________________ Preface deals. It discusses the topio of the Navapada by giving us in beautiful, lucid, and simple Prakrit verse, the life-story of king Shripala and his queen Mayanasundari, which the Jainas always cherish in their hearts, especially in the days of the Ayambila Oil Festivals, and which has enabled the Jainas for ages to-gether to accomplish their spiritual welfare. It is the story of king Shripala that has created a very high respect for the Navapada in the minds of the people; and it is the same story that has purged the hearts of many of their several impurities by exhorting them to practise the Ayambila penance with great fondness and delight giving up all attachment to sweetness and taste. There was a third consideration also viz. to make this book usoful to persons interested in the study of Ardha-Magadhi and the Jaina Literature. It is with these considerations in view that the work of editing this volume has been undertaken. The text has been based mainly upon the printed text of the Agamodaya Samiti edition, which is the most trustworthy being editod by the reverend Jaina Aoharya Shree Sagaranandasurishwarji who has earned for himself the title of * Agamoddharaka ' by his editing almost all the Agamas of the Jainas and many
