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GACCHACARA PRAKĪRṆAKA
TRANSLATOR'S NOTE
Jaina canonical works are a treasure trove of spiritual and cultural heritage of India. However, the knowledge of these works is hidden behind the veil of Prakrta language, which is no longer an in language that it used to be when these works were codified. Yeomen services have been rendered, from time to time, by various scholars, both monks and householders, to render some of these works into Hindi and other modern Indian languages and, in rare cases, into English. As a result, the English-speaking readership is more or less deprived of this treasure.
The case of Prakīrnakas is still worse as their Hindi translations themselves were taken up, in an organised manner, only a few years ago. To my knowledge, no effort has so far been made to translate them into English except five Prakīrṇakas translated by me and published by the Sanisthana in the last two years. I can, therefore, feel a justifiable sense of elation and fulfilment on this near maiden effort in the field of translating the Prakīrṇakas into English.
Translations are, at the best of times, only shadows of the originals. The problem becomes more acute when the original happens to be in an as ancient language as Prākṛta and the language of the translation a western language as English. As exact equivalent words are not only difficult to come by, but, in some cases, well nigh impossible to find, one has to be content with a word, phrase or term nearest to the original meaning. Given the limitations of a translation, it has been my endeavour to adhere as close to the original meaning as possible.
My task of translating this work, Gacchācāra Prakīrnaka, into English was very much simplified by its Hindi version, by Dr. Suresh Sisodiya and Prof, Sagarmal Jain, having been made available to me and, which I have freely used in my work. I am
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