Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c13.s1.t3.7

c13.s1.t3.7

It may be noted, however, that Hemacandra in his *Prākṛta Vyākaraṇa* deals with *Prākṛta*, *Śaurasenī*, *Māgadhī*, *Paiśācī* and *Apabhraṃśa* languages, but not with *Ardhamāgadhī* or *Ārṣa Prākṛta*. Haribhadra sūri also quotes a verse in his commentary on the *Dasaveyāliya*²⁴ which indicates that the language of the Jain Canons was known as *Prākṛta* and not *Ardhamāgadhī*. However, it must be admitted that the language of the present Jain Canons has undergone considerable changes and should be considered different from that in which the canons were originally composed.²⁵