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Judging from the commentary ably composed by Śrī Devaguptasūri, it may be adduced that his commentary on the work itself would have been certainly approved of by scholars; for, even at the very outset he discusses grammatical questions and supports his statement by quoting a Sūtra from the Ashtādhyāyī of Pānini, the grammarian of world-wide reputation. It cannot be definitely said whether such a commentary not available at present was at all composed by him or unfortunately he did not survive to complete the work undertaken by him.
As already observed in the Sanskrit introduction there are two saints bearing the name of Devagupta. Both of them have commented upon Navapada-prakarana; but one of them is a grand-pupil or a great-grand pupil of the other, who seems to have composed the original work. Owing to the want of materials it is rather difficult to ascertain whether any one of them can be identified with the commentator of the Sambandha-Karikās or there is altogether a different saint resembling these two only in name.
Before concluding, I may mention that I reserve for the second part the topics pertaining to Sri Siddhasenagani, the profound scholar of Jainism.
And now in closing I once more crave for the leniency of the learned readers for any faults of omission or commission and express my desire that this noble and ennobling work of Sri Umāsvāti may be assigned its due place in the corresponding literature of the world.
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