Shataka Trayadi Subhashit Sangraha

SR No.: 002915
Original Sutra Author: Bhartuhari
Author: Dharmanand Kosambi
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1948
Total Pages: 346
Language: Hindi, English
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 22 MB

Page 16

FOREWORD
of which. Harvard University had invited him four times; and that he would be highly gratified if I could arrange for the publication of a Devanāgari edition. Agreeing immediately to his wish, I made provision for its publication as the first volume of the Bharatiya Vidya Series.*
In recent years, when his body became progressively feebler and he was convinced that not much now remained of the span of his life, he began to meditate seriously upon methods by which life could be made to part quietly from the body. He discussed several times with me the traditional Jain practices of samlekhanā and anasang, As a result of such thoughts he began in September 1946 to fast to death in a solitary āśrama at Dolarīghāt, in U. P. But when an urgent message was sent to him by Mahätmäji that it was not proper to fast to death in this manner, he gave it up and decided, in accordance with Mahātmāji's suggestion, to go to the äśrama at Sevágrăm and to terminate his life there.
In his last letter to me from Doharīghāt, he said "I have written a Marāthī book called Pārs'vanāthäcă Caturyāma-dharma of which some friends want to print the Hindi translation; but since there is no determining the possibility of printing the original in Marathi, I am sending the original manuscript to you by registered post to be kept in your Institute. Perhaps some one may be found to publish it." In the same letter he also wrote "I have finished writing, just a few days ago, a drama called Bodhisattva; it has been agreed by the Kāsi Vidvāpīth to print its Hindi translation. If it be not printed there, then again the manuscript will be sent to you.........."
After recovering a little at Doharīghāt he came to Bombay with a view of going to Wardha. At that time I had my last meeting with him. He said, it is Mahātmāji's express desire that I live the rest of my life in Mahātmāji's āśrama, and not wander about; therefore, I shall now go there to live out the rest of my allotted time.” At the same time he inquired about the printing of Bābā's present Bhartrhari collection and asked when it would be published. From Bombay he went to Sevagram-Wardha and there on June 4, 1947, he peacefully cast off this earthly body to reach freedom from the cycle of existence in the manner of a great Bodhisattva.
Although Dharmānandji had never undergone formal training at any University, nor studied the routine of research work in a scientific
* Many years earlier, Kosambīji had translated the essence of many
Jātaka tules into Marathi, but was unable to arrange for publication, When my attention was drawn to this, I published the first part as the initial number of my Jaina-śikṣaṇa-grantha-mălă The second part lies with me still unpublished.