Agam 06 Ang 06 Gnatadharma Sutra Part 01 Sthanakvasi

Author(s): Amarmuni, Shreechand Surana, Surendra Bothra, Purushottamsingh Sardar
Publisher: Padma Prakashan

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The experiment proved to be highly successful. It was widely acclaimed and even the unwilling started studying the illustrated Agam with interest. I received numerous letters from scholars, scholarly ascetics, and devotees freely praising this effort. I resolved to further this project looking at prevailing need and usefulness of such works. Illustrated Antakritdasha Sutra, Illustrated Kalpa Sutra, and Illustrated Tirthankar Charitra have already been published under this scheme. Now this Illustrated Jnata Dharma Kathanga Sutra is being released.
As the Jnata Sutra is a voluminous work, it is being published in two parts. First part contains eight chapters. The remaining shall come in the second part.
Some changes have been incorporated in the style of editing. A section has been added before every chapter. This contains explanation about the title and topic of the chapter and, gist of the story.
In the old copies of the original text no established rule has been followed regarding the numbering of the paragraphs or Sutras. As such, freedom has been taken in numbering the paragraphs according to the flow of the story. In the Prakrit text dash has been given to break the long combined words to facilitate reciting.
In the original text the descriptive and elaborative passages are repeated verbatim again and again. This appears to be the writing style of that period. However, in the translation such passages have been made as brief as possible using the indicators like (etc.), (as mentioned earlier), etc. To make the illustration easily understandable relevant brief excerpts from the stories have been given on the back of every illustration.
At the end of the chapter a glossary, conclusion and the verses indicating the message of the story have been given. Thus effort has been made to use an all enveloping editing style. I do not like much the use of foot notes and appendices unless it becomes essential. This is because in that style of editing the reader has to suffer breaks while reading, by repeatedly referring to foot notes and turning pages to look for appendices. As such, effort has been made to provide all possible reference material with the chapter itself. I hope that the readers would appreciate and like this style.
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