Mahanisiha Studies And Edition In Germany

Author(s): Chandrabhal Tripathi
Publisher: Chandrabhal Tripathi

Page 71

MAHĀNISĪHA STUDIES AND EDITION IN GERMANY
71
Niryukti-Bhāşya-Cūrņi for the Pancamangala-tract, interpolated by the patriarch Vajrasvāmin (1st cent. AD) has been simply imagined, it never existed. The word vāyaṇā in III.946 (B,p.71) refers surely to variants and not to recensions. According to passages discussed in MNSt.A,p.2ff. there were recensions (the Jaina-Granthâvali registers three) and the expression pāeņa = prāyasā occurring in the granthâgra-verse (see 19.8) refers surely to recensions. This means that we have now the Vulgata before us. 8.2.9 We may now return to Haribhadra. Did he leave his own traces in the phrase seșam tu Praśnavyākaraņa-výddhavivaraņād avaseyam (IV.$13: see 19.6)? There is a collection of similar phrases prepared by Ernst Leumann and now available in his left papers [in Hamburg); this list makes it clear that Haribhadra used similar expressions to refer to other texts and works. However, we know of no predecessor(s) of Abhayadeva, who wrote his commentary on the 10th Anga four centuries after Haribhadra and who does not mention any older commentator. Hence a later person could adduce only Abhayadeva in his support. Therefore, the composer and the purport of this note (IV.313) remain unknown.
18.3 Deleu, MNSt.B, pp.1-2
"... We may further point out the fact that such symptoms as the tantrism of the vidyās (A, pp.74ff.) and the caityavāsin way of living (denounced by our author, esp[ecially) in Chap. V) are typical of a period of decadence.
In view of these facts the many devices the author uses to lend his work a flavour of antiquity are not very convincing. Neither are some of the allegations we read in I.$28.2f. and III. $25, $46. I would not go so far, however, as to reject all of them. After all, the words bahu-gantham parigaliyam (1.828.3) might apply to the dubious passage we indeed find in I.145*ff. And, esp[ecially) because of the interpolation concerning upadhāna, the construction of Chap.III is, in fact, as loose as III.825.7 contends it is. Moreover, the passages from the suya-samudda (III.846.7) that are said to have taken the place of a bahum gantham vippaņattham are perhaps nothing but the many quotations we find in III.844. Consequently, I do not think it necessary to disbelieve the