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INTRODUCTION
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self-sacrifice of Lord Mahāvîra.
The famous verse of Kalidasa, which says that all that is ancient is not necessarily good and all that is modern is not necessarily bad occurs in Malavikagnimitra. Now the idea in this verse has been accepted and expanded by Siddhasena in his 6th Dwātrimsikā. Even a cursory reader of this Dwatrimsika will come to know the striking similarity of ideas. The favourite metres of Siddhasena have a striking resemblance with the favourite metres of Aswaghoșa and there is moreover a close similarity between. the favourite metres of Siddhasena and the favourite metres of Kalidasa. In Dwatrimśikās, there is no trace of any pompous style, no display of idle words. But almost all the verses are prégnant with deep meaning, It must be admitted that there is a short of terseness in the verses of the Dwatrimśikās, but that is because of the philosophi cal subject he handles. But if we look to the lofty flights of ideas, beauty of expression and the charm of elegant similes, the works of Siddhsena have undoubtedly a close similarity with the works of Aswaghosa and
Kalidasa.
(c) Dinnaga and Sankara-Swāmi.
Dinnaga: The name of Dinnaga, the famous exponent of Vijñāna-Vada, is well known as one of the greatest of Bauddha lógicians. Out of his many renowned works not a single one is available at present in its original
1 " पुराणमित्येव न साधु सर्व न चापि काव्यं नवमित्यवद्यम् । सन्तः परीचयान्यतरद्भजन्ते मूढः परप्रत्ययनेयबुद्धिः || ”
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