In later Buddhist tradition, which language was primarily adopted for preaching and composing texts in the Mahayana school?

Introduction / Context:
Over time, Buddhism developed several schools, including the earlier Theravada tradition and the later Mahayana tradition. These schools used different languages and scripts for their scriptures and preaching, reflecting changes in audience, geography and philosophical style. Exam questions often contrast the Pali based early canon with the later Sanskrit based literature of Mahayana. This question aims to test whether you can correctly identify the language most closely associated with Mahayana Buddhism.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The focus is specifically on Mahayana Buddhism, not early Buddhism in general. - Four language related options are given: Pali, Brahmi, Sanskrit and Prakrit. - We assume standard textbook distinctions between Theravada and Mahayana sources. - The question refers to the language used for preaching and composing texts.

Concept / Approach:
Early Buddhism, especially in the Theravada tradition, preserved its scriptures primarily in Pali, which is a Prakrit language. Mahayana Buddhism, which developed later and spread over a wide region, particularly relied on Sanskrit for its philosophical and devotional texts. Brahmi, on the other hand, is a script, not a language, and is therefore not an appropriate answer when the question asks specifically about “language.” General Prakrits were used in various inscriptions and local contexts but the hallmark of Mahayana textual tradition is Sanskrit, appearing in sutras such as the Lotus Sutra and the Prajnaparamita literature.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Pali Canon (Tipitaka) is associated with the Theravada tradition, not specifically with Mahayana. Step 2: Recognise that Mahayana sutras and philosophical treatises are overwhelmingly composed in Sanskrit and are often referred to as “Buddhist Sanskrit” texts. Step 3: Understand that Brahmi is an ancient Indian script used to write several languages, including Prakrit and early Sanskrit, but it is not itself a language. Step 4: Note that while Prakrits were widely used in inscriptions and early Buddhist preaching, the question is targeting the later Mahayana school, for which Sanskrit was the main literary medium. Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is Sanskrit.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks describing the evolution of Buddhist literature typically state that the earliest canonical texts of Theravada are in Pali, whereas Mahayana produced a large body of Sanskrit literature. When you read about famous Mahayana texts like the Saddharma Pundarika Sutra (Lotus Sutra) or various Prajnaparamita Sutras, you will notice that they were originally composed in Sanskrit. Scholarly terms such as “Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit” also appear, confirming that Sanskrit is the key language for Mahayana scriptures.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Pali is wrong because, although central to early Buddhism and Theravada, it is not the distinctive language of Mahayana literature.

Brahmi is wrong because it is a script, not a language; the question clearly asks for a language used for preaching and composing texts.

Prakrit is wrong because it refers broadly to Middle Indo Aryan dialects; while these were used in early Buddhist inscriptions and preaching, Mahayana scriptures are particularly associated with Sanskrit.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students immediately associate Buddhism with Pali without differentiating between early Theravada and later Mahayana traditions. Others see Brahmi and mistakenly treat it as a language, forgetting that it is a writing system. To avoid these mistakes, memorise a simple rule: “Theravada – Pali Canon; Mahayana – Sanskrit Sutras; Brahmi – script only.” This three part distinction helps you answer a wide range of Buddhist language and script questions correctly.

Final Answer:
Mahayana Buddhism primarily adopted Sanskrit as the language for preaching and composing its scriptures.