Difference Between Sanskrit and Pali
Sanskrit vs. Pali
Sanskrit is a classical language which flourished in India thousands of years ago but has lost its glory in modern times. Pali is also an ancient language that has been widely used in the Buddhist scriptures. The Sanskrit language is much older than Pali.
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.
Pali is considered a Prakrit language or a middle Indo-Aryan language. Though the Pali and Sanskrit language are known to be closely related, Pali is not considered to be a descendant of the Sanskrit language.
The Pali 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 Magadhi dialect. However, the scholars are divided on the origin of the language.
When comparing the two languages, Pali is considered to be simple. Both the Sanskrit and Pali languages have basically the same vocabulary. The grammar is also considered to be similar, but Pali 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 Pali and Sanskrit “avatāra” is written as “otāra.”
The Sanskrit “avi” is reduced to “e” in the Pali language. For example, “sthavira” in Sanskrit is written as “thera” in the Pali language.
Summary:
1. The Sanskrit language is much older than Pali.
2. Sanskrit is a classical language which flourished in India thousands of years ago but has lost its glory in modern times.
3. Pali is also an ancient language that has been widely used in the Buddhist scriptures.
4. When comparing the two languages, Pali is considered to be simple.
5. Sanskrit, which is considered an Indo-Aryan language, was the liturgical language of Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
6. Pali is considered a Prakrit language or a Middle Indo-Aryan language.
7. Both the Sanskrit and Pali languages have basically the same vocabulary. The grammar is also considered to be similar, but Pali 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.
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This is totally wrong, if you have common sense Pali 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 ‘Pali’ language is just because it was not written in any old books. If you compare the two languages, you can clearly see all ‘Pali’ words are in ‘Sanskrit’ language. ‘Sanskrit’ was developed from ‘Pali’ 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 Pali 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.
Very very true.Sanskrit brahmins language.
Very very true.Sanskrit is brahmins language.