Question

Assertion (A): Lord Mahavira delivered his sermons in the Ardhamagadhi Prakrit language.
Reason (R): This language was the common tongue (Loka-bhasha) of the people, making the teachings accessible to all.

• (A) and (R) are both true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• (A) and (R) are both true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
• (A) is true but (R) is false.
• (A) is false but (R) is true.

Hint:

Ardhamagadhi is the language of the Shvetambara Agamas, while the Digambara tradition acknowledges that Tirthankaras speak in a "divine sound" (Divya-dhvani) which everyone understands in their own tongue.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Tirthankaras do not preach for fame but for the welfare of all beings. To ensure that everyone—from scholars to common laborers—could understand the path to liberation, they chose the languages spoken by the masses rather than elite scholarly languages like Sanskrit.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Assertion (A) analysis: Lord Mahavira’s sermons are recorded in the Agamas in the Ardhamagadhi dialect of Prakrit. This dialect is often called the "language of the gods" in Jain texts because of its divine origin from the Samavasarana. Thus, (A) is true.
2. Reason (R) analysis: During the 6th century BC, Prakrit was the language of the common people in the Magadha region. By preaching in this language, Lord Mahavira ensured that his message of Non-violence (Ahimsa) and non-possession could reach everyone regardless of caste or education level. This deliberate choice for accessibility is the reason for the language selection. Thus, (R) is true and explains (A).

Step 3: Final Answer:
Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the logical explanation for (A).