Prakrit Prose And Verse

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Prakrta Prose and Verse" by Dr. Kamal Chand Sogani, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Prakrta Prose and Verse Author: Dr. Kamal Chand Sogani Publisher: Apabhraṁsa Sahitya Academy, Jaina Vidya Saṁsthāna, Shri Mahaviraji, Rajasthan

This book is the English translation of the second edition of "Prakṛta Gadya-Padya Saurabha," originally published in Hindi. It aims to introduce readers to the Prakṛta language and literature, emphasizing its importance in understanding the development of Indian culture and Hindi literature. The Apabhraṁsa Sahitya Academy was established in 1988 to teach Prakṛta and Apabhraṁsa languages through correspondence courses, and this book is part of its publication efforts to make these languages accessible to English speakers.

The book is structured into several lessons, each focusing on a selection of Prakṛta texts. It includes grammatical analysis and meaning of words for each excerpt.

Key Themes and Content:

• Introduction to Prakṛta: The book highlights Prakṛta as a rich, ancient, and sacred Indo-Aryan language, spoken by the masses. Its literature is crucial for understanding India's cultural heritage.

• Prakṛta Grammar Basics: It introduces fundamental aspects of Prakṛta grammar, including:

  • Alphabets: Listing vowels and consonants, noting specific usage patterns.
  • Number: Singular and Plural.
  • Gender: Masculine, Feminine, and Neuter.
  • Person: First, Second, and Third.
  • Case: Eight cases (Nominative, Accusative, Instrumental, Dative, Ablative, Genitive, Locative, Vocative).
  • Verbs: Transitive and Intransitive.
  • Tense: Present, Past, Future, and Imperative.
  • Words: Categorized by their ending vowels (a, i, i, a, u, ū).
  • Vocalic and Consonantal Combinations: Illustrative tables show how vowels combine with consonants.

• Selected Texts and Lessons: The book presents and analyzes various Prakṛta literary pieces:

  • Lesson 1: Mangalācaraṇa (Auspicious Observance): This lesson focuses on the Jain invocation, praising the Arihants, Siddhas, Ācāryas, Upādhyāyas, and Sadhus. It emphasizes the five-fold obeisance as the destroyer of vices and the most auspicious observance. The verses highlight the excellence and auspiciousness of these spiritual figures and the Dharma preached by the omniscient.

  • Lesson 2: Samaṇasuttaṁ: This section presents verses from the Samaṇasuttaṁ, offering ethical and philosophical insights:

    • It uses analogies like the plantain tree and itching to illustrate the lack of true substance in worldly pursuits and the self-deception in mistaking suffering for pleasure.
    • It discusses the interplay between Jivas (souls) and Karma, emphasizing freedom in choosing actions but dependence when Karma ripens.
    • It defines Dharma through concepts like Ahimsā (non-violence), self-restraint, austerity, the Three Jewels, and the protection of beings.
    • It advocates for forgiveness, universal amity, and non-enmity.
    • Key teachings include conquering the self, the importance of awareness, and renouncing worldly pleasures.
    • It outlines the destructive nature of vices like anger, pride, hypocrisy, and greed, and suggests remedies through calmness, modesty, simplicity, and contentment.
    • It stresses the perishable nature of worldly possessions and the importance of spiritual pursuit before old age and sensory decline.

  • Lesson 3: Uttaradhyayana: This lesson recounts the story of King Śrenika of Magadha interacting with a young saint.

    • The King is surprised to see a young, self-controlled saint.
    • The King questions the saint about his seemingly "without refuge" state, highlighting his own regal possessions and power.
    • The saint explains that true refuge comes from inner strength and detachment, contrasting the King's external power with the inner state of a renunciant.
    • The story uses the King's personal experience of physical suffering (eye pain, body burning) that even skilled doctors couldn't alleviate, to illustrate his initial state of "unprotectiveness" and the eventual understanding that true protection and well-being come from spiritual practices and self-control.

  • Lesson 4: Vajjalagga: This section presents aphorisms (Gāhā) and verses on poetry and virtuous conduct:

    • It reflects on the difficulty of composing and reciting poetry and the scarcity of listeners.
    • It praises the beauty and emotional resonance of Prakṛta poetry.
    • It defines virtuous qualities, such as not getting angry, speaking truthfully and kindly, and doing good to others even when wronged.
    • It contrasts the ways of the wicked with the virtues of the good-natured.
    • It emphasizes the importance of friendship with those who are steadfast and helpful in times of need.

  • Lesson 5: Bhagavati Aradhana: This lesson contains verses on spiritual discipline and understanding:

    • It speaks about the importance of knowledge, the danger of associating with the wicked, and the power of devotion.
    • It describes worldly pleasures and positions as transient like bubbles and evening redness.
    • It emphasizes meditation as a cure for passions and a source of sustenance.
    • It highlights the impermanence of life and the need for spiritual practice.

  • Lesson 6: Amangaliyapurisassa Kahā (The Story of an Inauspicious Man): This is a narrative about a foolish, inauspicious man whose presence was considered bad luck.

    • Anyone seeing his face in the morning would not get food.
    • The king tested this by summoning the man. During the king's meal, a city-wide panic occurred due to fear of attack, causing the king to abandon his food.
    • Later, the king, believing the man brought ill fortune, ordered his execution.
    • An intelligent person intervened, helping the man survive by advising him to express a desire to see the king's face before execution.
    • When the man told the king this, the king was satisfied with the clever reasoning and pardoned him. The story illustrates how wit and understanding can overcome adversity.

  • Lesson 7: Viusie Puttabahue Kahānagam (Story of a Learned Daughter-in-law): This story highlights the transformative power of a wise and virtuous daughter-in-law.

    • A wealthy merchant's son married a pious daughter who was an expert in religious knowledge.
    • The daughter-in-law, seeing her in-laws' irreligious nature, guided them towards spirituality.
    • She ingeniously answered a saint's question about her age, father-in-law's age, and mother-in-law's age by relating them to her own spiritual progress, revealing the truth indirectly.
    • Her truthful explanations, though initially met with skepticism, ultimately convinced her father-in-law, who then embraced religious practices. The family, including the son, also turned to spirituality, leading to spiritual prosperity.

  • Lesson 8: Gehe Sūro (Brave at Home): This story is about a goldsmith and his wife.

    • The goldsmith, who worked late and carried valuables, was boastful of his strength.
    • His wife, concerned about his safety, decided to test him.
    • Disguised as a warrior, she ambushed him, stripping him of his clothes and valuables.
    • The goldsmith, after being humiliated and robbed by the disguised wife, returned home naked and claimed to have been attacked by thieves.
    • His wife exposed his lie, revealing that he was only "brave at home" and instructing him not to return late at night. The story highlights the importance of true courage versus false bravado.

Methodology:

The book provides a detailed breakdown of how to perform grammatical analysis of Prakṛta sentences, including identifying parts of speech, tenses, moods, and cases using abbreviations. Examples are given to illustrate the application of these analytical methods.

In essence, "Prakrta Prose and Verse" serves as an educational tool to guide readers through key Jain ethical and spiritual teachings embedded in Prakṛta literature, making the ancient language and its profound wisdom accessible to a wider audience.