________________
INTRODUCTION
(here and there) with the stories found in the Sanskrit commentary of Prabhacandra on the RatnakarandakaŚrāvakācāra, I. 19-20. Further, the last story, No. 90*32 is identical with the story No. 6 from the PunyasravaKathakośa of Ramacandra Mumukṣu (Sholapur 1964 ). The format of the story, especially with that opening verse in Sanskrit (gopo etc. ), is more natural and genuine in the Kośa of Ramacandra Mumukṣu than in that of Prabhacandra. A comparision of the both these texts shows minor differences in readings; and some of them agree with those in the Ms. Pha. of the Punyasrava-K.
This Prabandha of Prabhācandra deserves to be compared in details with other Kathakośas connected with the (Bha. ) Aradhana. A modest attempt is already made by me in my Introduction to the Bṛhat-kathākoša (pp. 60 ff., 72 ff., 90 ff., especially 92 ff.) to which critical readers are referred. As already pointed out, Prabhācandra's stories Nos. 1, 2 and 4 give details about some eminent authors, Patrakesarin, Akalaňka and Samantabhadra. Though the earlier sources are not known to us, at Prabhacandra's time these details about those authors were current. Patrakesarin's understanding of the Devagama ( of Samantabhadra ), his finding of the definition of inference (anyathanupapannam etc.) and his composing a hymn ( jinendra-guna-samstuti etc.) are quite interesting details about him. The verse nahamkara etc. in the story of Akalanka is found in one of the Śravana Belgol inscription (Epigraphia Carnatica II, No. 67, verses 23 and 7) of 1128 A. D. and the verse purvam
Jain Education International
19
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
