The earliest known inscriptions in Sanskrit date to the first century BCE.[citation needed] They are in the Brahmi script, which was originally used for Prakrit, not Sanskrit. It has been described as a paradox that the first evidence of written Sanskrit occurs centuries later than that of the Prakrit languages which are its linguistic descendants. In northern India, there are Brāhmī inscriptions dating from the third century BCE onwards, the oldest appearing on the famous Prakrit pillar inscriptions of king Ashoka. The earliest South Indian inscriptions in Tamil Brahmi, written in early Tamil, belong to the same period. When Sanskrit was written down, it was first used for texts of an administrative, literary or scientific nature. The sacred texts were preserved orally, and were set down in writing "reluctantly" (according to one commentator), and at a comparatively late date. COUNT 5
QSN1 From when are the earliest dated Sanskrit inscriptions? ANS1 first century BCE QSN2 In what script are the earliest Sanskrit inscriptions? ANS2 Brahmi QSN3 In what language was Brahmi first used? ANS3 Prakrit QSN4 What language is the descendant of Sanskrit? ANS4 Prakrit QSN5 How were early sacred texts offered? ANS5 orally