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METHOD OF EDITING (ii) Principles of text-constitution adopted, while choosing certain
readings or following a certain recension.
. From a study of the above-mentioned three MSS. the MS-A is considered here as the main one, as it can be regarded as the oldest one on the basis of language, mode of writing and date. The edited text has been prepared mainly on the basis of the said MS. Besides this, the alternate readings of other MSS. are noted here. The notes of the variant readings (pāthāntara) has been prepared according to the numbers of stanza, lines and formulae of the MS.-A. No additional words or lines found in other MSS. are taken in the edited text, except in the case of a necessity for reference.
The stanzas or lines found in the MS.-A., but not found in any other MSS. have been kept in the edited text.
If, in some cases, the edited text has not been found up to the mark from the point of view of its reference, spelling, antiquity and appropriateness of meaning, than the text of other MSS. which appeared to be up to the mark from those points of view has been taken into the edited text and the text of the main MS.-A has also been noted in the foot notes.
Generally the MS.-A has been taken as standard as a rule from every aspect -evidence, order, language and spelling, etc.
The edited text is prepared on the following principles; (1). Here the Ms.- A is counted as the main one and generally its text is
accepted and the importance of the alternate text of other MSS. is also noted. Pāthantara (alternate or variant reading) regarding pādapūraka (comple
mentariness) of paryāyātmka (synonymous verson) is not noted. 3) The note of every place whether there is more or less reading, has
been taken. The special note of the alternate readings has been taken by considering the importance of language, meaning and other important points
of view, (5) No imaginary reading which is not found in the MSS. has been taken
in the edited text. (6) In the editing the spelling has been followed according to that of the
MS. - A. Of course, sometimes, it has been corrected from the lingu
istic point of view by comparing the spelling of the text of all the MSS. (7) If the reading of the recent time has been found more standard than
that of the MS. - A, then it has been accepted in the edited text.
(2)
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