart and the accessibility of their teachings through the vernacular. They identified with the common people and gave prominence to their language, recognizing its role in reaching the masses and restoring their rights. This period marked the rise of Prakrit, the first stage of Prakrit language.

The author concludes by detailing the phonetic changes that occurred in the transition from Sanskrit to Prakrit and subsequently to modern Indian languages. These include changes in consonant clusters (e.g., hasta to hatha to hath), single consonants, and vowels. These transformations, evident in Middle Indian Prakrits and further amplified in Apabhramshas, are the reason for Prakrit and Pali's significant contribution to the development of modern Indian languages like Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and Bengali, as well as their various dialects. The text emphasizes that while Sanskrit provided the vocabulary, it was Prakrit and Pali that facilitated the transition and evolution into the new languages.