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UPSC CSE Pre. 1996

Linguistic History of India

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The term 'Apabhramsa' was used in medieval Sanskrit texts to denote:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept Indian languages evolved from Sanskrit to Prakrit, then to Apabhramsa, before maturing into modern vernaculars.

Explanation Apabhramsa (literally 'corrupt' or 'deviated') refers to the late stages of Middle Indo-Aryan dialects used between the 6th and 12th centuries CE.

Logical Breakup
Option C is Correct: It represents the linguistic bridge that gave birth to Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, and Marathi.
Logic: Sanskrit grammarians used the term to distinguish the formal language of the elite from the evolving dialects of the common people.

Active Recall

Question

Which religious communities contributed most to Apabhramsa literature?

Answer

Jain monks and Buddhist Siddhas used Apabhramsa to reach the masses through their devotional and philosophical poetry.

Core Insight

Apabhramsa serves as the 'missing link' that proves the organic, non-linear evolution of Indian vernaculars from classical roots.

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