The Prakrits of the Drama: Their Literary Function as Illustrated by the Karpuramanjari

Summary

O. H. Schokker’s substantial article analyses the role of various Prakrit dialects in Sanskrit drama, using the Karpūramañjarī as a case study. Classical Sanskrit plays typically assign different languages to characters based on their social status, gender and regional origin. High‑status male characters speak Sanskrit, while heroines, servants and rustics use dialects collectively called Prakrits. The Karpūramañjarī, composed by the tenth‑century poet Rājaśekhara, is unique because it is written almost entirely in Maharāṣṭrī Prakrit. Schokker begins by outlining the taxonomy of dramatic Prakrits as described in rhetorical handbooks: Maharāṣṭrī, Śaurasenī, Māgadhī and others, each with its own phonological and morphological features. He then summarises the plot of the Karpūramañjarī – a romantic story involving Prince Candrāpīḍa and Princess Malayavatī – and shows how Rājaśekhara exploits the flexibility of Maharāṣṭrī to convey varying emotional tones. In some scenes, the language approximates Sanskrit to reflect the nobility of the characters; in others, it employs colloquial expressions to depict servants and jokesters. The article includes detailed linguistic analyses of selected passages. Schokker identifies instances of vowel contraction, gemination, and simplification characteristic of Maharāṣṭrī, as well as borrowings from regional dialects. He argues that the poet’s manipulation of language heightens the drama’s aesthetic effect by aligning speech with character and mood. Schokker also compares the Karpūramañjarī with earlier Sanskrit plays such as Kālidāsa’s Vikramorvaśīya, highlighting the former’s innovative use of a single Prakrit throughout. Beyond linguistic scrutiny, Schokker discusses the social implications of dramatic language. He suggests that the prominence of Maharāṣṭrī in the Karpūramañjarī reflects the growing prestige of vernacular literature in tenth‑century India. The play thus anticipates the later flowering of Prakrit and vernacular poetry, including Jaina narrative literature. By demonstrating how dialect choice shapes characterization and audience response, the article contributes to our understanding of the intersection between language and literature in classical India.