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26
V. M. Kulkarni
Ghasilalji and insist on the editoi's prior equipment such as knowledge of tradition and history ofāgamas. They fully discuss (Intro p. 107)some important readings such as tesiyam terasium (foresion or vesitcom, SK Tuisilam) in the Namdisnitia (p. 29, 1.8) and Kiropānam or Kānotānam (for Kāyānam - Kājn or kūra is a desa word, meaning Kavadivāhaka, or 171cdhatahuka in Sk.) in the nurogudvārasitra (p. 73, 1.10) und they also throw fresh light on what is posatthā Javaņā and what is crusatha Mavin rightly criticising the corrupt read ings in the printed editions of the Amyogadvārasītra, and conclude how the preparation of a truly critical edition demands of its editor such qualities as tremendous patience, preseverance, heenness for exactitude, vigilance and sincerity in scrutinising different MSS, in collating variants and in understanding the textual explanations given by commentators,
The cuirical editions is prefaced with a learned and masterly intioduction treating of various topics such as the Jain ūgumus and the l'edas, sources of the argas, the Geographical Region of their composition, Language, Number, Classification, and Age of the agamas, Author of NandisātraDevavācaka, his Date, Amyoga (Exposition), the Method of Exposition as demonstrated in the Anuyogadvāra, the Jain, the Buddhistic and the Vedic Methods of Exposition, Life and Date of the author and the Date of the Anu yogadvard and, last but not the least, they treat of the rich socio-cultural material found in the two texts.
In their Introduction the editors clearly point out the difference between the l'elas on the one hand and the Buddhist Tripitakas and the Jain Agamas on the other. The former are Śrxla-pradhana whereas the latter are artha-pradhana. The Brāhuanis have preserved not only the original words of the Vedas but their correct pronunciation also. The Jains have tried to preserve the ineaning of the words concerned and not the original words of their Tirtharikaras. This is a fact none can deny. It would not, however, be correct to belittle the importance of words. If words are to be depreciated there