________________
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
The Prakrit Bharati Academy feels great pleasure in publishing the first volume of the Samaņasuttaṁ translated into English by Dr. Kamal Chand Sogani, formerly Professor of Philosophy, Sukhadia University, Udaipur (Rajasthan). In the first volume 335 Prakrit Verses have been rendered into English and the rest of the Prakrit Verses 421, it is expected, will be translated into English in the second volume. The Sutras (Verses) of the first volume, as Dr. Sogani points out, deal with (1) the nature of self, (2) the goal of human pursuance, (3) the doctrine of Karma and transmigration, (4) the concept of spiritual awakening, value-knowledge and ethico-spiritual conduct, (5) the house- holder's way of life and (6) the concept of Arahanta and Siddha.
It goes without saying that the Samaṇasuttam is the central book of Jainism. It is a compendium of Jaina teachings. It presents Agamas in a nut-shell. It is as sacred as the Agamas themselves. It comprises the essence of Mahāvira's philosophical thinking. Just as the Gita, the Bible, the Dhammapada, the Koran and the like represent the teachings of Krishna, Christ, Buddha and Mohammed respectively, similarly Samaņasuttaṁ presents the teachings of Mahavira. It consists of 756 Prakṛta verses divided into fortyfour chapters dealing with various aspects of Jainism. It is called Samaṇasuttam, because it contains Sutras delineated by
Jain Education International
For Private Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
