Kānhapā, Kanha or Kanhapada or Krishnacharya[1] ( c 10th century AD) was one of the main poets of Charyapada, the earliest known example of Assamese, Bengali, Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Odia literature.

In one of his poems, Kanhupa wrote: Your hut stands outside the city Oh, untouchable maid The bald Brahmin passes sneaking close by Oh, my maid, I would make you my companion Kanha is the kapali, a yogi He is naked and has no disgust There is a lotus with sixty-four petals

Upon that the maid will climb with this poor self and dance.The language of Kanhupa's poetry bears a very strong resemblance to modern Bangla and Odia.

tahin chaRhi nAchai Dombi bApuRiଏକ ସୋ ପଦମା ଚଉଷଟ୍ଠୀ ପାଖୁଡ଼ି । ତହିଁ ଚଡ଼ି ନାଚଇ ଡୋମ୍ବି ବାପୁଡ଼ି ॥এক সো পদমা চৌষট্‌ঠী পাখুড়ি । তহিঁ চড়ি নাচই ডোম্বি বাপুড়ি ॥[3] Padama (Padma:Lotus), Chausatthi (64), Pakhudi (petals) Tahin (there, in that), Charhi (climb/rise), nachai (dances), Dombi (a Bengali or Odia woman belonging to the scheduled caste, Domi/Domni), Bapuri (a Bangla and Odia word for 'poor fellow'; ‘বাপুর, বাপুড়া’[4]) Somewhat modern poetic Bangla would be, “একশো পদ্মে/পদমে চৌষট্টি পাকড়ি/পাখুড়ি। তাহে চড়িয়া/চড়ি নাচে ডোমি বাপুড়ি/বেচারি॥” or hA lo Dombi, to puchhami sadbhAbe.

Aisasi jAsi dombi kAhari nAbeM.ହା ଲୋ ଡୋମ୍ବି ତୋ ପୁଛମି ସଦଭାବେ। ଆଇସସି ଜାସି ଡୋମ୍ବି କାହରି ନାବେଁ॥হা লো ডোম্বি তো পুছমি সদভাবে। আইসসি যাসি ডোম্বি কাহরি নাবেঁ॥[5] The above verse hardly requires any translation to be understood in present-day Bengali or Odia.