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PREFACE
AFTER working for the last six years and more on the critical edition of this unique Prākrit Campū, the Kuvalayamālā of Uddyotanasūri (A. D. 779), it is a matter of pleasure and relief for the Editor that the Text with the Various Readings is being placed before the world of scholars, in this Part I.
The Second Part will include the Introduction which gives a description of the Mss, along with the principles of Text-constitution and presents an exhaustive study of the various aspects of the Kuvalayamālā. In it is included a critical edition of Ratnaprabhasūri's Kuvalayatmālā-kathā which is a stylistic digest in Sanskrit of Uddyotana's Prākrit work. All this material is nearly ready, and it is hoped that the Second Part also will be published soon.
The Prākrit Text is edited according to the best standards of critical scholarship. Only two Mss. of this Prākrit Campū are available one written on paper in Poona (P) and the other on palm-leaf in Jaisalmer (J): both of them are used for this edition.
Muni Shri JINAVIJAYAJI had undertaken a critical edition of this work; and, as early as 1931, he had even printed the first form of it. The students of Prakrit literature have to regret that due to various preoccupations and multifarious duties this great savant could not continue his work on this important Prakrit Text. A kalyāna-mitra as he is, he generously placed the Jaisalmer material at my disposal; and it is out of great respect for his wish that I undertook to edit this work. But for his help and constant encouragement I would not have been able to complete this arduous task. Words are inadequate to express my sense of gratitude towards him.
My sincere thanks are due to the ex-Government of Kolhapur and the University of Poona for their research grants which enabled me to continue my work on the Kuvalayamála.
Two years back some unexpected developments were about to dislocate my work on the Kuvalayamālā. Thanks to Pt. Dr. Sukhalalji Sanghavi, Ahmedabad, Dr. Hiralal Jain, Muzffarpur, and other wellwishers that I could complete the text-constitution of this Kuvalayamiilā which by its publication has positively enhanced the greatness of Indian literature in general and Prākrit literature in particular.
Karmanyevádhikaras te.
Rajaram College Kolhapur: 1-5-59.
A. N. UPADHYE
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