Pāli & Sanskrit

Difference Between Sanskrit And Pāli Sanskrit vs. Pāli Sanskrit is a classical language which flourished in India thousands of years ago but has lost its glory in modern times. Pāli is also an ancient Language that has been widely used in the Buddhist scriptures. The Sanskrit Language is much older than Pāli. Sanskrit had been a Language that was in vogue from the Vedic period. Sanskrit had a great influence on religion and literature. Sanskrit was part of the cultural tradition. Sanskrit, which is considered an Indo-Aryan language, was the liturgical Language of Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Pāli is considered a Prakrit Language or a middle Indo-Aryan Language. Though the Pāli and Sanskrit Language are known to be closely related, Pāli is not considered to be a descendant of the Sanskrit language. The Pāli Language is considered to be a composite Language having several dialects and most likely is based on the language that Buddha taught in which is generally considered to be a Māgadhī dialect. However, the scholars are divided on the origin of the Language. When comparing the two Languages, Pāli is considered to be simple. Both the Sanskrit and Pāli Languages have basically the same vocabulary. The grammar is also considered to be similar, but Pāli has a simplified grammar. In the case of vowels and diphthongs, the Sanskrit "ava" and "aya" is reduced in Pali to "o" and "e." For example Sanskrit "dhārayati" is written as "dhāreti" in Pāli and Sanskrit "avatāra" is written as "otāra." The Sanskrit "avi" is reduced to "e" in the Pāli Language. For example, "sthavira" in Sanskrit is written as "thera" in the Pali language. Summary : 1). The Sanskrit Language is much older than Pāli. 2). Sanskrit is a classical Language which flourished in India thousands of years ago but has lost its glory in modern times. 3). Pāli is also an ancient Language that has been widely used in the Buddhist scriptures. 4). When comparing the two Languages, Pāli is considered to be simple. 5). Sanskrit, which is considered an Indo-Aryan Language, was the liturgical Language of Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. 6). Pāli is considered a Prakrit Language or a Middle Indo-Aryan Language. 7). Both the Sanskrit and Pāli languages have basically the same vocabulary. The grammar is also considered to be similar, but Pāli has a simplified grammar. 8). Sanskrit had been a Language that was in vogue from the Vedic period. It had a great influence on religion and literature and also was part of the cultural tradition. This is totally wrong, if you have common sense Pāli must be the oldest language. Reason is, it is very clear all written Languages come after a dialectical Language. The reason you can't find the age of Pāli Language is just because it was not written in any old books. If you compare the two Languages, you can clearly see all Pāli words are in Sanskrit Language. Sanskrit was developed from Pāli for the rich people to enjoy the literature. It's very clearly in Buddha's teaching when some monks ask to write down Buddha's teaching in Sanskrit he told them not to do, because it will destroy the content, simply because Sanskrit is an extracted Language and doesn't have the basic qualities of a proper understandable Language. The words in Pāli have a very special quality that is the sound it self explain the quality of what it refer. This is exactly same as the normal English and the English of people like William Shakespeare, they just shapes the Language by destroying the simple but valuable qualities. ~ Ricky ~