Grammar and Language Structure of Maharashtri Prakrit
What is tested
Grammar questions ask you to recognize Maharashtri sound changes from Sanskrit, parse nominal and verbal endings, and explain sandhi and word formation. The examiner expects the descriptive categories used in Prakrit grammars such as Vararuchi's Prakrita-prakasha and Hemachandra's Siddha-hema-shabdanushasana.
Core rules
- Vowel changes: Sanskrit ṛ normally becomes a, ri or u; final -aḥ becomes -o; final -am often remains -aṃ.
- Consonant clusters are assimilated, usually with gemination: putraḥ > putto, sarvaḥ > savvo, ātmā > appā.
- Intervocalic single stops are often voiced or elided; aspiration may be lost.
- Nominative singular masculine ends in -o; genitive singular in -ssa; instrumental plural in -hi.
- Present 3rd singular often ends in -ai/-ei (bhavati > hoi, karoti > karei); past participles in -ia.
- Absolute clauses use -ia or -ūṇa; infinitives in -iuṃ.
Worked example
Sanskrit “sa putraṃ passati” becomes Maharashtri “so puttaṃ passai”. Reasoning: sa > so (final -aḥ > -o); putram > puttaṃ (cluster tr > tt, final -am > -aṃ); passati > passai (3sg ending -ai). Each change is named, not merely translated.
Traps
Do not apply Sanskrit sandhi to Prakrit. Do not assume every Sanskrit cluster disappears; gemination is the normal outcome. Do not mix Shauraseni or Magadhi endings into a Maharashtri paradigm.