Prakritshabda Sanskrute Nanartha

This Jain text, titled "Prakritshabda Sanskrute Nanartha" (Prakrit Words with Multiple Sanskrit Meanings), attributed to Shilchandrasuri, is a scholarly work that explores the diverse Sanskrit meanings of various Prakrit words. Based on a manuscript from likely the 17th century, this text comprises 14 original Prakrit verses followed by Sanskrit commentaries.

The work identifies a poet named 'Ninhana' as the potential author based on a reference in the second verse. The core purpose of the text is to present the multiple Sanskrit significations of 66 Prakrit words, making it a valuable resource for early students and scholars of Prakrit and Jain literature.

The book systematically analyzes words, providing their Sanskrit equivalents and explanations. For instance:

• 'pautta' (Sanskrit 'putra') is shown to have eleven Sanskrit meanings, including 'prayuḳta' (used, inspired), 'prapupta' (unknown form), 'putrapuṭra' (grandson), and 'padokta' (meaning stated in a verse).
• 'ahara' has five meanings, such as 'adhara' (lips), 'agṛha' (homeless), and 'akṣara' (gentle, or donkey).
• 'a'kula' has five interpretations: 'atula' (unparalleled), 'akula' (without lineage), 'agula' (absence of sugarcane products), 'apu'la' (not great), and 'acuta' (non-oily).
• 'sattāsa' (Sanskrit 'sa'trāsa') is presented with six meanings: 'sa'bhaya' (fearful), 'Sūrya' (the Sun), 'jīvā' (life), 'śakta' (powerful), 'ākr̥ṣṭābhilāṣa' (attracted desire), and 'śūra' (hero).

The text continues to meticulously list and explain the multiple Sanskrit meanings for numerous other Prakrit words across its pages, including:

• 'sakala': eight meanings like 'khaṇḍa' (fragment), 'samagra' (entire), 'sa'pātra' (with leaves), 'sa'jala' (with water), 'sa'dhāra' (grounded), 'sa'calā' (moving), 'sa'kaṇṭha' (with throat), and 'svakla' (self-seizing).
• 'savaya': seven meanings like 'svasthāna' (own place), 'dātā' (giver), 'anuṣṭhāna' (practice), 'sagokula' (with family), 'vr̥ddha' (old), 'vāgmī' (eloquent), and 'bak'yuta' (talking like a crow).
• 'payaya': seven meanings including 'kamala' (lotus), 'megha' (cloud), 'nadī' (river), 'pakṣī' (bird), 'padāti' (foot soldier), 'vastu' (thing), and 'prasiddha' (well-known).
• 'śuci': five meanings such as 'veda' (Vedas), 'pravāha' (flow), 'āṣāḍha' (month), 'śuklapakṣa' (waxing moon period), and 'snāna' (bath).
• 'surāyaṇa': five meanings like 'devamuhūha' (group of gods), 'sudanta' (well-toothed), 'viśiṣṭaracanāyukta' (with special composition), 'doṣarahita' (flawless), and 'śobhanarāga' (beautiful color).
• 'apramāṇa': six meanings like 'amaryādā' (limitless), 'alpa' (small), 'ātmatulya' (equal to self), 'prāpyamāna' (being obtained), 'ḍhaūkyamāna' (being offered), and 'mahacchāsana' (great rule).
• 'amṛta': six meanings including 'amṛta' (nectar), 'mṛgarahita' (deerless), 'anabhyiṣṭa' (undesired), 'madarahita' (without pride), 'aśuddhi' (impurity), and 'hari' (Vishnu).
• 'anaha': four meanings: 'nakhahīna' (without nails), 'apāpa' (sinless), 'aśūnya' (non-empty), and 'bandharahita' (free from bonds).
• 'sajjo': eight meanings like 'rālavr̥kṣa' (a type of tree), 'praha' (arrow), 'dhanuḥ' (bow), 'ghr̥ta' (ghee), 'tatkṣaṇa' (that moment), 'ādisyukta' (with origin), 'āryayukta' (with Arya), and 'svara' (musical note).
• 'sāgara': five meanings including 'sagaurava' (with respect), 'svādu' (tasty), 'abdhi' (ocean), 'ākara' (mine), and 'sukhadā' (giver of happiness).
• 'satthi': five meanings: 'āśīrvacana' (blessing), 'śastrāgāra' (armory), 'śuddha' (pure), 'jānu' (knee), and 'daṇḍa' (stick).
• 'vidya': four meanings: 'bhiṣak' (physician), 'bala' (strength), 'jñeya' (knowable), and 'nirvāpya' (to be extinguished).
• 'sajhha': four meanings: 'paravata' (mountain), 'sahaniya' (bearable), 'niṣpādya' (to be accomplished), and 'sahāyya' (help).

The text continues in this fashion, meticulously detailing the multiple meanings of words such as 'ṇāya' (knowledge), 'a'haya' (unbroken), 'savaha' (path), 'ahimayara' (sun), 'sahāe' (with), 'āśāśā' (hope), 'āyāsa' (effort), 'parvata' (mountain), 'kuhara' (cave), 'Kailāsa' (mountain name), 'kāvya' (poetry), 'phalih(a)' (crystal), 'vyāsa' (width), 'aho' (alas), 'vāho' (strength), 'patra' (leaf), 'sa'uṇo' (bird), 'kola' (hole), 'savana' (sacrifice), 'vi'aṇa' (fan), 'sūtra' (thread), 'vachha' (calf), 'kōśi' (container), 'kanaka' (gold), 'kalikā' (bud), 'kuchē' (belly), 'kavi' (poet), 'prabhūta' (abundant), 'sapatna' (rival), 'chittayara' (painter), 'a'hiya' (more), 'pa'uśa' (evening), 'niśāyara' (night walker), 'gadādhara' (mace-bearer), 'payodhara' (cloud), 'prākṛta' (Prakrit), 'paradāra' (another's wife), 'prabhākara' (sun), 'śarada' (autumn), 'śayana' (bed), 'sanaya' (ancient), 'gaganacara' (sky-walker), 'sahita' (with), 'suvrata' (good vow), 'mayā' (sleep), 'śyāmalatā' (darkness), 'amalakā' (Indian gooseberry), 'śavaya' (animal), 'sachharāyana' (road of truth), 'pāyaḥ' (foot), 'śruta' (scripture), 'śuka' (parrot), 'saroja' (lotus), and 'saroga' (patient).

The author's intention is clearly to equip readers with a deep understanding of the semantic richness and nuances of Prakrit vocabulary when translated into Sanskrit, thereby enhancing their comprehension of Jain scriptures and literature.