Editing of Ancient Ardhamagadhi Texts in View of Texts of Visheshavashaka Bhasya

SR No.: 269001
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: K R Chandra
Publisher: Z_Nirgrantha_1_022701.pdf and Nirgrantha_2_022702.pdf and Nirgrantha_3_022703.pdf
Publication Year: 1995
Total Pages: 10
Language: English
Classification: Article & Agam
File Size: 425 KB

Page 1

EDITING OF ANCIENT ARDHAMĂGADHI TEXTS IN VIEW OF THE TEXT OF
VISEŞĀVAŠYAKA-BHĀŞYA?
K. R. Chandra
On the basis of a consideration of subject-matter, style, and metrical form, scholars have formed an almost unanimous opinion that certain portions of the Jaina canonical literature in Ardhamāgadhi possess very old strata. On the same grounds these ancient portions bear similarity with the oldest portions of the Pali Tripitaka. However, the concerned phonological, and to some extent the morphological forms of the language are not so archaic in these portions and in this respect the editions of these works differ among themselves.
In the Western scholars' editions, we notice that the intervocalic stops generally lost their conclusion as per the rules framed by Prakrit grammarians which, strictly speaking, were meant for the Maltārāstrī Prakrit. As a result, in these editions, not only the consonantal spelling of the words but occasionally the morphological forins of the later period also are encountered. A preference accorded to later forms consequently neglects the archaic, in point of fact original, and hence authentic, variants available in some manuscripts.
The same method is adopted by Indian editors though usually with lesser rigour and hence on a smaller scale. Therefore, noticeable disparity is discernible between the age of the work and its language. Hence the current form of the language available in the so far published editions is not authentic even when they do not affect the sense intended to be conveyed. This situation impels one to find out the reasons behind it.
For explaining the reasons behind this kind of disparity, in this paper, an attempt has been made in its proper perspective based on the analysis of the language of the text of the Višeşāvasyaka-bhāsya in its different editions and its variants in MSS. on the one hand and that of the language of older inscriptions and the Isibhāsiyain? edited by W. Schubring on the other hand.
The Visesavasyaka-bhāsya is a versified exposition of the Sāmāyika-āvasyaka and its corresponding niryukti (c. A. D. 525) by the learned caityavasi or abbatial pontiff Jinabhadra gani kşamāśramana (ob. A. D. 588 or 594). He had also composed its coinmentary in Sanskrit which had remained unfinished since he did not live as has been reported by Kotřārya vādi gani (c. A. D. 675-700) who completed the coinmentary