Page 891 of: Abhijnana Shakuntala (synthetic study)

APPENDIX V
A NOTE ON THE INTERVOCALIC
(B) IN PRAKRTĀ, CORRESPONDING
TO ч (P) IN SANSKRIT
In all the Prākṛta passages the intervocalic unaspirated
sonant labial 'a' is uniformly found in the edition of Professor
Monier-Williams. This labial 'a' persists even in the indeclin-
able 'fa' in Prākṛta standing for Sanskrit 'afч'. The edition of
Professor Richard Pischel, on the other hand, discloses in its stead
a uniform representation by the fricative liquid 'a' in conso-
nance with the prescription of the Prākṛta grammarians. This
discordance, however, stands in need of an explanation, as
both the editions are admirably executed by scholars of no mean
reputation, possessing no small experience of a truly critical
editor, and one cannot but be impressed with the extent of labour,
care and attention that the works have exacted from their editors
in the collation of the numerous manuscripts consulted.
Pischel, a Prākṛta scholar of unique reputation claiming
to have given special attention to the Prakṛta passages probably
because they are often found regrettably corrupt even in the
editions of the savants of the East, delivers himself in the following
manner:
"I have given special attention to the Prākta passages and
I trust this edition will contribute to a better knowledge of
scenic Prākṛta than it has been hitherto possible to
acquire."
Monier-Williams, one of the brightest luminaries of
the West in Oriental Culture, having vast materials at his
disposal and never shrugging nor shrinking from keeping a cons-
tant keen vigil to utilize them for a careful collation of the diffe-
rent manuscripts consulted, himself notes in his preface thus:
“Not a passage was printed without a careful colla-
tion of all of them, and the three commentaries were
consulted from beginning to end."
From a close perusal of the texts of these editions, it will appear
as almost certain that the readings given by Pischel reveal a