Aparajitaprucchha

Author(s): B Bhattacharya
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 7

PREFACE
age, literally, "the questionnaire framed by aufaa" is an exposition, by the comparative method, of the principles and practice of the science of art by fan who solves a series of questions put to him by far, the youngest of his four are sons.
כי.
This work is otherwise known as gay for succinctly as a. Though Dr. T. Aufrecht notices as the author of the work, the colophons invariably read श्रीभुवनदेवाचार्योंक्ता पराजित पृच्छा etc. ; श्रभुवनदेवाचार्य, appears from the text to be none else than विश्वकर्मन्, one of the oldest exponents of the नागर school of वास्तुशास्त्र.
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The very nature of composition of aqufanger goes to show that the go (characteristics) and if (functions) of the Bara (progeny) of (lay out of structures by means of a string) or in clear terms, (a variety of structural arrangements having different essential features and functions) necessarily imply that the matter contained in the work has been so compressed that it forms "succinct and scrappy indications (and not clear and trustworthy definitions) of structures of innumerable kinds. The aphorismic method adopted by the author helps a good deal to assist the memory in digesting the distinguishing features of members of the subject. अपराजित पृच्छा has utilized जयपृच्छा, विश्वकर्म वास्तुशास्त्र. समराङ्गगसूत्रधार and other works, such as स्कन्दपुराण, श्रीमद्भागवत, विष्णुमहापुराण, शिवपुराण, and other पुराणs and worked out his materials in a सूत्र - like manner. The detailed information regarding temples found in समराङ्गणसूत्रवार etc. is made compact in this सूत्रमन्थ but the comparision of essential members of structures goes to show that he has neglected several important aspects of structures in his zealous attempt to compose those as. This is a drawback which cannot redound to its credit.
The present edition is based mainly on the following two Mss. :-- Bi Accession no. 3587 and Bz Accession no. 9214, both of the Oriental Institute, Baroda.
B1 contains 238 4s and the 239th one is incomplete. It is a
recent Ms..
B2 stops at the 225th . Moreover, as nos. 101 to 156 are missing in this. It thus contains nearly one-third matter less than B1, referred to above.
I must admit that I am fully conscious of my incompetence to deal with such a technical subject, especially with the help of scanty materials I had to work upon. For, nearly one-third of the voluminous work extending over 7500 s, I had to work out my way from one manuscript alone, though two were obtained from the Baroda Institute.
899, i