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
b
acd
C
abd
Variety No. 6 Variety No. 7 Variety No. 8 Variety No. 9
abc
bcd
acd
Variety No. 10 (corresponds to the pattern of the above verse of AC)
abd
Variety No. 11 (= Jánaktharana 1.37)
abc
Variety No. 12 + (Akhyānikā
ac
bd
Viparītākhyānikā
bd
ac)
(iii) Finally, Jayakirti, a Digambara Jain from Karnataka who lived about 1000 A.D., gives the following definition in his versified Chando'nuśasana edited on the basis of a unique palm-leaf manuscript from Jaisalmer :
upendravajrā-sphurad indravajrāpādau vimiśrau yadi tau bhavetām nänā-vikalpair upajātir esă prakalpitāryaih kvacid indramālā (2.117)57.
Because of common sectarian affiliation, this could well have been the book which was the source used by Mahākavi Ajitasena.
The above investigation should have contributed to make clear that Jain authors are extremely fond of all types of games connected with the manipulation of language and that their proficiency in the fields of knowledge pertaining to language (grammar, lexicography and metrics) is of a very high level. For them, as for other Indians, erudition is not boring, on the contrary it serves the games of intelligence and as such is valuable.