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
with Panini's vārttikakära can be easily ruled out because the corresponding rule in Panini's grammar is not a varttika and has a word-order different from what we have here : adhikarane bandhah (3.4.41), "(The affix 'namull comes) after the verb 'bandh' (to bind) when (a word expressing) location (is in construction with it).” In the context of riddles and grammar, where precision and strictness are fundamental, such a discrepancy is of importance. It is very likely, however, that our Katyāyana is the grammarian also known as Vararuci "to whom some works on Prakrit and Kātantra grammar are ascribed32." As a matter of fact, bandho'dhikarane is a sūtra that occurs in the fourth chapter of the Kātantra which is devoted to the discussion of krt-affixes (4.6.25)33, a problematic chapter generally
n to the original sūtrapātha and explicitly taken by the commentator Durgasimha to be the work of Kātyāyana :
vrksādivad ami rudhah krtinā na krtah krtah,
Kātyāyanena te srstā vibuddhi-pratibuddhaye34. Jinavallabha is in agreement with this traditional opinion. His riddle is one of the hints indicating the vast circulation of the Kātantra in Medieval India, also among Jain circles in Gujarat (see further 12).
11.2. In his second instance of the sautra-jäti Jinavallabha resorts to the pattern expected for this kind of riddle, but makes it sophisticated, hence savoury, through the use of uncommon words to be found in the answers. As a matter of fact, his purpose is not to write a handbook, as Dharmadāsa did with the VMM, but to display his virtuosity :
jantuh kascana vakti, "kā kva ramate?" procuh kacán kidrsan ? brahmadi-trayam atra kah krśayati ? kved-agamah syäj janen ? kim vānukta-samuccaye padam ? atho dhātuś ca ko bhartsane ? kim sūtram sudhiyo 'dhyagisata tathā Visrāntavidyadharāh ? (JP 122) sütrottara-jätih : jhasyekācovaśaḥsdhvoścabhas. A certain being says: "Which lady finds pleasure where ?" -Fish, Lakşmi (finds pleasure) in Visnu jhasi, 1 E > jhasye How do they describe the hair ? As "worshipping the head" kācah
Who is it that makes thin the three (Brahma, etc.)?—The one who makes thin Brahma, Śiva and Visnu va-śaḥ
Before what would there be the accrement it in the root 'to be born' ? -Before s and dhy s-dhvoh