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Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals
exhaustive. This commentary is a highly advanced text involving the complexity of language due to logical base, refutation of related concepts of alien philosophical systems, grammatical maturity and excellent show of keen observation power of natural phenomena in comparison to much simpler SS and TSB. This single text alone is sufficient to learn the Jaina concepts and thoughts. In fact, this royal commentary seems to be an original work for its treatment and methodology.
This Explanatory has some special points which occur quite repetitively under elaborations of many aphorisms. Of course, they are always at points wherever needed. These points may be mentioned here for the benefit of the general readers : (i) The explanatory contains an elucidative question-answer type treatment of the topics to make them easily graspable.
The use of possessive or genitive case, possessive suffix or word conveying the possessiveness in the aphorismic structures has been elaborated by illustrating the relation to be observed under the states of difference and nondifference between the qualities and the qualified objects as in the case of staffed Devadatta and pithed tree etc. (iii) The usefulness or futility of addition compounds in the aphorisms supporting the canonical or original concepts. (iv) Mostly, it has been opined that the etymological or conventional meanings of any word usually do not carry the conceptual meanings properly. The example of 'gau' (cow, to go) is very common in this connection. (v) The use of polyviewistic approach is there in almost every case wherever different systems opine for absolutistic views. The substantive and modal approach is the specificity of this commentary. In fact, it was a period of establishment of Jaina logic through this multi-predicatal principle. This commentary, therefore, abounds in dealing with the various concepts of Carva ka, Sankhya, Nyaya, Vaiseshika, Mimansaka and Buddhist systems. This indicates not only the prominence of these systems in his period but also his authentic proficiency in all of them. (vi) The reader of this commentary will find that many complex concepts and discussions have been treated with illustrations from common physical world. The examples of earthen-pot, fibre-fabric, milk-curd, Devadatta and his staff, horns of ass and hare, hair-crest of the frog, sky-lotus, son of a barren lady, physician-medicine and the like are everywhere which make discussions very interesting and easily understandable. This practice indicates him not only to be a keen observer of nature (as stated) but also an excellent psychologist to bring his point to the readers beautifully.
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