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[1] Editing - Introduction
Preface
The editing of the Harivansh Purana was done based on the following six manuscripts:
'K' Manuscript - This manuscript was obtained from Shri Di. Jain Saraswati Bhandar Dharmpura, Delhi, courtesy of Pandit Parmanandji Shastri. Its folio number is 282, with 13-14 lines per folio and 42 to 45 characters per line. The manuscript is ancient, and due to its dilapidated condition, several folios have been separated and new ones written. The last folio has also been replaced due to its dilapidated condition, so the script's date could not be determined. The ink is red-black, the characters are legible, and there are occasional annotations. The text is mostly accurate. The folio size is 11 x 5 inches. Its code name is 'K'.
'Kh' Manuscript - This manuscript was also obtained from Panchayati Mandir Delhi, courtesy of Pandit Parmanandji Shastri. It was written in Samvat 1871. Its condition is good, but the paper is starting to deteriorate. The ink is red-black, and the folio number is 330. There are 12-13 lines per folio and 35-38 characters per line. The folio size is 123 x 6 inches. Its code name is 'Kh'.
'G' Manuscript - This manuscript was obtained courtesy of Shri Pandit Chainsukhdasji Nyayatirith and Dr. Kasturchandraji Kasliwal, Jaipur. It contains 313 folios of 1245 size. There are 12 lines per folio and 45-50 characters per line. It is ancient, but in several places, it has become dilapidated, and new folios have been written and included. There are occasional annotations, the text is accurate, and the condition is good. The writing is from Samvat 1830. Its code name is 'G'.
'Gh' Manuscript - This manuscript was available from the Bhandarkar Research Institute, Pune. It contains 376 folios of 12 x 5 inches, with 12 lines per folio and 36-40 characters per line. It is written in black-red ink, the script is legible, and the condition is good. The writing date is unknown, but the condition of the paper suggests it is quite ancient. Its code name is 'Gh'.
'Ng' Manuscript - This manuscript was obtained from Jaipur, courtesy of Pandit Chainsukhdasji Nyayatirith and Dr. Kasturchandraji Kasliwal. It contains 420 folios of 125 inches size. There are 11-12 lines per folio and 40-42 characters per line. The characters are legible, the paper is thin, and the writing date is 1640 Vikram Samvat. The condition is good, and due to ink defects, some folios have stuck together. There are some annotations in between, and the text is accurate. At the end, there is a note:
'Samvat 1640 varshe Chaitre mase Shukla pakshe Shashthyaam tithi Budhavasare Rohini namak nakshatre Shri Mulasanghe'. Its code name is 'Ng'.
'M' Manuscript - This manuscript was published in two parts by Pandit Darbarilalji Nyayatirith (current name - Satyabhakta) from Manikchandra Granthamala, Bombay. It contains only the original text. Wherever there are inaccuracies that are noticeable, they have been corrected. Its code name is 'M'.
From the text of the above six original manuscripts,
wherever the correct text could not be determined, Shri Ailak
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