Review

Summary

The review of “Prākṛta Bhāṣā evaṃ Sāhitya,” a Hindi collection edited by Dr Prem Suman Jain, notes that the book contains eighteen articles on various subjects relating to the Prakrit language and literature. The reviewer remarks that the collection has more material on literature than on the language itself and that it serves as a handy general introduction. While some articles offer new points not previously discussed, others are described as confused or lacking depth. One article on Kundakunda, for instance, lists words and their usage without explaining their origins; another provides readings of words but not their etymology. Despite these shortcomings, the reviewer finds the book readable and useful for those seeking general information about Prakrit. The review concludes that the work may inspire further interest in the study of Prakrit literature. Because the book is in Hindi, it also caters to readers who prefer literature in that language.