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## Editorial
[Second Edition]
The first part of the 'Padma Purana' was published eighteen years ago in 1958. At that time, its editorial was written by Dr. Hiralal Jain and Dr. A.N. Upadhye. Both of them have now passed away. Therefore, I have had to bear their burden.
The thought-provoking points they raised in their editorial regarding the Sanskrit 'Padma Purana' and the Prakrit 'Paumachariy' are still relevant today. At that time, we had aligned the first two Parvas of the 'Padma Purana' with the Prakrit 'Paumachariy', marking the verse numbers of the 'Paumachariy' in our copy of the 'Padma Purana'. That is still before us. The verses from number 32 to 89 of the first Parva of the 'Paumachariy' are present in the first Parva of the 'Padma Purana' from verse numbers 43 to 101. There is only a difference of two. The transformation of verses 44 and 47 of the 'Padma Purana' is not present in the 'Paumachariy'. Such uniformity cannot happen without following. Some minor changes are also seen. In the 'Paumachariy', verse number 51 has the word 'Munivarena'. In the 'Padma Purana', in its place, it is "Digambarena".
In the second Parva, during the description of Lord Mahavira's birth ceremony, it is mentioned that at the time of the ceremony on Mount Meru, the child shook Meru with his big toe. Such a description is not found elsewhere in the Digambar tradition's literature. In the Svetambar literature, twenty reasons for the bondage of the Tirthankara nature are considered. Accordingly, twenty numbers are also specified in the 'Paumachariy', but in the 'Padma Purana', sixteen reasons are mentioned according to the Digambar belief. A comparative study of both reveals other such points that are thought-provoking.
The influence of Samantabhadra's works is also sometimes visible. For example, when reading verse 92 in the 14th Parva, the verse of Samantabhadra's 'Swayambhustotra', 'Doshaya Nallam Kanika Vishaya', etc., comes to mind, and the 60th verse of this same Parva reminds one of 'Ratnakaranda Shravakachar's 'Kshitigatamiva Vatabijam'. In this fourteenth Parva, the Muni Raj gives Dharma Upadesh to Ravana when he asks, and in it, so much emphasis is given on the abandonment of alcohol, meat, honey, and night meals that such emphasis is not seen elsewhere. Perhaps the reason for this is that elsewhere, demons are called nocturnal. However,
The story of Rama is found everywhere in an interesting form. The moral teachings that the storyteller has given to the people in this interesting form are invaluable for humanity.
Today, there is a discussion among scholars about whether the Ramayana is a true event? And there are various speculations on this. Scholars are entangled in discussions, but ordinary men and women, all inspired by the pure life of Rama and Sita, make their lives meaningful. Rama, a son and husband like him, and Sita, a devoted wife like her, are symbols of India's bright ideals. As long as the spotless ideal of Rama and Sita lives in India, Ravanas, the slayers of women, cannot be respected in this country.
The President of the Bharatiya Gyanapith, Smt. Ramarani, was a daughter of that same Sati Sita - a shining symbol of Indian womanhood. The effect of the cycle of time, that she too, like Sita, became a resident of heaven and left her husband, Sah Shanti Prasadji, like Rama, alone. We remember her with great respect. Her dedication to the upliftment of Indian literature is unforgettable. Now, Sahuji has taken on her burden, so there is hope and faith that the publication work of the Mootidevi Granthamala will continue to flourish. The Minister of the Gyanapith, Ba. Lakshmichandraji, is constantly striving for it as before.
- Kailashchandra Shastri