Aspect of Jainology Part 2 Pandita Bechardas Doshi

Author(s): M A Dhaky, Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 433

GĀTHĂ-MUKTĂVALİ : A NEWLY DISCOVERED
RECENSION OF HĀLA'S SAPTA-SATAKA
H. C. Bhayani
A. Weber distinguishes six different recensions of Hāla's Sapta-Sataka (popularly also called Gatha-Saptašati) which he designated as : (1) the Vulgate, (2) X, (3) R, (4) S (=Sädhä rahadeva's Muktavali), (5) T=The first Telinga recension), (6) W (= the second Telinga recension). Of these the recensions S and T basically depart from the other recensions in the arrangement of Gāthās. They arrange the Gathās in subjectwise groups called Vrajyā (S) or Paddhati (T) from several anthologies of Samsksta and Präkşta Subhāşitas. We are indeed familiar with this type of grouping and designation.
In the MSS. collection of the L. D. Institute of Indology exists a manuscript of a work called Gatha-muktāvali (GM) (No. 7812), which turns out to be one more recension of the Sapata'ataka, different indeed from the aforenoted six recensions set up by Weber. GM is similar to Sadhāraṇadeva's Muktavali and the first Teling recension in that it also groups the Gathās under different Paddhatis, Since its grouping is similar to that of the Muktavali, it differs from T, which first divides the Gāthās into Sat akas or Centuries, and then subdivides each one of the centuries according to the subjects. Obviously, though influenced by S, GM shows considerable independence in the number and sequence of the group as well as the number and sequence of Gäthâs within the groups.
The manuscript is incomplete. Only first 14 out of a total of 45 folios (reported in the list of contents for which see further) are preserved. The obverse of the first folio is blank. The manuscript folios measure 23 x 8 cm. Each side has ten lines and each line has forty letters on an average. The handwriting is bold and clear. The padimātrā (prsthamātrā) is used. The Ms is carefully copied; there are therefore very few copying mistakes. No continuous serial numbering for the verses is given, but the verse within each group (Paddhati) are serially numbered. The Ms. breaks off after the word लडइतण in the fourth verse of the स्त्री रूप-वर्णनqefal
Over and above the fourteen of the text, we find two extra folios, one of which contains a complete list of contents of the whole manuscript. This folio, though unnumbered, seems to be in the same hand as the folios of the text proper. The list is reproduced below with the serial number added to the Paddhatis,