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Book Reviews
Bhagavaticurṇi- edited by Rupendra Kumar Pagariya, L.D. Institute of Indology, L.D. Series 130, Ahmedabad - 380 009, 2002 price Rs. 150.00
One of the brilliant publications of the Prakrit language in the beginning of the twentyfisrt century is the Bhagavaticurṇi of Sthavirācārya edited by Pt. Rupendra Kumar Pagariya. This Cūrṇī of the Bhagavatisūtra is a rare one and its publication has enriched the Jaina Agama literature on the one hand, and the Prakrit literature on the other. Pt Rupendra Kumar Pagariya is an able editor and has edited many Prakrit texts from original manuscripts. The Prakrit text is reliable, and the Prakrit language presented here gives in many ways the true picture of the language. The language of the text is very near to Māhārāṣṭrī, although the change of k to glends us to believe that it is Ardhamāgadhi. The retension of intervocalict in words like kajjati, sambhavati, ogahati etc.shows that the Prakrit language does not seem to be archaic. As the edition is a good one, I recommend the text to every lover of Prakrit.
Satya Ranjan Banerjee
Mülaśuddhi-prakaraṇa (in 2 volumes) - edited by Acarya Dharma Dhurandharasuri and Pt Amṛtalal Mohanlal Bhojak, Sardabahen Cimanbhai Educational Research Centre, Ahmedabad-380 004, 2002, price Vol I. Rs. 250.00; Vol II. Rs. 250.00.
The Mulasuddhi-prakarana of Pradyumna Sūri written in the eleventh century is a Jain religious text in Prakrit. The text contains many religious tales and narratives, and from that point of view it is a type of Kathakoṣa. This edition of the text is superb and it is nicely printed with a good quality of paper. Both the editors deserve special thanks for this edition. The Prakrit language is faithfully represented for which the editors are to be congratulated. The commentary is interspersed with numerous slokas written in Prakrit and Sanskrit. These ślokas are sometimes collected from different literature, such as, Sanskrit Kāvyas and dramas. All these slokas from different Sanskrit and Prakrit literature will show how the Jains were Catholic-minded in selecting slokas
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