Mahanisiha Studies And Edition In Germany

Author(s): Chandrabhal Tripathi
Publisher: Chandrabhal Tripathi

Page 53

MAHĀNISĪHA STUDIES AND EDITION IN GERMANY
dāsa who borrowed the verses, and this opinion is supported by Deleu (MNSt.B, p.1,fn.2): "From a close comparison of the verses which the MNA and Dharmadāsa's Uvaesamālā (date unknown, probably about 900 AD) have in common it appears that, most probably, Dharmadāsa is the borrower. ... With regard to the readings of the MNA those of the Uvaesamālā are, indeed, characterized by a certain degree of normalization. -- The reverse process is, I think, rather improbable! -- Everything that is questionable, unmetrical, or merely unusual49 has been corrected, dropped or smoothed over in Dharmadāsa's workuso. On the other hand, Hamm (MNSt.C,p.51: note on V1.386*ff. which are āryās) opines that this 9th section of the VIth Chapter distinguishes itself from the preceding 8th section by its clarity both in language and contents as most of its verses are borrowed from the Upadeśamālā of Dharmadāsa; he thus disagrees with Schubring. Deleu on his part refutes Hamm (see above).
For common verses see the appended chart.
16.3 The MNA, Gacchâcāra and the Upadeśamālā are obviously to be dated to the same period of decadence as they all deal in detail with the conditions prevalent in it. Moving back in time, it must be noticed here that the MNA not only knows by mere name but also cites the older exgetical literature of the Niryuktis, Bhāșyas and Cūrņis developed in course of time to explain the still older strata of the Canonical texts. Thus, the Āvaśyaka-niryukti (ĀvNi) is cited: e.g. MNA 1.35*-37* (Deleu, MNSt.B,p.20) are ĀvNi.101*-103*, these verses were quoted already by A. Weber (SLJ,p.184; 13.2), see also E. Leumann, Avaśyaka-Erz.,p.19: II.22. For twelve verses of the AvNi, twelve vss. of the Pinda-niryukti (three of them in the Ogha-niryukti also) appearing in the MNA see the chart.
49 Questionable are e.g. 1.9* (dupattijje), III.119* (anāghão); unmetrical are III.56*b, VI.393*b, 394*a; unusual are for instance III.60* (bhannau), III.112* (logam), III.119* = V.105* (thaviya/ve), VI.395* (avilā).
50 Deleu continues: "... Short verbal forms (tippe VI.390*, tacche VII.17*, anushe and patthe VIII.12*) seem to have been avoided. Nominal forms in -e have been replaced by forms in -a (VI.393* and 398*), -o (III.112*, VI.402*) or -am (III.56*, V1.400*), gitis have become aryās (III.56*, VI.393*, 400*, 402*). Note that MNA.I.10* = UpMā.84* obviously is a quotation introduced in both works, by extrametrical jam".
51 They recur in the Visesavašyaka-bhāsya of Jinabhadra-gaņi as vss.1156*, 1162*, 1166* in Pt. Dalsukhabhai Malvania's edition: LDS.10.1966,pp.220-222.