In Search of the Original Ardhamagadhi English Translation

Author(s): K R Chandra, N M Kansara, Nagin J Shah, Ramniklal M Shah
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 18

1. THE
STATE OF ARDHAMĀGADHĪ IN VARIOUS EDITIONS OF THE JAINA CANONICAL (ĀGAMIC) TEXTS
We do not find uniformity (particularly pertaining to the phonetic changes) in the various editions of the Ardhamāgadhi Jaina Canonical (Āgama) texts. Due to change in places and circumstances, and passing of time, linguistic changes have taken place in textual readings; even then we do find some archaic variants of textual readings preserved to some extent. In some book or some edition some readings which are of very old stage in some places, are found along with some other of later period in the same edition. These points are here highlighted with due illustrations, with the hope that on the basis of the available data itself we may be able to preserve the archaic form of the language of the Jaina Agamas to whatever extent, by re-editing them. (A) Changes In The Textual Readings Of The Ardhamāgadhī Āgama Texts
From the point of view of the linguistic changes in the textual readings of the Jaina Agamic texts, the remarks made by the very serious researcher, Agama Prabhākara Muni Śrī Punyavijayaji in the Introduction to his edition of the Kalpasūtra1 are very important. The gist of his opinion in this matter is as follows :
(1) There is much variation in all the manuscripts from linguistic point of view.
(2)
(3)
(4)
We do not have for our reference the ancient manuscripts on the basis of which the authors of the Curnis and the commentators adopted their readings or their norms.
It is necessary to seriously think afresh about original textual readings.
The readings adopted by the authors of the Curnis are not found in any of the manuscripts.
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