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( xxii)
had no other option but to give this descriptive Agama the first place in the 12 Upangas, though it was compiled much later as it mentions seven distortions (ninhavas), their time, matter of the Agamas and their chronology being edited to a great extent. Too Many Subjects!
In this Agama, we get, how a jiva is reborn in next life according to transformation, judgement, reflection and austerities, with many illustrations in a very lucid manner. One special characteristic of this Agama is this that it has given descriptions of a city, trees, garden, stone-slab, king, queen, men and gods, merits of Lord Mahavira, description of his body, his 34 supernatural powers (atisayas), merits of the monks, their austerities, description of 354 kinds of austerities, kevali-transformation, of siddhas, their bliss, etc.
In short we may say if one has to write a book of verse he may use its similies, ornate and compound words. If one is desirous to write a book entitled 'India at the time of Mahavira', he may get enough material from this book as it describes almost everything concerning the life of a common man. How many subjects it has touched may be known by a mere glance at its contents.
Hindi translation of the present Agama has been done by Sri Ramesh Muni Shastri and English translation by late Prof. K. C. Lalwani, who was an able and competant translator. Both the Hindi and English translations are clear, lucid and absorbing. These are verbatim translation as are liked by the modern readers. They do not like elaboration and want to dive deep into the matter by themselves.
Śrāvaṇi Pūrņimā
V. S2045 2
New Delhi
-Muni Nagraj
