Grammatical Riddles from Jain Works

Author(s): Nalini Balbir
Publisher: Z_Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_1_002105.pdf and Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_2

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Nalini Balbir
Jambū-jyoti
Which type of pot cannot retain water for long-An uncooked one amah
O intelligent fellows, what do you do concerning the treatise ? -We give (them) well (?; cf. rā dāne, Dhātup.) su-rāmaḥ Ajitasena's second instance reads : * yaminipratimāyoge kidrśam yatināṁ kulam ? kam vandante surā nityam ? kamar kim akarot sudhih ? (AC 2.57)
abhyabhavam. abhi bhayarahitam. abhavam saṁsārahinajanam. abhyabhavam niräkaromi sma.
Here again, a simple correction would suit the grammatical pattern of the riddle better. The answer as a verbal form is abhyabhavam, 1st person of the imperfect. The corresponding question should then normally include a second person : akaroh instead of akarot.
How is a group of Digambara monks when practising käyotsarga in the night ?-Without fear a-bhi
Who is it that the gods always respect ?-The one who is free from rebirth a-bhavam O wise man, what did you do with desire ?-I overcame (it)
abhyabhavam In this case, a comparison with the VMM further shows that Ajitasena has drawn inspiration from this work not only for definitions but also for illustrative verses, transforming what is found in VMM 2.38 in order to suit an ascetic context :
samara-sirasi sainyar kidrsam durniväram ? vigata-ghana-nisīthe kidrse vyomni sobhā ? kam api vidhi-vašena prăpya yogyābhimānam
jagad akhilam anindyam durjanah kim karoti ? What type of army is difficult to attack at the front of a battle ? --The one who has no fear a-bhi In a night without clouds in which type of sky is there light? -In (a sky) with stars bhavati
When, by chance, he has got some reason to be arrogant, what does a bad fellow do with the whole world of unblamable people ?-He humiliates (them) abhibhavati