Jain Journal 1970 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 56

162
JAIN JOURNAL
mostly Āryās. An Āryā is on average slightly longer than a Sloka, and it consists of two lines of unequal length. It is possible that Aryās differing in their first lines are identical in their second lines. Therefore an alphabetical arrangement of the verses according to the beginning of the second line may become necessary. As this procedure involves much extra work, a limited number of sample verses will initially have to be examined. This will show whether the percentage of verses having an identical second line will be large enough to make the punching according to the second line worthwhile. It will however be better to postpone this sample survey until the Concordance is complete. In fact that procedure described so far covers only the texts listed in the Appendix under 'A'. To these the texts of the categories B and C will have to be added according to the same method. The question of publishing the Concordance can only be discussed when the alphabetical arrangement of the A, B, and C verses is completed according to the first and perhaps according to the second line.
The Concordance will be ready for use as soon as the A-verses are arranged in alphabetical order. This will be done by the end of 1970. Parallels to any given verse will then be traced without difficulty. Scholars who cannot visit Berlin will simply send 'their verses and they will receive the references, i.e. they will be supplied with photo-copies of the respective punch-cards carrying both references to parallels and various readings taken from the parallels. The Concordance offers yet another possibility, which is relevant to the study of entire texts. After the process of punching and tracing of parallels is over, the verses of individual texts, say of the Viśeşāvaśyakabhāsya, can be re-arranged according to the order in their respective text. These cards will no doubt be missing in the Concordance, which will be left in alphabetical order. However the re-inclusion of the extracted cards, or the subsequent restoration of the textual arrangement, can be carried out in comparatively short time due to the punch-system.
A certain distinction has to be made between the specialized and the general use of the Concordance. In the first case, parallels are traced in order to ensure a more satisfactory interpretation of a given verse. In the second case an attempt is made to reduce the transmitted material systematically, by eliminating the doublets and triplets. Kalpabhāşya, Vyavahārabhāsya, and Niśithabhāşya are a case in point. Here one has to find out how far the three works present individual texts and how far they just represent different versions or recensions of one and the same text. Such a situation is not uncommon in Indian literature.