Jnanasrimitra And His Work

Author(s): Anantlal Thakur
Publisher: Anantlal Thakur

Page 5

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JNĀNASRIMITRA AND HIS WORKS
Over and above these, our author refers to a few other works or sections there of as his own of which the Vyāptigrahassamarthanaprastāva the Apohaprastāva and the Trikapancakacinta seem to be identical with Nos. 2, and 8 of our above list respectively. The Sthānanirūpana and the Tattvacinta could not be identified. The Sarvajnasiddhi as mentioned before, was another work of this author.
The titles of the works give an idea of the vast field traversed by our author. Kşanabhanga, Sākāravāda and Iśvaravāda were the burning topics during those days and he has naturally devoted considerable space to them. Writing on the abstruse philosophical topics, he has never become tiresome. On the other hand, his sense of humour and mastery over the language have made the works attractive. The sākārasamgrahasutra is written entirely in verse. Other works are also interspersed with beautiful verses in a number of metres skillfully used. The initial verse of the Sākarasamgrahaśūtra reminds us of the nāndiišloka of the Veņi samhāra of Bhattanārāyaṇa. It is at the same time a fine instance of double entendre.1
To a student of the History of Philosophy these works are a veritable mine of information. Jñänasri gives us an idea about the richness of the Vikramasilā monastery in the Sāstric side. That all the important works of Mahāyāna Buddhism were studied there is proved by the numerous quotations from and references to authors like Maitreyanāthapāda, Nāgārjuna, Asanga, Vasubandhu, Sthiramati, Dignāga, Dharmākirti, Aryasvāmin, Pranākaragupta, Dharmottara, Subhagupta, Säntideva Arcața etc. etc.
1. Wat ja amigatraktit A: steret
सासूयं सदसि स्थितेषु कृतिषु प्रख्यातकीतिध्वपि । क्रूरन्यायमयो निराकृतिनियो दु:शासनः सांप्रतं सोऽयं मद्भजपञ्चरे निपतितः संरक्ष्यतां कौरवाः ॥
122b. 4. The following are the important Buddhist texts cited : Hetubindu, Pramānavārtika, Apohasiddhi of Dbarmottara, Madhyāntavibhāgasaastra, Abhisamayalamkāra, Mahayānottaratantra, Sütrālamkāra, Sūtrálamkārabhāsya, 'Sandhinirmocana sūtra, Piņdārtha of Dignāga, Candrapradīpa and Pajñāpāramità,