Purviya Prakrutona Ek Taddhit Pratyaya Vishe - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Purviya Prakrutona Ek Taddhit Pratyaya Vishe" by K.R. Chandra:

This scholarly work delves into a specific taddhita (derivative suffix) in the ancient Prakrit languages, focusing on a phenomenon observed in Eastern Prakrit languages like Magadhi and the language of Eastern India during Ashoka's reign.

Key Phenomenon: Lengthening of Initial Short Vowels

The central theme is the lengthening of an initial short vowel (hu svar) into a long vowel (dīrgh svār) before a specific suffix. This lengthening is identified as a distinctive characteristic of Magadhi and the language of Eastern India in Ashoka's period.

Research Basis and Evidence:

Nalini Balbir's Research: The author references the research of Prof. Nalini Balbir (Paris, France) in her article "Morphological evidence for dialectal variety in Jaina Mahārāstri'" (published in "Dialectes dans les littératures indo-aryennes," 1989).
Aggama-Niyukti Literature: Balbir points out that in the language of the Aggama-Niyukti literature (specifically citing Achārāṅga, Daśavaikālika, and Ogha), the Sanskrit comparative suffix -tara forms the shape –tara. This is where the initial short vowel lengthens into a long vowel, resulting in forms like vidyutā, kāṇārā, mūrā, mudrā, etc.
Supporting Evidence from Multiple Sources: Balbir further substantiates this observation with references to:
1. Ashoka's Eastern Indian Inscriptions: Citing H. Luders.
2. Ardhamagadhi Agama Texts: Such as the Bhagavatī Sūtra, referencing A. Weber.
3. Language of Characters in Sanskrit Plays: Specifically the play Mṛcchakaṭikā, referencing Michel.

Implications and Connections:

Roots in Ashokan Period: The text highlights that the ancient Ardhamagadhi language has its roots extending back to the language of Eastern India during Ashoka's reign.
Transmission of Features: Certain unique characteristics of Ardhamagadhi have been inherited by the language of the Niyukti texts.

Illustrative Examples:

The author provides specific examples to demonstrate this phenomenon:

Ashoka's Inscriptions: rītika, vācinīja, cā.
Bhagavatī Sūtra: tīra.
Other Ardhamagadhi Agama Texts: mūrujā (Achārāṅga), vidyā (Sūyagaḍa), banāsa (Sthānaṅga, Praśna Vyākaraṇa, Jñāta-dharmakathā).
Mṛcchakaṭikā: tāruḍhā, vākuvā, puttāka.

Discussion on the "tum" (तुमुँ) Suffix:

The text then shifts to discuss the suffix –tu (or variations thereof) as a suffix for the conjunctive participle (sambandhaka bhūtakṛdanta).

Hemachandra's Grammar: Hemachandra, in his Prakrit grammar (8.4.429), notes –tu as a suffix for the conjunctive participle in Apabhramsha.
Pischel's Interpretation: Pischel, quoting Hemachandra, suggests that –tu was originally an optative suffix (hetvartha) that later came to be used for the conjunctive participle.
Dr. M.V. Divekar's View: According to Dr. M.V. Divekar ("Historical Grammar of Apabhramsha," p. 151), –tu is extensively used in Western Apabhramsha works from the 11th-12th centuries.
Absence in Svayambhu and Pushpadanta: This suffix is not found in the Apabhramsha works of Svayambhu and Pushpadanta.
Presence in Vāsudevahindī: However, the author's own study reveals its usage in the Vāsudevahindī (Prathama Khanda, First Part).
Dual Interpretation: In some instances, the –tu suffix can be interpreted as a past participle or a conjunctive participle. However, in other cases, the form ending in –tu is clearly a conjunctive participle.
- Examples with Ambiguous Meaning: Examples are provided where –tu could imply either the past participle or conjunctive participle.
- Examples Clearly Indicating Conjunctive Participle: Examples are provided where –tu unambiguously functions as a conjunctive participle.
Hof’s Observation: Dr. A. Hof, in his article on the language of Vāsudevahindī, does not note this suffix.
Development of the Suffix: The author proposes that the –tu suffix for the conjunctive participle might have evolved from the –kta suffix found in Ashokan inscriptions, a Sri Lankan inscription, and Buddhist Sanskrit, where –kta also appears in the sense of a conjunctive participle.
Convergence of Suffixes: It is also suggested that the suffixes –la or –tra (possibly from Sanskrit –ktra) for the conjunctive participle might have developed into –tu and –ta, leading to a convergence where the optative and conjunctive participle suffixes became unified as –tu.
Formation: Before the application of either suffix, the root often has –ka added, leading to forms like –tu (from –kta) and –kra, –tra (from –ktra).
Rejection of Alternative Explanation: The author finds Tagare's explanation that –tu derived from the Sanskrit conjunctive participle –ktva through –ktura and then –tu unconvincing in light of this broader perspective.
Conclusion on Suffix Development: The argument concludes that on one hand, the optative suffix –tu (with the final nasal –m disappearing) becomes –tu. On the other hand, the conjunctive participle suffixes –kta and –tra develop through –kra, –ta, –tul, –tu, and finally –tu. Thus, both suffixes merged.
Earliest Usage: The earliest known usage of the –tu suffix in Prakrit literature is found in the Vāsudevahindī.
Connection to Old Gujarati-Rajasthani: The text notes that the suffix –ka for the conjunctive participle in Old Gujarati-Rajasthani, from which the Gujarati suffix (–ya) is derived, is also relevant to this discussion, as indicated by K.R. Chandra.

In essence, the book meticulously examines a linguistic feature of vowel lengthening in early Prakrit dialects and then critically analyzes the evolution and usage of the –tu suffix for the conjunctive participle, tracing its origins and connections across various ancient Indian languages and texts.