[INDOLOGY] Buddhavacanam

[alakendu das]

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Dr.Sandahl,

           I had been curiously following   the scholastic  deliberations on Buddhabachanam. 

Since long, I had an inner  feeling that there  is actually  a  reference where Siddhartha 

Gautama Buddha  insisted on using his own language  while propagating his teachings.  Finally 

I stumbled upon a reference from Chullavagga( a constituent part of Vinaya Pitaka),in course 

of studying a chapter on Pali in a certain book on the History of Sanskrit  Literature. I am 

not conversant in Pali, but the qoute in ChullaVagga  has Buddha instructing- ANUJANAMI 

VIKHABE SAKAYANIRUTIYA  BUDDHABACHANAM PARIYAPUNITUM'(Ref-Chullavagga 5.33.1) which roughly 

translates as - While teaching the views of Buddha , one should use  Buddha's own dialect( 

sakaya Nirutya implies own dialect).About Buddha's own dialect, it is well known that  hailing 

from Magadha ,BUDDHA spoke Magadhi . There is a further reference ( source unknown)which says- 

SO CHA BHAGABA MAGADHO, SA CHA MAGADHE BHABATTYE, SA CHA BHASHA MAGADHI. Inspite  my poor 

knowledge in Pali,I can understand the above qoute as- Buddha  was a resident of Magadha and 

his own dialect was Magadhi.



                                          ALAKENDU DAS.





                                                               


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