________________ PREFACE The Prakrit Text Society has great pleasure in offering to the world of Prakrit scholars the hitherto unpublished curni-type commentary on BphatKalpasutra which is an important chedasutra work dealing with rules and regulations governing the conduct of Jaina monks and nuns, restrictions pertaining to their food, apparatuses, halting places etc., atonements prescribed for their transgressions, austerities, exceptions to the general rules, and the like. Curni is a type of commentary written in Prakrit prose. The present curni seems to follow the Laghubhasya on Bshat-Kalpasutra. In it at places we find philosophical discussions also. It is rich in cultural data. Its main subiect is Jain monasticism. It mentions the works like Tattvarthadhigamasutra, Visesavasyakabhasya, Karmapraksti, Mahakalpa and Govindaniryukti. It does not give even the name of its author anywhere, neither in the beginning nor at the end. The Difficult text of the present curni is edited by Rev. Acarya Vijaya Shilachandrasuri in collaboration with Pt. Rupendrakumar Pagariya. They have accomplished a commendable and challenging task. They have spared no pains to make the text as flawless as possible. The Prakrit Text Society is grateful to them for editing this invaluable text. This work of theirs is indeed their notworthy contribution to the Prakrit learning and research. It is hoped that the publication of this important work will be of great value and interest to the students and scholars of Prakrit and Jainism. Prakrit Text Society Shree Vijay-Nemisurishvarji Jain Swadhyaya Mandir 12, Bhagatbaug Society, Sharada Mandir Road, Paldi, Ahmedabad-380007 15 August 2008 Nagin J. Shah President Prakrit Text Society
