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INTRODUCTION
1. Ms. MATERIAL
The present edition of the Arādhana-Katha-Prabandha (AKP) or the Kathā-Kośa (KK) is based on a sigle Ms., so far available, described below :
This is a paper Ms., belonging to the late Pt. Nathuram Premi, Bombay. It is now presented to the Bhandarkar 0. R. Institute, Poona. Its No, is 1 of 1974-75, It contains 118 folios, measuring 25.0 by 11.4 cms. The first page of the first folio and the second page of the last folio are blank. Each page contains ten lines and each line 37 to 40 letters. On the left and right sides there are three margin lines. The entire Ms. is written in black ink. Here and there, the titles etc. are rubbed with red powder. Basically this Ms, is carefully written with clear-cut letters very often with padi-mātrās. The Prākrit verses are, however, are not carefully written; and even the Sanskrit portion contains scribal errors. The three sibilants, s, ş and s are not properly distinguished; ch and th are confused; and, in short, the spelling of even some Sanskrit words inclines towards what might be called Prākritic or vernacular pronunciation. The very nature of the Sanskrit language of the author makes room for such a tendency. Separation of words and absorbed vowels are indicated by a stroke, so also aragrahas,
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