Pravachanasara

SR No.: 003289
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A N Upadhye
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram
Publication Year: 1964
Total Pages: 612
Language: Hindi, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 16 MB

Page 81

48
Pravacanasāra
Jayasena has a definitel text before him, and he has adopted it, though the earlier commentator Amộtacandra, whom Jayasena follows in all the philosophical discussions, adopted a shorter recension. Bālacandra, the Kannada commentator, follows Jayasena. As to Prabhācandra, the copy of his commentary examined by me is defective, but it appears that his version of the text is nearer that of Jayasena than that of Amộtacandra. Thus Amrtacandra's recension is shorter and stands by itself.
CRITERIA OF TEXTUAL CRITICISM AND THE NATURE OF ADDITIONAL GATHĀS. It is very difficult to apply objective standards and settle whether particular gāthā might have been originally included in the text by the author himself or added later on: the compilatory character of Kundakunda's works nullifies the criterion whether a gāthā fits in a particular context or not; the available MSS. are accompanied by one or the other commentary, so [p. 51:] they are already under the bias of a particular commentary; and lastly whether a gāthā can be admitted in a particular context is sure to be a subjective criterion in works like Pravacanasāra. It will be a reliable evidence that would make a particular gāthā of dubious authenticity, if the same găthā appears in some other works in more fitting context; but that even is not conclusive, because so many traditional verses are likely to be independently inherited. Under these circumstances the safer way would be to indicate the contents and the general nature of these gāthās in the longer recension and see what position they occupy in the text. Book I 19 *1 It is something like a gloss on the previous gātha and does not disturb
the context very much. 52 *2 It is salutationary and comes at the end of a sub-section; it is not un
usual in Kundakunda's works to find a salutationary gāthă even in
the middle, see for instance I, 82. 68 *3-4 These two come at the end of a sub-section; Arhat and Siddha are
defined, and salutations to Siddha are offered. 79 *5-6 The topic is continued by defining Deva; the second gāthā is saluta
tionary. 82 *7 Continuation of the salutation in the previous gāthā. 92 *8-9 Concluding and partly benedictory gātbās. Book II
The opening mangala which is almost indispensable. 43 *2 When the author has said in the previous gāthā natthi padesa tti kālassa,
one feels the necessity of further explanation, and it is fulfilled by this
gāthā. 53 *3 This gāthă gives the further divisions of four life-essentials mentioned
in the previous gāthā; the absence of this gāthā would not disturb the text.
1 At times Jayasena gives alternative readings of the same găthās and interprets them twice,
see, for instance, II, 46-7.