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Charyapada: First Written Literature of Kosali

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It is very difficult to say when exactly the writing tradition of Kosali started and literature was created. But it is a startling fact that when we read Kosali, we found so many words as it is which are used in Charyagiti/Charyapada. Charyapada literature was found by Bengali Pandit Haraprasad Shastri in 1917 in Nepal. Research is saying that Doha and Bodhjnan of Charyagiti have been written in between 7 to 8th century. In present western Odisha at many places like Nrusinghnath, and Ganiapali (Gaisilat Block, Bargarh District) Buddisht relics have been found.  The Buddhist “siddhas” used to write Charyapada with a metaphor called “saandhyabhaasaa”(twilight language). It used to be written for oral recitation. Charyapada describes the society of that time. Many characters like hunter, ferryman, potter, waiver; wood cutter etc has been mentioned in Charyapada. About prostitutes has been written but there is no mention of farmer. In charyapada literature name of poet or siddhas are written in first stanza and the piece used to be named according to the name of the poet like Kanhupada, Bhuskupada, Luipada, Sabarpada, Damapada etc are different charya literature. The language of Charyapada was local prakrit.  Let us examine a few stanzas from different poets:

ekuso padumo chousathi paakhudi

tahin chadhi naacho dombi baapudi

Kanhupa

 

Charyapada             Kosali               English

Ekuso                        Ekus                  twenty one

Padumo                     Padam               Lotus flower

Chousathi                  Chousathi          sixty four

paakhudi                   paakhudaa          petals

tahin                          tehin                   there

cadhi                         cadhi                   climbing

naacho                       nach                    dance

dombi                        dom                     lower caste female

baapudi                     bupri                    poor fellow

 

 

hali dombi tate puchhami sadbhaabe

esisi jasi dombi nabe

                                                           Kanhupa

 

Puchhami – Pachrami (will ask), Sadbhabe – sudbhabe (politely)

 

nagar baahaare dombi tohari kudiaa

choi choi jaha so brahmana naadiaa

                                                           Kanhupa

 

baahaare – baahaare (outside), so – se (he), jaha – jae (goes)

 

anghana gharapana suna bhi biaati

kaanet chore nila adharaati  

 Kukripaada

 

biaati – bihaari maaheji (maried lady)

heri se kanhi niaadai jinbhar battai

bhanai kanhu mohi ahi n paisai

Kanhupa

heri- dungi /dungbaar ( peeping)

 

unchaa unchaa paabata tahin basai sabari baali

Sarhapa

unchaa – unchaa (high)

 

chia dhaau khaata paadili sabaro mahasukha seji chaaili

sabaro bhujanga taairamani daari pekkhi raati pohaili

Sarhapa

 

khaata -khat (cort), chaaili – chianbaar (to cover), daari -besyaa (prostitute)

 

baama daahina chapi mili mili maanga

baata ta milila mahasukha sanga

Kambalamar

 

maanga – maagbar (begging/asking for), baat – baat (way)

 

 

naadi shakti didha dharia khatte

anahaa damaru baajai bira naade

 Kanhupa

 

didha – barkash (strong), anaha-dekh (look), damru -damru (small drum )

 

baama dahina jo khaala bikhaala

saraha bhanai bapaa uja baata bhaila

Sarhapa

 

jo-jen (which), khal -khal (pit), uja – unjhyaa (other), bhailaa- fablaa,

 

kula laukhar sonte ujaao

sarah unhei ganne samaao

Sarhapa

 

lai – lahankibaar (to cros), ujao – ajei heba (prop up), samaao – pasa (insert)

 

As per the discussion above, so many Kosali words have been found in Charyapada which are even used today.

 

Saket Sreebhushan Sahu

saket.sahu@gmail.com

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