Prakrit Vyakaranam Part 2

Here's a comprehensive summary of "Prakrit Vyakaranam Part 2" by Hemchandracharya, with the Hindi commentary by Pyarchandji Maharaj, as presented in the provided pages:

Book Title: Prakrit Vyakaranam Part 2 (प्राकृत व्याकरणम् द्वितीय भाग) Author: Acharya Hemchandracharya (आचार्य हेमचन्द्र) Commentary: Priyodaya Hindi Vyakhya (प्रियोदया हिन्दी व्याख्या) by Upadhyay Panditratna Shri Pyarchandji Maharaj (उपाध्याय पण्डितरत्न श्री प्यारचन्द जी महाराज) Publisher: Agam Ahimsa Samta Evam Prakrit Sansthan, Udaipur (आगम, अहिंसा-समता एवं प्राकृत संस्थान, उदयपुर) Edition: 2006

Overall Purpose:

This volume is the second part of Acharya Hemchandracharya's seminal work on Prakrit grammar, Siddha-Hem Shabdanushasan. The book is presented with a detailed and accessible Hindi commentary by Panditratna Shri Pyarchandji Maharaj, aiming to make the complex grammatical rules of Prakrit easily understandable for students, Jain monks and nuns, and anyone interested in the Prakrit language and grammar. The re-publication addresses the scarcity of the original work, making this vital text available to a wider audience.

Key Content Areas and Highlights:

The book is structured to provide a thorough understanding of Prakrit grammar, based on Acharya Hemchandracharya's foundational work. The summary focuses on the core elements and the approach taken by the commentary:

1. Re-publication and Accessibility: The Agam Ahimsa Samta Evam Prakrit Sansthan, Udaipur, recognized the importance and the current unavailability of Pandit Pyarchandji Maharaj's detailed Hindi commentary on Hemchandracharya's Prakrit Grammar. They decided to re-publish both parts of the work, obtaining permission from the original publisher, Shri Jain Diwakar Divya Jyoti Karyalaya, Bawar. This initiative makes the comprehensive study of Prakrit grammar accessible to a new generation of learners.

2. Acharya Hemchandracharya's Grammar: The book delves into the Siddha-Hem Shabdanushasan, a highly revered and complete grammar of Prakrit. Hemchandracharya's work is notable for its comprehensive scope, covering Sanskrit grammar in its first seven chapters and Prakrit grammar in the eighth. The Prakrit grammar itself is divided into four padas (sections), detailing:

   • First and Second Padas: Rules related to vowel and consonant changes, and the description of indeclinables (avyaya).
   • Third Pada: Remaining grammatical topics.
   • Fourth Pada: Verbal roots (dhatu) and the grammar of specific Prakrit languages, including Sauraseni, Magadhi, Paishachi, Culika Paishachi, and Apabhramsha.

3. Pandit Pyarchandji Maharaj's Commentary ("Priyodaya"): The commentary, titled "Priyodaya," is praised for its clarity, simplicity, and thoroughness. It follows a systematic approach for each grammatical point:

   • Original Sutra (Moola Sutra): Presentation of the original Sanskrit sutra by Hemchandracharya.
   • Sanskrit Commentary (Vritti): Inclusion of Hemchandracharya's own Sanskrit commentary (Prakāshikā).
   • Detailed Hindi Explanation (Vyakhyā): A comprehensive, verse-by-verse Hindi explanation of the sutras and the Sanskrit commentary.
   • Lexical Analysis (Shabd-Sadhnika): Detailed explanation of the formation and rules governing each Prakrit word mentioned, citing numerous relevant sutras with their sequence.
   • Appendices: The book includes valuable appendices such as a treatise on suffixes (Pratyay Bodh), a guide to symbols (Sanket Bodh), a glossary of Prakrit words with their Sanskrit equivalents (Vyakaran-aagat-kosh-roop-shabd-soochi), and an errata (Shuddhi Patra).

