A History of Indian Literature v2.c20.s2.11
A History of Indian Literature v2.c20.s2.11
- Language
- English
v2.c20.s2.11
The language of this Canon is a Prākrit which is known as Ārṣa (*i. e.*, "the language of the Ṛṣis") or Ardha-Māgadhī (*i. e.*, "half-Māgadhī"). Mahāvīra himself is said to have preached in this language. There is, however, a difference between the language of prose and that of verses. As was the case with the Pāli verses in the