Shat Prabhut Ma Dantya Nakarna Prayog

This document, titled "Shat Prabhut ma Dantya Nakarna Prayog" (Use of Dental 'Na' in Shat Prabhut) by Shobhna R. Shah, published by ZZ_Anusandhan, is an academic analysis of linguistic features within the Jain tradition, specifically focusing on the use of the dental 'na' (दन्त्य नकार) in the texts attributed to Acharya Kundakunda.

The document highlights that Acharya Kundakunda is a highly revered figure in the Digambara tradition, second only to Lord Gautam Swami. Kundakunda is known for several works, including the "Shat Prabhut" (comprising Darshan, Charitra, Sutra, Bodh, Bhava, and Moksha Prabhut) and other texts like Ling Prabhut, Sheel Prabhut, Rayansar, and Barah Anuvekkha. The total number of verses in these "Shat Prabhut" texts are provided: Darshan Prabhut (29), Charitra Prabhut (26), Sutra Prabhut (21), Bodh Prabhut (56), Bhava Prabhut (175), and Moksha Prabhut (75).

The central theme of the analysis is the presence of the dental 'na' (दन्त्य नकार) in the "Shat Prabhut." The author notes that the use of the dental 'na' is generally not common in Shauraseni and Maharashtri Prakrit, the languages typically associated with Digambara Jain texts. In contrast, Shvetambara Agam texts in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit frequently use the dental 'na' at the beginning and sometimes in the middle of words. Digambara texts in Shauraseni Prakrit usually replace the dental 'na' with the retroflex 'ṇa' (मूर्धन्य णकार) at the beginning and in the middle.

However, the "Shat Prabhut" exhibits certain instances where the dental 'na' is used at the beginning and in the middle (in compound words) where one might expect the retroflex 'ṇa'. The document asserts that examining usage in Pali Tripitaka, ancient inscriptions, and Ardhamagadhi Prakrit reveals that the dental 'na' was preserved in older Prakrit compositions. Later, due to the influence of Prakrit grammar rules, the dental 'na' was often replaced by the retroflex 'ṇa'. Therefore, the instances of dental 'na' in the "Shat Prabhut" are deemed noteworthy as they reflect an influence from this older tradition.

The document then provides detailed tables (Pages 2 and 3) listing specific examples of these "dental 'na'" usages (both initial and medial) across different chapters of the "Shat Prabhut" (Darshan, Charitra, Sutra, Bodh, Bhava, and Moksha Prabhut), along with their respective page and verse numbers.

Page 5 onwards introduces a new but related linguistic observation: the presence of verb-case forms ( विभक्तिरहित शब्दरूप) in the "Shat Prabhut". The author points out that some word forms appear without their case endings, which is likely done to maintain metrical rhythm (छन्द जाळववा माटे). This practice is more common in Apabhramsha language, suggesting a potential influence of Apabhramsha on these texts. This observation leads the author to question whether these works are definitively from Kundakunda's era, or if his period needs to be placed much later if they are indeed his.

The document then presents a table (Pages 5 and 6) of examples where case endings have been dropped, comparing the Prakrit original forms with the forms found in the "Shat Prabhut." Examples include:

• दोस (instead of दोषान्)
• परिवार (instead of परिवारस्य)
• तच्च (instead of तच्चानि)
• पदम (instead of पढमं)
• दंसण (instead of दंसणं)
• दुविह (instead of दुविहं)
• णिस्संकिय (instead of णिस्संकियं)
• णिक्कंखिय (instead of णिक्कंखियं)
• उवगूहण (instead of उवगूहणं)
• वच्छल्ल (instead of वच्छल्लं)
• अवगूहण (instead of अवगूहणं)
• पव्वज्ज (instead of पव्वज्जाए)
• दंसण (instead of दंसणेण)
• रहिए (instead of रहिते)
• चउत्थं (instead of चउत्थ) - Note: This one is presented slightly differently.
• बुत्तं (instead of वुत्त) - Again, the presentation in the table might be showing the Apabhramsha influence directly.
• कम्मपयडीण (instead of कम्मपयडीणं)
• रहिय (instead of रहियं)
• सिलाए (instead of सिल)
• जिणभावणा (instead of जिणभावणं)
• आगंतुक (instead of आगंतुकं)
• इड्डि (instead of इडि)
• माहप्प (instead of माह)
• बहुविह (instead of बहुविहं)
• पंचिदिय (instead of पंचिदियाणं)
• फुडु (instead of फुडं) - explicitly mentioned as an Apabhramsha word.
• महाजस (instead of महाजसो)
• असियस (instead of असियसयं)
• जिणपण्णत्त (instead of जिणपण्णत्तं)
• उमरग (instead of उमरगं)
• भाविय (instead of भावियं)
• पढम (instead of पढमं)
• दंसण (instead of दंसणं)
• सिव (instead of सिवो)
• आरूढा (instead of आरूढं)
• फुल्लिय (instead of फुल्लियं)
• मायावेल्लि (instead of मायावेल्लि)
• सावयो (instead of सावय)
• -भाव (instead of -भावेण)

The document concludes by stating that the findings suggest that the usage of the retroflex 'ṇa' was not as prevalent in Shauraseni texts of ancient times. The reference provided is "Shrimat Kundakundacharya Virachitah Shat Prabhutadi Sangrah," published by Shri Manikchand Digambar Jain Granthamala Samiti in 1977.

In essence, the paper is a scholarly examination of linguistic nuances, specifically the use of the dental 'na' and the omission of case endings, in the "Shat Prabhut" attributed to Acharya Kundakunda. It uses these linguistic features to discuss the potential influences of earlier Prakrit traditions and Apabhramsha on these significant Jain texts, and indirectly, on the dating and attribution of these works.