4. Biographical Information: The book provides biographical sketches of key figures:

   • Acharya Hemchandracharya: His birth, parentage, initiation at a young age, extensive studies, prestigious Suri title, close relationship with Gujarat's royal family (Jayasingh Siddharaj and Kumarapal), and his prolific literary output across various subjects (grammar, prosody, rhetoric, lexicography, poetry, and biography).
   • Panditratna Shri Pyarchandji Maharaj: His spiritual lineage, initiation at a young age, dedication to his guru, exemplary service, fearlessness as a preacher, organizational skills, mastery of six languages (Hindi, Gujarati, Prakrit, Sanskrit, Marathi, and Kannada), and his significant literary works, including this Prakrit grammar commentary, "Jain-Jagat ke Ujjwal Tare" (Bright Stars of the Jain World), and "Jain Jagat ki Mahilayen" (Women of the Jain World). His life story highlights his deep scholarship, moral character, and dedication to spreading knowledge, even in his old age. His peaceful end through Santhara (vow of fasting until death) is also mentioned.
   • Shri Sundarlal Ji Dugad: A generous patron whose financial support, through the "Rooprekha Prakashan Nidhi" established in memory of his daughter, made the re-publication of this vital work possible. His philanthropy and dedication to social, religious, and educational causes are highlighted.

5. Historical Context of Prakrit Grammar: The text provides a historical overview of Prakrit grammar, mentioning key scholars and their contributions:

   • Bharata: Recalled by Markandeya, his Natyashastra contains some rules for Prakrit grammar.
   • Chand: His Prakrit Lakshana is considered the oldest available Prakrit grammar, influencing later scholars like Hemachandra.
   • Vararuchi: His Prakrit Prakash is significant for its disciplinary approach to ancient Prakrits, including Maharashtri, Magadhi, Paishachi, and Sauraseni.
   • Hemachandra's Siddha-Hem Shabdanushasana: Considered the most complete and scientific grammar, influencing subsequent works. The text meticulously details the structure and content of the eighth chapter, which focuses on Prakrit grammar, explaining the rules for sandhi, declension, conjugation, and the specific characteristics of various Prakrit dialects like Sauraseni, Magadhi, Paishachi, Chulika Paishachi, and Apabhramsha.

6. Detailed Grammatical Analysis: The core of the book is the systematic presentation of Prakrit grammatical rules, covering:

   • Phonetics and Morphology: Changes in vowels and consonants, formation of words, rules for sandhi, declension of nouns and pronouns, formation of verb roots, and application of suffixes.
   • Syntax and Dialects: Explanation of grammatical cases, verb conjugations, and the specific rules for different Prakrit dialects like Sauraseni, Magadhi, Paishachi, and Apabhramsha.
   • Specific Examples and Sutra References: Each grammatical rule is illustrated with Prakrit examples derived from various sources, and the relevant sutras from Hemchandracharya's original work are meticulously cited. The commentary clarifies the application of these sutras with detailed explanations.
   • Focus on Anomalies and Exceptions: The commentary also highlights nuances, exceptions, and the reasoning behind certain grammatical formations, making the study more insightful.

Summary of Third Pada (as seen in the initial part of the commentary):

The provided pages also show the beginning of the commentary on the Third Pada of the eighth chapter, which focuses on:

• Repeated Action/Emphasis (Vipsā): Rule 3-1 discusses the formation of words indicating repeated action or emphasis.
• Case Endings: Subsequent rules (3-2 onwards) detail the declension of nouns and pronouns in Prakrit, explaining the changes in case endings for different genders (masculine, feminine, neuter), numbers (singular, plural), and cases (prathama, dvitiya, etc.). This includes specific rules for declensions of various types of stems (akaranta, ikaranta, ukaranata, etc.) and pronouns.
• Verb Conjugations: The later parts of the Third Pada (as indicated in the index) cover verb conjugations for different tenses, moods, persons, and numbers.
• Dialectical Variations: Within the rules, there are mentions of how certain grammatical features differ across various Prakrit dialects.

Overall Significance:

"Prakrit Vyakaranam Part 2" with the "Priyodaya" commentary is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand the intricacies of Prakrit grammar. It bridges the gap between the classical grammatical tradition of Acharya Hemchandracharya and the needs of modern learners, offering a scholarly yet accessible guide to this important ancient language of India. The detailed explanation of each sutra with practical examples and cross-references makes it a comprehensive reference work.