Prakrit in the Maurya Empire

Summary

Satya Ranjan Banerjee’s essay investigates the linguistic landscape of the Maurya Empire (326–183 B.C.), arguing that Sanskrit, Pali and various Prakrits were the principal languages of the period. Although few literary works survive from this era, inscriptions and later references indicate a rich linguistic culture. In the first part of the essay, Banerjee traces the origins and characteristics of these languages. He recounts Sanskrit’s development from the Indo‑European family, moving from the Vedic period through the Upaniṣads. He emphasises that Prakrit—Middle‑Indic vernaculars—was widely spoken and served both literary and administrative functions. Evidence from Jain and Buddhist texts shows that Prakrits were employed for scripture and everyday communication. The second part surveys surviving inscriptions such as the Mahasthān stone plaque, Sohgaura copper plate and Asokan edicts at Girnar, Shahbazgarhi and Manshera. Written in various Prakrit dialects using the Brāhmī script, these inscriptions reveal how Mauryan rulers communicated their policies to a diverse populace. Banerjee also examines Prakrit literature associated with the Jain tradition, including works attributed to Bhadrabahu and early grammarians. He concludes that while Sanskrit remained the language of high culture, the widespread use of Prakrit in inscriptions and administration reflects the pragmatic and inclusive linguistic policy of the Mauryan rulers. The author calls for more systematic study of Prakrit texts and inscriptions to better appreciate the empire’s cultural legacy.