* Limited Historical Records: The historical information about Bodhidharma is sparse and often shrouded in legend. We don't have reliable accounts of his personal life or direct quotes.
* Origin and Time Period: Bodhidharma is believed to have lived in the 5th or 6th century CE. He is often associated with Southern India (specifically, the Pallava kingdom) and later with China.
* Regional Languages: During this period, various languages would have been spoken in India and China. In India, it could have been Sanskrit, Prakrit, Tamil, or other languages. In China, it could have been various regional dialects or early forms of Mandarin.
It's likely that Bodhidharma was fluent in at least two languages:
* A South Indian language where he originated.
* A language understood in China, which would have enabled him to spread his teachings.
Therefore, we can't definitively say what specific language Bodhidharma spoke, but it's safe to assume he was multilingual.