________________
Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
28
Kalpasutra.
It would be unjust to judge Dr. Stevenson by the standard which must now be applied to editions and translations of Samskrit and Prâkrit works, as thirty years ago Oriental studies were in their earliest infancy, and philological accuracy was not so much thought of as nowadays. Dr. Stevenson was a pioneer on his field of research, who worked with great enthusiasm and indefatigable zeal. It is to be regretted that his want of philological training, ") and his theological turn of mind, have prevented that his results should be proportionate to the labour expended. As the case stands, I can only warn all Orientalists against using his Kalpasûtra.
The present edition of the Kalpasûtra is based on the following MSS.
A. An excellent MS. in my collection. It is written with silver on 113 leaves, most of which are painted alternatively black and red. Each page contains six lines. There are many pictures in the text, and arabesques on the margin. (MSS. of this kind are not unfrequent with the Jainas.) The date, Vikrama 1484 (1427 A.D.) is given in the somewhat lengthy colophon. No subdivisions, neither sûtras nor vâcanâs, are marked in this MS. The description of the dreams given in it differs from the common one, and is evidently not the original one, as is proved by the absence of the
obtained the quantity ordered, he should say: 'No more! Perchance, (tho giver of food might ask), "Why do you say so, Sir?" (then he should answer), ('Thus much) is required for the sick man'. Perchance, after that answer, another might say, "Take it, Sir! You may after the sick man has been fed) eat it or drink it". Thus a man is allowed to collect alms, but he is not allowed to collect alms by pretending that it is for a sick man.
1) That Dr. Stevenson's knowledge of Prakrit was very limited can easily be proved by the remarks ho makes on tho Magadhî. He allodges (p. 141) that TAAOTT and ATEUR are nominative forms; p. 142 he spells locativo forms, kucchimxi and samanumsi Cristo (sic) and THUTH and the indoclinable past participle pâsittà nam ūTTITATU. His proficiency in Samskrit may be judged by comparing his translation of a passage from the Kalpalatâ (p. 13) with that given above p. 22. I subjoin Dr. Stevenson's translation. I am now to mention the author of the Kalpa-Sútra. He was Sri Bhadra Bahu Svámi, an accomplished teacher who was well acquainted with the fourteen branches of his subject, (note; In the original and an accomplished teacher. Taking for his guide the works hore named - the Dabaśrutaskandha, Ashtamádhyayana, and the discourse called Pratyakhyána, in which he found nine branches – ho composed tho Kalpasútra'.
For Private and Personal Use Only
