Some NIA Words from Apabhramsa

Summary

In “Some NIA Words from Apabhramsa,” Prof. Kalipada Mitra investigates lexical features of Apabhramsa literature and their connections to New Indo‑Aryan (NIA) languages. Focusing on three major Apabhramsa works—Puspadanta’s Nayakumaracariu, his Mahapurana and the anonymous Bhavisattakaha—the author notes numerous words that bear striking resemblance to modern Bengali and Hindi vocabulary. The article provides a series of examples, analysing phonological and semantic correspondences and tracing possible etymologies. Puspadanta, a prolific 10th‑century writer from Manyakheta, composed his narratives during the reigns of Rashtrakuta kings Krishna III and Khottiga, while the Bhavisattakaha reflects a Western Indian linguistic milieu. By comparing Apabhramsa forms like “citta” (heart), “bhaya” (fear) and “lona” (salt) with their modern counterparts, the author argues that Apabhramsa served as a transitional stage between Middle Indo‑Aryan Prakrits and later vernaculars. The article also discusses the socio‑historical contexts of the texts’ composition, including patronage by ministers of Western Indian courts and interactions between Jain authors and local cultures. Ultimately, the study highlights how Apabhramsa literature preserves early attestations of NIA vocabulary and provides evidence for the evolution of Indo‑Aryan languages.