Lexicographical Studies In Jaina Sanskrit

Author(s): B J Sandesara, J P Thaker
Publisher: Oriental Institute

Page 47

II. Prabandhakośa of Rājasekharasüri (1349 A.D.) The Prabandhakośa is another Prabandha work, also known as Caturviņśatiprabandha, composed by the Svetāmbara Jaina pontiff Maladhārin Rājasekharasūri of the Harsapuriya Gaccha. As stated at the close of the work, it was written in Delhi at the instance of, and was completed in the residence offered by, Mahanasimha, a promotor of the six systems of philosophy and son of Samanta Jagatsimha of Sapädalakṣa who gave relief to the people during famine and was honoured by Mahamadasāhi, on the 7th day of the bright half of the month of Jyestha in 1405 V.S. (1349 A.D.).
The author has mentioned at the very outset that the present work is a compilation of twentyfour extensive and interesting Prabandhas as learnt from his religious elders. It clearly appears that he has drawn upon such preceding works as the Prabhāvakacarita (1334 V.S.), the Prabandhacintāmaņi (1361 V.S.), the Vividhatirthakalpa ( 1381 V.S.) and the Purātanaprabandhasangraha. He has also acknowledged his indebtedness to a work called Nāgamata for the Prabandha of Vatsarāja Udayana. Despite all this, we do find in the Prabandhakośa a considerable new material which carries special interest.
Though the present work is written in a very simple colloquial Skt. prose,* in order that it may be easily understood, according to his own statement, by one possessing just the working knowledge of the language, the author appears to be highly proficient in the language, quite conversant with the intricacies of its grammar.
The Prabandhakośa was first rendered into Gujarāti by the late Prof. Maņilāla Nabhubhāi Dwivedi and the translation was published by the Education Department of the former Baroda State in 1895 A.D. Another Gujarāti translation by Prof. Hirālāla Rasikadāsa Kāpadia was brought out by the Forbes Gujarāti Sabhā, Bombay in 1934 A.D. (G.T.). Ācārya Jinavijayaji has promised in the Introduction to his edition of the work (1935 A.D.) to publish a Hindi translation of the same, which has, however, not materialised as yet.
It will not be out of place here to note that besides the Prabandhakośa, Rājasekharasūri has composed. Nyāyakandalīpañjikā (1385 V.S.), a Vștti on Hemacandra's Pkt. Dvyāśraya-kāvya (1387 A.D.), Şaddarśanasamuccaya, Caturaśītikathā, Dānaşaţtrimśikā, Ratnākarāvatārikāpañjikā, Kautukakathā or Antarakathāsangraha, Syädvādakalikā and Vinodakathā, the last being a collection of humorous tales. He is also said to have revised jñānacandra's Ratnāvatārikāțippaņa and Munibhadra's Sāntināthacarita ( 1410 V.S.).
* Only one Prabandha, viz. that of Mallavādin, is written throughout in verse, which too is easily understandable.