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“When Hāla who has by his poetry made even the farmers recite the Gathās ( lit. eloquent because of their mastery of sportfulness of utterances) (and who used to appreciate Prakrit poetry by generous gifts), is dead and gone to heaven, what is the use of our composing poems ? When the intoxicating effect of wine is gone, of what use is the meat”? This is a rich tribute paid by a later poet of eminence to his worthy predecessor.
A. Weber's critical edition of this text with an invaluable Introduction discussing various aspects of the work is indeed a standard or model one. This edition. Das Saptasatakum of Hala, however, being in German is not easily accessible and further, not intelligible to Indian scholars who are not acquainted with the German language. A critically presented text in Devanāgari script, accompanied by its study in detail in English was a long-felt need. The Prakrit Text Society, Ahmedabad had entrusted the work of editing Hala's Gāhākosa with the hitherto unpublished commentary of Bhuvanapāla to Prof. M. V. Patwardhan. Part I of this edition containing the text and the commentary was published by the Society in 1980. On account of his indifferent health Prof. Patwardhan could not then prepare Part II. Now this part, containing Introduction, Translation, Alphabetical Index of the Gathas, Glossary of select words and Explanatory Notes, is being published as No. 5 in the B. L. Series. Prof. M. V. Patwardhan, an eminent scholar of Sanskrit and Prākrit, has made a modest attempt to meet the long-felt need. We are thankful to him for completing his work as per schedule. We are sure it will be warmly welcomed by all scholars who are interested in Indian poetry, more especially Prakrit poetry.
V. M. Kulkarni
(3)
भणिइविलासवइत्तणवोल्लिक्के जो करेइ हलिए वि । कव्वेण कि पउत्थे हाले हालावियारे व्व ।।
--Kuvalayamālā p. 3
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