Prakrit Vyakaranam

This document is a scanned copy of the book "Prakrit Vyakaranam" (प्राकृतव्याकरणम्), which is the eighth chapter of "Siddha-Hema-Abhidha Shabdanushasana" (सिद्धहेमचन्द्राभिधशब्दानुशासन), authored by Acharya Hemachandra and its commentary "Prakasika" (प्रकाशिका) by Pandit Virchand Prabhudas. The book was published by the Shri Hemachandracharya Sabha, Patan, and sponsored by Shah Swarupchand Laxmichand of Ranuj and Shah Wadolal Nagardas of Patan.

The book is a comprehensive grammar of the Prakrit language, detailing various phonetic and grammatical transformations from Sanskrit to Prakrit. It covers a wide range of linguistic rules, including:

• Vowel and Consonant Changes: Rules for the transformation of vowels (e.g., i, u, e, o, ai, au) and consonants (e.g., k, g, c, j, t, d, p, y, ś, ṣ, s, h, m, n, ḷ) and their assimilation or elision.
• Sandhi (Joining of Words): Rules governing the combination of words, including exceptions and special cases.
• Nasalization: Rules related to the use of anusvara (nasalization).
• Substitution and Omission: Various substitutions for letters and the omission (luk) of sounds.
• Gender and Number: Rules for the formation of feminine and neuter genders and plural forms.
• Case Endings: Modifications and substitutions for case endings.
• Verb Conjugations: Transformations in verb roots and their conjugations.
• Dialectal Variations: Mentions and rules specific to different Prakrit dialects like Shauraseni, Magadhi, and Paishachi, along with Apabhramsa.
• Inclusion of Examples: Numerous examples from classical literature and usage illustrate each rule.
• Inclusion of Jain Terminology: The grammar implicitly relates to Jain usage, though the focus is on the Prakrit language in general.

The text is meticulously organized, with each rule numbered sequentially and explained with Sanskrit or Prakrit examples. The commentary "Prakasika" clarifies and elaborates on the original sutras of Acharya Hemachandra. The book represents a significant contribution to the study of Prakrit linguistics and historical Sanskrit-Prakrit relations.