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28
The Jaina Antiquary
[Vol. XVII
and the descriptions run on traditional lines. Verses mostly belong to a group.
A work of a similar theme is the बुद्ध वरितम् of श्री अश्वघोष. But it is much higher in many respects than the 18 in question, so far pure poetry is concerned. But both the poets have discussed the main philosophical ideas of their respective religions in equally excellent style. Traditional ideas have also been adhered to at many places, as for example, the dream of a white elephant to the mother of the when she concevied.
Yet another thing. Looked from the very conservative point of view, incorporation of Canto II cannot be justified. Such descriptions as we find in the canto do not become of a devotee. It is on account of this that even Kalidas has been sacked for writing the कुमारसंभवम् by many orthodox critics.
The Sanskrit annotation of the 16 is very fine. It comprises paraphrasing, grammer and explanations of various philosophical terms. But unlike other exp annotaters this annotater has omitted the name of the metre everywhere.
The Hindi Translation is not satisfactory. The printing is satisfactory but for a few mistakes.
The second publication in the series is a combined volume of two Sanskrit works ज्ञानप्रदीपिका and सामुद्रिकशास्त्रम् It was published in 1934 and is edited and translated in Hindi by Sri Ramvyas Panday of the Banaras Hindu University. The volume, besides the texts, contains a short preface by the editor and an article in intro. duction to fa by Pt. K. Bhujabali Shastri. In the latter article we find the sources of the text. Then the whole text of the first work namely af is given follwed by two texts again with Hindi translation stanzawise.
The ज्ञानप्रदीपिका is a book on प्रश्नतन्त्र, It consists of twenty-seven
's in over 500 verses in all, named after the topics discussed therein. They cover great variety of subjects relating to human life e.g. जीवन-मरण, पुत्रोत्पत्ति, विवाह, नौयात्रा, etc.
The method adopted in the discussion is the method, and it has been detailed from every point of view. The author says that wise man should predict only after considering various factors such
