Jain Journal 1992 10

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

Page 48

A Note on Sarasvatamandana
Satyavrat
The combined testimony of the Śrngäramandana and Campūmandana reveals it beyond doubt that Prime Minister Mapdana had made substantial contribution towards enriching Sanskrit grammar, as well. While in the former he proudly projects himself as the illustrious author of Sarasvatamandana (and the Kävyamandana), with equal fondness, he terms the Campūmandana as a work brotherly (junior) to it." As is evident from its title, especially the alternative appellation Sārasvata-sūtravrtti, the Särasvatamandana purports to be a brief gloss (vrtti) on Anubhatisvarūpa's Särasvata Vyakarana, which, not unlike other similar attempts, seeks to compress Sanskrit grammar, as exhaustively propounded in Pāņini's Aşțădhyāyi, within the space of mere seven hundred aphorisms. Suchlike compendiums are a veritable boon to the beginner, and serve as a gateway to the intricacies of Sanskrit grammar and semantics The Sārasvata Vyakarana indeed evoked wide following in the Jainistic tradition. It was perhaps to respect the tradition and minister to the academic needs of the young students that Mandana took it upon himself to resolve the text with his perceptive vștti, other glosses thereon notwithstanding.
Unlike his other writings, the Sarasvataman dana is unhappily not available in print. Of two of its manuscripts deposited with the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona, the one (New No 36) copied in V. S. 1632, is in a better state of preservation. Running into as many as 121 folios, the Ms is a riddle of sorts. While it is legible for the most, the text is hopelessly tarnished by tantalizing ambiguity and incoherence. The way the scribe has recklessly mutilated the simple words and known sūtras is an eloquent, though sad commentary on his poor equipment in Sanskrit. He had no qualms in turning baṁhayati into camhayati, śāsa anuśiştau into asa anuśisțau, råto ñau puk into rāto nau puk. The Ms is infested with such fearsome howlers, though the scribe is blissfully unaware of their gravity. With such a
107;
1 yah sāras vatakāvyamandanakavirdăridr yabhubhytpatiḥ, Syngāramandana,
Śrīsārsavat amandanasya vidusāṁ santoșadasyānuje, Campūmandana, p. 35.