________________
Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
Xx
PREFACE.
quotes the last sûtra of that author in illustration of the practice of repeating the last word or words of a work to show that it is concluded.
Shadgurusishya's commentary does not consist merely of a bare amplification explaining the obscurities arising from the brevity of the sůtra style, but introduces many tales from Vedic mythology. These are frequently quoted from the Brihaddevatâ ; but even when he relates these stories in his own words, he generally does so in slokas, and in one passage 3 of considerable length he even uses the trishtubh metre. In fact this commentator has a way of breaking into verse even when speaking of far drier matters; he does not even shrink from working sutras of Panini into a poetical form 4. Besides these itihasas, there are frequent discussions on the diction and the construction of the sâtras of the Sarvânukramani.
The present edition supplies practically the whole of the Vedârthadîpikâ. Its bulk has, however, been considerably reduced by the omission of the fuller pratîka (which is invariably given by Shadgurusishya), of all that can easily be supplied by using the paribhâshâs, of commonplace grammatical remarks, and of the continual repetitions from the introduction explaining unusual metres. I have been careful to retain matter of any importance or interest, such as all quotations, grammatical explanations of unusual or difficult forms, itihâsas, and discussions bearing on the construction and wording of the sútras. I have paid especial attention in this respect to the formation of proper names in connexion with the ganas, thinking that this might prove to be of some value in the criticism of the ganapatha, the present state of which is far from satisfactory. All references to the various ganas will be found in the index of words at the end.
In his commentary on the treatise on metre (Sarv. Introd., 98 3-11), Shadgurusishya quotes a number of examples (mostly identical with those in the Rigveda Prátisakhya) for the various metres enumerated and explained in the text. A list of these verses is given in Appendix IV.
I have collated five MSS. in preparing this edition of the Vedarthadîpika, viz. W 1, I 2, I 4, P1, P2 (and in a few instances C also), which have already been described.
1 Like that of Gagannatha. 8. Comm. on II, 33.
*? A list of these is given in Appendix VI. * See comm. on II, 11.
For Private And Personal Use Only
