Around 16th century writing system all over India was in Sanskrit. Sanskrit was the language of court, poetry and shastras and Prakrit languages of the locality was the lingua franca. But an exception occurred for Kosali literature. Tribal poet Juga Das was an exception. In an unknown time of 16th century Juga Das wrote “Nrusingha Carita” which was in prakrit of the region. And that prakrit was Kosali prakrit. He cites in Nrusingha Carita describing about the language:
paraakruta bhaasare mu karai lekhana
bho saadhu sugyan jane dosa mo na ghena (page 136)
parakruta bhaasaa re mu karai parakaasha (page 141)
The forefather of Juga Das were the tribal priest of Narsinghnath temple. The writing time of this epic has been found in between 1550 to 1650. The Kosali of 16th century was different from today’s Kosali. But so many words have been found in Nrusingha Carita which is still in use today. For example, Nuni, Mardi, dhuni, gaha gaha, khedi, nisat , chinu chinu, madiaa, hansa hunsi, khujamaari, haade, khal khal, alaar dhua, luti churi, etc. In this poetry some words like dhaamanta, juna, somendra, rahasi, nibhaakale, thokaye, ranchana, jethe, bharjana, mayesa, paaruse, anchebana, simashthane etc have been used which are also found in Sarala Das Mahabharat, so it proves that Juga Das and Sarala Das were contemporary. Here are a few lines from Nrusingha Carita where today’s Kosali words are found:
tate kole dhari bharijaa tor kandu (pg 23)
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bhumire paari bibasra kalaa aabharana (pg 23)
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chaadare paapistha mudha muhn tor pudu (pg 24)
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belabudi andhara hoila nisi puni (24)
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dekhili tahankar bhabisa je rupa ( 29)
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Aade trisi dirgha tara sarira badhilaa (32)
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Suni debataye je durgaku kale tusti ( 33)
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jibajantu dekhi maye jaanti aada hoi (36)
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dia ki na dia tate kahilire baai (37)
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daibara joga muje tate bhetilai ( 37)
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dekhina asura je hela achabuhaa (41)
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durgadvi boilere nuni mane jaao ( 41)
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kehi devi dhaina je galaare ulumile (42)
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kehu tate kala je ye bhabisa rupa ( 49)
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devi maanku bahana chalalo baile ( 49)
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dhika tor jibana re muhn tor pudu ( 53)
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gomaataa bandeni ki ishwara nele khedi
kataar gheni munda pakaile chedi (63)
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kshetrinkara putra hoi nisat ki hoi
maariba asuranku je bege chala bhai (64)
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paasara rajya rajyaa palaile chaadi (67)
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baahubale peli pakailaa nishachara (68)
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suni kari giribara helaa achabuhaa (71)
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apaalana guru jebe labhai ramana(78)
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dhara chinu chinu je sakala paapa gala(87)
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sityahing bolanti jaithili hatagoada dhoi (92)
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mina sange mina hoi paunruchi tale (93)
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duinki duijana hoile hansaahansi (94)
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nrunsigha debataku je bilaai manilu (96)
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benigoti rama dekhi hele achaabuhaa (96)
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daahuka panasa se je naanaa brukshya gota (98)
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sitayaa sundari je hulaahuli dele (98)
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godaavari kulare rahile jaaikari (99)
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somendra bhaaiki rajyu baahara karidele (99)
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bhimaraaba dei gangaa bahile khala khala (101)
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kandaa kandamula bhine sijhaai khaaibi (101)
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haaimaari bikodara uthina basilaa (103)
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taambire naapile heba nausasra pudaa (106)
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puni patharaku kala mahula bhaja chatu (106)
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sira luaina bhima bhitare pasai (108)
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haabudaa haabudi hoile beni jana (108)
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ulutaai asuraku basilaa bege maadi (109)
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bhima daabara maati gheni judhyaku se jiba (110)
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ariture aamba jebe baulina hela gaja (114)
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bhimara rupilaa brukshya helaa parbatara (114)
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dekhikari aasrij hoile brahmachari (117)
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khala khala hoi dudha hoila baahari (120)
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madiaa pare nei devataa ulaaile (123)
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phalahaara bihana tu rupibu bahana (124)
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rajara mukha chahina se ulugi hoilaa (125)
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deulaku padistaa je karina raajana (126)
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ghurun ghurun madiaa gunda helaa barakhandi (128)
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kichu kichu dhanaratna dele raanimaane (137)
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ranimaane basile udhunaa mana dei (138)
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baatare khunta pitina lutijuri nyanti (139)
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khuta kaati taasa kari kandara maatikale (139)
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ke bolai tohara maaku nie muhi (140)
Saket Sreebhushan Sahu
saket.sahu@gmail.com
