A historical classification of Apabhramsa texts based on meters and narrative styles

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The Apabhramsa language is known to have numerous variations in the linguistic characteristics. This research attempted to classify these characteristics into three historical stages.The research obtained the two important results mentioned below. First, a comparison method of meter proved to be applicable to Apabhramsa literature. We selected the meters of some Apabhramsa verses of which the dates are already known. Comparing the meters with the descriptions of prosodists at that time, it is confirmed that the early Apabhramsa verses can be classified according to some meters.The second result shows a close relation of the Rasa literature with the Jain hagiographical literature written in Apabhramsa. The Rasa generally consists of fictitious stories focused on real kings and so on. The texts are written in New Indic languages and contemporary with late Apabhramsa texts. The early texts of the Rasa and the Jain hagiographies resemble in a structure of story.