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FOREWORD
Shri Pujyapada Swami the author of the “Ishtopadesha" (Dis course Divine) was a Jaina saint, of the Digambara sect, who flourished in the fourth century A.D. He composed several important works on the Jaina Philosophy and Religion of which the "Sarvartha Siddhi,' (an elaborate commentary on the Tattvartha Sutra, which may be termed the Jaina Bible),
Jainendra Vyakarana' the Samadhi Shataka" and the "Ishtopadesha" are the most famous. The last-named work was translated into Hindi from the original Sanskrit by Shri Dharma-Divakar, Dharma Bhushana Brahmachari Shital Prasadji in the year 1923. I have now translated it into English, at the suggestion of the respected Brahmachariji himself from his Hindi translation. The English translation has been personally revised by the Brahmachariji to whom I am indebted for the favour.
The “Ishtopadesha" is a charming composition in adhyatma-rasa, that signifies a sort of direct appeal to the experience of se!f-realization rather than a metaphysical study of the soul-nature through the intellectual faculty. I have no doubt that it will prove very serviceable in fixing the attention of the contemplative thought, and, read intelligently, will enable the thoughtful to burn up his karmas on the adhyatmic alter of the Glorious Divinity of the Inner Self.
C. R
Jain
Hardoi 17th May, 1925
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