Some Interrogative Particles In Prakrit

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The article explores the evolution and usage of interrogative particles in Prakrit, focusing on their differences from Sanskrit and their particular manifestations within the Svetambara Jain canon.

General Observations on Interrogative Particles:

• Interrogative particles (like "why") are susceptible to change, often influenced by interrogative pronouns and replaced by more emphatic or specific phrases (e.g., "for what reason").
• This tendency towards stylistic and individualistic expression makes them prone to linguistic fashion and authorial taste, as seen in English examples like "why on earth?" and "whatever for?".

Prakrit vs. Sanskrit Interrogation:

• Sanskrit:
  • "Why?" was typically conveyed by kasmāt (ablative singular of the interrogative pronoun).
  • "For what reason?" was expressed by kena kāraṇena.
  • A vaguer inquiry for cause used kim (neuter interrogative pronoun), often strengthened by particles like u, nu, and iha.
• Prakrit:
  • kasmāt survived occasionally as kamhā (ablative singular of the interrogative pronoun) but was no longer the primary way to say "why?".
  • The Svetambara Jain canon largely retained kena kāraṇena and kim, but often in fixed locutions specific to the canon.

Key Interrogative Particles and Locutions in the Jain Canon:

1. The Particle 'se':

   • A striking locution involves the particle se, described as slightly emphatic and adversative, used to introduce a question.
   • Its derivation from Vedic sed (sa+id) is questioned by the author, pointing to Pāli and Middle Indo-Aryan evidence.
   • se is identified as a Māgadhi form of the neuter singular of the pronoun sa, equivalent to tam.
   • The particle se underwent a weakening to si, though this happened later, primarily in Apabhramsa, and si was rarely associated with interrogative locutions. The rarity of se becoming si in later texts indicates that questions introduced by se are characteristic of the Svetambara Jain canon's style.

2. The Particle 'nam':

   • Another significant feature is the particle ṇam, which frequently follows interrogative pronouns, adding emphasis.
   • It is particularly common with kim, forming the compound kinnam meaning "why?" or "how is it that...?". Examples like kinnam tumaṁ na jāṇasi ("how is it that you do not know?") are provided.
   • kinnam is believed to originate from kiñ + nam, with a parallel in jannaṁ (yad + ņam).
   • An alternative form, kinnā, sometimes appears, with the final syllable altered. This form is sometimes explained by the influence of the instrumental kena, but the author finds this unlikely given the similar usage and meaning of kinnam. The change of final -am to -ā is not unusual for particles.
   • kinnam and kinnā are primarily associated with Ardhamāgadhi and Jaina Māhārāștri, showing a broader dialectal distribution than se-clauses.
   • These forms represent a general tendency to strengthen kim in interrogations, a trend also seen in literary Prakrits and Sanskrit.

3. The Phrase 'kassa heum':

   • A rarer but interesting method of expressing "why" in the canonical texts is the phrase kassa heum ("why?", "because of what?").
   • In this phrase, heum functions adverbially, similar to nāma ("by name") in Sanskrit. The author supports this by referencing Edgerton's findings on the adverbial use of hetu in Pāli and Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit.
   • The adverbial nature of heum is clear in examples where it is not immediately apparent, such as kassa nam tam heum ("for what reason is that?").
   • kassa heum is considered a precursor to the common Prakrit interrogative kisa ("why?"), which is also found in Pāli as kissa.
   • The change from kassa to kissa is attributed to the influence of kim ("what?", "why?"). This influence is evident in Pāli Jātaka texts where kissa is used as a genitive neuter, contrasting with kassa for masculine.
   • The influence of kim on neuter forms and "why?" on kassa heum likely led to kissa (kissa hetu in Pāli).
   • kissa is found in later Svetambara canonical texts, and with simplification of the double consonant and compensatory lengthening, it became kisa in Prakrit.
   • kisa became a common interrogative form in Jaina Māhārāștri texts like Vasudevahindi and Lilāvaikaha. It also appeared in the Magadhi and Sauraseni of dramas, with its frequency depending on authorial taste rather than dialect. It is absent from Kalidasa and rare in Kuvalayamālā.
   • In Jaina Māhārāștri, kisa became somewhat independent of the interrogative pronoun, not always corresponding to the regular genitive forms. It became rarer in Apabhramsa but survived in Old Gujarati as kisd or kiad.

Authorial Style and Interrogative Formulas:

• The author notes that in Prakrit dramas, the choice of strengthening particles for interrogation varies more with the author's style than the dialect of the speaker. Examples are given from Aśvaghoṣa, Śūdraka, Bhāsa, Kālidāsa, and Rājasekhara, showing their preferred interrogative formulas, which often mirror their Sanskrit usage.
• The analysis of these interrogative constructions highlights the artificiality of the literary Prakrits in dramas, where formulas reflect fashion and individual style.

Emerging Forms:

• More popular Jaina Māhārāștri texts show new developments, such as kiha ("why?") in the Vasudevahindi, likely derived from katham ("how?") influenced by kim.
• New forms based on the interrogative pronoun, particularly the neuter plural kain, become prevalent in Apabhramsa, signaling the start of a new cycle of fixed locutions.

In essence, the article traces the semantic and phonetic shifts in interrogative particles in Prakrit, with a particular focus on how these shifts manifest in the religious and literary traditions of the Svetambara Jains, showcasing distinctive stylistic choices in their canonical texts.