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
