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## English Translation:
**12**
**Padma Purana**
This manuscript is ancient, but it does not contain any information about the scribe or the date of writing. It seems that a page is missing from the end of this manuscript, otherwise, the date and scribe's information would have been available. Due to the age of the book, 44 new pages have been added at the beginning. These 44 pages have 13 lines per page and 40 to 45 characters per line. The original pages have 12 lines and 35 to 38 characters per line. Most of the script has been corrected. This manuscript also contains a Sanskrit commentary on the first 1-2 verses, similar to the 'Kha' manuscript. The code name of this manuscript is 'J'.
**[4] Introduction to the 'B' Manuscript**
This book belongs to Pandit Dhannalal Rishabhchandra Ramchandra of Bombay. This book has 265 pages, each measuring 13x6 inches. Each page has 19 lines and 55 to 60 characters per line. The date of writing and the scribe's name are not available. However, it seems that the scribe was knowledgeable in Sanskrit, as there are very few errors in the script. Almost all the text has been written correctly. There are also annotations on difficult passages in between. This manuscript has been of great help in editing this edition. Its code name is 'B'.
**[5] Introduction to the Commentary Manuscript**
This manuscript belongs to the Shri Di. Jain Saraswati Bhandar, Dharmpura, Delhi. It was obtained through the courtesy of Shri Pandit Parmanandji. This is a commentary manuscript. It has 58 pages, each measuring 10.5 inches. Very brief commentaries are given on the difficult passages of the Padmacharit. The script of this book was completed on Sunday, the 5th of Paush, Vikram Samvat 1894. It was written in Lashkar. The name of the scribe is not mentioned. Regarding its creation, it is written at the end:
"Laat Wagad Shri Pravachan Sen Panditan Padmacharitam Samakarnnya Balatkaragan Shreenandyaacharya SatvashiShyena Shrichandramunin Shrimadvikramditya Samvatsare Saptaashityadhikasahastra (Parimitam Shrimadharaayam Shrimato Rajye Bhojadevasya Padmacharite)."
This means that this commentary was composed by Shri Chandramuni, a disciple of Shri Nandi Acharya, in the year 1087 Vikram Samvat, in Dharanagari, during the reign of King Bhoj. Due to the scribe's carelessness, there are many errors in the script.
**[6] Introduction to the 'M' Manuscript**
This manuscript was published in three volumes in Vikram Samvat 1985 by Shri Sahityaratna Pandit Darbarilalji Nyayatirith (Swami 'Satyabhakta' Vardha) from the Shri Danveer Seth Manikchand Granthamala, Bombay. It is not known which manuscripts were used by the said Panditji for editing this manuscript, but there are many errors. Its code name is 'M'.
While taking and comparing the readings of these manuscripts, wherever doubts remained, Pandit K. Bhujabali Shastri had it compared with the palm leaf manuscript located in Moodbidri. In this way, this edition has been edited by comparing it with many handwritten manuscripts.
**Sanskrit Literature - Ocean**
Sanskrit literature is as vast as an endless ocean. Just as there are many gems within the ocean, similarly, there are Puranas, Kavya, Nyaya, Dharma, Vyakaran, Natak, etc. within the ocean of Sanskrit literature.