पुष्पदंत की भाषा

The text discusses the language of the poet Pushpadanta, focusing on his use of Apabhramsha, which is considered an early form of modern Indian languages. Pushpadanta, a visionary poet, wrote in the 10th century, primarily in the southern Apabhramsha dialect, though his manuscripts, copied in Gujarat, show influences of the western dialect. His major works include the Mahapurana (965 CE), Jasaharachariu, and Nayakumarachariu, all composed in the Deccan. The text highlights that Apabhramsha, meaning "corrupt" language, was actually a natural evolution from Sanskrit and Prakrit, with scholars like Rahulji arguing that this transformation added sweetness and depth to words, as seen in the shift from "mata" to "mai" or "mayo." Pushpadanta's language exhibits several phonetic features typical of Apabhramsha, such as the loss of the vowel "ri," the replacement of "sh" and "sh" with "s," and the substitution of "v" for "p." Consonant clusters often simplify, with gemination or complete loss of sounds, and there is a tendency toward nasalization and the use of retroflex consonants. The text notes the prevalence of the "u" ending in words, a characteristic still found in Braj Bhasha. Many words from Pushpadanta's time, like "kajj" (kaj), "hatthi" (hathi), and "kheer" (kheer), remain in use today, while others like "changa" (good) persist in regional languages like Punjabi. A distinctive feature of his poetry is the use of onomatopoeic words, such as "tad-tad" for thunder or "gharaghara" for rumbling, which create vivid auditory imagery. This technique, along with repetitive structures, adds vigor and pictorial quality to his descriptions, making Pushpadanta a master of sound symbolism in early Hindi literature.

Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.