Prakrta-Prakasa or the Prakrta Grammer of Vararuchi

This monograph is the third edition of E. B. Cowell’s translation of a well-known work on Prakrt Grammer of Vararuchi, the oldest known grammarian of the Prakrt dialects, i.e. dialects that are considered inferior to Sanskrit. “In Sanskrit dramas, it is women, except female religious characters, and subordinate male personages, who are made to speak in Prakrt languages, the use of Sanskrt being reserved for the higher characters of the play, and amongst the former, again, the choice of the special Prakrt dialect is adapted by the poet to the rank which such a subordinate personage holds, the wives of the king or hero of the play; an inferior Prakrt to his ministers; others less in degree to the sons of the ministers, soldiers, town people, and the like; down to the lowest Prakrt, which is spoken only by servants or the lowest classes.”

Here in this work Cowell edites with elaborate commentary, notes and translation the sutras or grammational rules or Vararuchi and thus introduces students to the study of this most interesting dialect as to a new language, and enables them for the first time fully and thoroughly to understand and appreciate the Sanskrit Dramas.