in noncanonical works. The oldest poetic work in this language is Vimala Sūri’sPaumacariya(c.3rd century), a JainRāmāyaṇa. Of other Prākrit dialects mentioned by grammarians and poeticists, Paiśācī (orBhūtabhāṣā, both meaning ‘language of demons’) is noteworthy; it is sa...