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Preface
Dr. Adinath Neminath Upadhye, the doyen of Indological, Prakrit and Jain learning, published his outstanding critical edition of Lilavai in the Singhi Jain Granthamala Series of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in 1949. He brought out its second edition in 1966. This interesting poem in Mahārāştri Prakrit: was prescribed as a text-book for M.A. degree examination in Prakrit by the University of Bombay. I happened to teach this text in the M.A. class of 1971-72, when I realised that without a verse-by-verse translation, Dr. Upadhye's excellent edition could not fulfil the need of our students. I therefore translated the poem into English, mainly for our students of post-graduate classes.
I have closely followed Dr. Upadhye's text of the poem, his critical apparatus and explanatory notes for preparing this trans. lation. At some places I found that a satisfactory translation: could not be made without differing from Dr. Upadhye's interpretation as given in his notes. I have indicated these differences parenthetically in my translation..
My translation of Lilavai is seeing the light of the day only because of the encouraging interest shown by Dr. H. C. Bhayani. and the office-bearers of the Prakrit Vidya Mandal. I record my very sincere gratitude to Dr. Bhayani, Dr. R. M. Shah and the Mandal. I also thank Dr. K. V. Apte of Willingdon College, Sangli, Dr. P. M. Upadhye and Dr. V. M. Kulkarni of Bombay, who always encouraged me in my Prakrit studies,
S. T. Nimkar
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