Doctrine of Karman in Jain Philosophy

Author(s): Hiralal R Kapadia
Publisher: Vijibai Jivanlal Panalal Charity Fund Mumbai

Page 18

PREFACE TO THE GERMAN EDITION
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bodhas written in Gujarāti by Maticandra, Yasahsomal and his pupil Jayasoma, which is printed in the collection Prakaranaratnākara (Bombay, Samvat 1937) Vol. IV, pp. 305 et seq. The last, the sixth Karmagrantha, consists of some 70 Gāthās, which have been taken from Drstivāda by Candramahattara.” The most important commentary appears to be that by Malayagiri (according to Kielhorn in the 12th century A.D.),+ which in the edition employed is added to the text; here the number of the Gathās is 75. Peterson, Report 1883, Appendix I, p. 27, mentions a manuscript, with a commentary by Devendrasūri, which comprises 77 Gāthās: “Candramahattarācāryakrtagāthā 70 tatra praksiotagāthākartā Devendrācāryah.” In the Fourth Report (1886-1892) p. 57, he mentions another manuscript which contains 89 Gāthäs, and makes the following comment : “Al the end of the Saptalikā Devendra states that that tract is the work of Candramahattara to which he has himself added 19 gāthās, bringing the total number up to 89." According to that, then, the original text must have contained 70 Gāthās, and the one used by Malayagiri was already enlarged by additions. In the Prakaranaratnākara IV, pp. 773 et seq., the sixth Karmagrantha is also furnished with a commentary. The number of the Gāthās therein has been increased by additions to 93. The variation in the number of the verses shows that this book has been the object of extensive activity on the part of commentators, so that it is to be supposed that divergence between the views of different teachers has taken in it particularly acute forms. To me the commentary of Malayagiri has alone been accessible, for which reason deviations from the doctrine, that may have been expounded in his commentary by Devendra, might have been unavoidable. The difference between the views of the two masters cannot, however, have been of far-reaching consequence, because the variations existing between the first five Karmagranthas, explained by Devendra, and the sixth, commented upon by Malayagiri, are altogether of insignificant im portance.
2. The Pañcasamgraha contains a summary of the entire karman
1 Prakaranaratnākara IV, p. 2.
2 This name is traditionally true ; but, really speaking Candra Mahattara is not the author of Sattariyā, the 6th Karmagrantha. So says Muni Punyavijaya in his Gujarāti introduction (pp. 14-15) to No. 86.-H. R. K.
3 For his life and works see the Gujarāti introduction (pp. 15-21) to No. 86 and Muni Punyavijaya's article Acārya Sri-Malayagiri ane temanum Sabdānuśāsana published in "Sri-Jaina Satya Prakāśa" (Vol. VII, Nos. 1-3).-H. R. K.
4 Kielhorn, Palm-Leaf MSS. Report p. 45; Weber, Ind. Stud. X. 256 assigns him to 1423 A.D.
5 This problem of variation is discussed in the introduction (pp. 12-13) to No. 86.-H. R. K.