Part 8 - Rājaśekhara and Prākṛita Language

Rājaśekhara was well-versed in many languages. To him all the languages are equal:

“svatantrasya punare kabhāṣāvatsarvā api bhāṣāḥ syuḥ |”

- Kāvyamīmāṃsā of Rājaśekhara: Ch-X, Pp- 51

His definition of kavirāja in the Kāvyamīmāṃsā also requires that, he should be proficient in different language and Karpūramañjarī would seem to illustration on this.

There he says a good poet should pay attention to all the languages, based on his ability, taste and curiosity:

“saṃskṛtavatsarvāsvapi bhāṣāsu yathāsāmarthyaṃ yathārūci yathākautukaṃ cāvahitaḥ syāt |”

- Kāvyamīmāṃsā of Rājaśekhara: Ch-IX, Pp- 48

And,

“eko'rthaḥ saṃskṛtottayā sasukaviracanaḥ prākṛtenāparo'sminnanyo'pabhraṃśagīrbhiḥ
  kimaparamaparo bhūtabhāṣākrameṇa |
dvitrābhiḥ ko'pi vāgbhirbhavati catasṛbhiḥ kiñca kaścidvivetkuṃ
   yasyetthaṃ dhīḥ pragalbhā snapayati sukavestasya kīrttirjaganti || ”

- Kāvyamīmāṃsā of Rājaśekhara: Ch-IX, Pp- 48-49

An intellect poet when ready in various languages than he acquires fame all throughout the world. In the Bālarāmāyaṇa, Rājaśekhara described that the Prākṛta language as elegant and possessing natural sweetness, and Apabhraṃśa also very elegant, Bhūtabhāṣā as well-formed.

“giraḥ śravyā divyāḥ prakṛtimadhurā prākṛtadhurāḥ
  subhavyo'pabhraṃśa sarasaracanaṃ bhūtavacanam || ”

- Bālarāmāyaṇa of Rājaśekhara -I/11

In the Karpūramañjarī, which was composed by him on the request of his wife Avantīsundarī Rājaśekhara said that compositions of Sanskrit are harsh, but Prākṛta are smooth.

“paruṣāḥ saṃvkiabaṃdho pāudabaṃdho bi hoī suumāro |
purusasamahilāṇaṃ jottiamihaṃtaraṃ tottiamimāṇaṃ ||”

[“paruṣāḥ saṃskṛtavandhāḥ prākṛtavandho'pi bhavati suku māraḥ |
puruṣamahilānāṃ yāvadihāntaraṃ tāvat teṣu ||”]

- Karpūramañjarī of Rājaśekhara: I/ 8