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 33

INTRODUCTION
I. Scope of the Present Edition.
I. I. It is here attempted to collect in a single critical edition all stanzas ascribed to Bhartṛhari, the poet generally credited with having written three Centuries of Sanskrit epigrams: the nitisataka [N], sṛngārasataka [S] and vairagyaśataka [V]. A study of the satakatraya MSS shows division into two major recensions, the northern N and the southern S, which may be subdivided into two archetypes each, and still further into versions; this convenient division should not be taken to imply absence of mutual influence. Moreover, even the accessible N-S-V MSS contain a total of over twice the 300 traditional stanzas while the common portion of all supposed satakatraya MSS falls well below the 300. Therefore, the stanzas have been divided here into broad groups, arranged in their likeliest order of authenticity. Group I contains the 200 slokas generally found in all sources, and is further subdivided into into four portions: the first seven being unplaced, i. e. not definitely belonging to some fixed sataka; the other three sections are in order what survives of the N, S, and V. The actual position of any stanza in any major version will be found in the synoptic chart 1. 5; my group I N-S-V follow the order of version A as far as possible, groups II and III being in alphabetical order.
An asterisk* on the number (below the line) e. g. 38*, 75*, etc. of group I means that it is omitted in some of the codices, hence might have been assigned to the second group. Group II contains stanzas whose authenticity there is reason to doubt; but again those with starred numbers (below the line) . g. 229* might perhaps be placed in group I. Group III gives all the stray verses found in single versions, isolated MSS, or ascribed to Bhartṛhari by our anthologists. Group IV is made up of two palpable forgeries, the Vitavṛtta and Vijnanasataka. Later sections explain the method of arrangement into groups, as well as for determination of the the text of each stanza.
A wavy line below any part of the stanza in groups I-II indicates that some other readings might have been accepted as original, while starred readings are those which occur in no source at all, but have been selected in order to explain the readings actually found. Below the line is given relevant supplementary information about the stanza. First comes extra data as to location, omission, or duplication in the sources examined; then, any changes of order. MSS cited in the apparatus are all of Bhartṛhari satakas. The variants for each of the four quarters a, b, c, d, of the stanza are then given separately, it being assumed that, whenever nothing is reported, all sources in section 1. 4 that contain the sloka