________________
PREFACE
the early 1962. Finally my critical edition of PS was accepted by the Utkal University for the degree of Ph. D. in February, 1966. I, therefore, owe a deep debt of gratitude to Dr. TRIPATHI, who as my research guide, supervised this work and made valued suggestions from time to time.
15
My grateful thanks are due to Dr. P. PARIJA, the then ViceChancellor, Utkal University, through whose benign effort I secured in course of my research two Mss. of PS, one of them being the microfilm copy from the India Office Library, London and the other a transcript from the Government Oriental Mss. Library, Madras.
I owe a great debt of gratitude to Professor Dr. P. L. VAIDYA M,A. D. Litt, President, Prakrit Text Society and General Editor, Mahabharata, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona and to Professor Dr. A. N. UPADHYE, M.A. D. Litt, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, both of whom have shown keen interest in the publication of my work, It is due to them alone that this work comes to light at such an early date. During the course of its printing Dr. Upadhye has spared no pains to go through my press copy and offer through letters in quick response to my queries many useful suggestions which have been incorporated herein. I am also thankful to him for his kindly writing a foreword to my work. I can never forget the strenuous labour with which Dr. Vaidya in spite of his advancing age has suprervised the printing and even corrected the proofs etc.
My special thanks are due to the authorities of the Prakrit Text Society including its Secretary, Pandit DALASUKHABHAI MALAVANIA, who so kindly undertook the publication of my thesis. In this connection, I also owe my thanks to the Press staff of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona, who have so competently dealt with such a complicated work as mine by taking all care for correct printing.
Jain Education International
I thank the authorities of the Utkal University for having permitted me to publish my thesis. My grateful thanks are due to Dr. Sadasiva MISRA, M. A. Ph. D. (London), the Vice-Chance
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org