Mahanisiha Studies And Edition In Germany

Author(s): Chandrabhal Tripathi
Publisher: Chandrabhal Tripathi

Page 75

MAHĀNISĪHA STUDIES AND EDITION IN GERMANY
75
(1)
Deleu, pp.136-7
Now whereas the Tirthamkaras who possess infinite knowledge and belief have expounded this explanation of the Great Text of Pancamangala in a great commentary, with [an] infinite (number of] sentences and paragraphs, and in Niryuktis, Bhāşyas and Cūrņis independent from the sacred text (itself], it here had to be expounded in brief. Now one day, owing to the wane of time, these Niryuktis, Bhāşyas and Cūrnis disappeared. Thereupon, as time went by, the (saint) named Vajrasvāmin appeared, who knew the traditional lore of the twelve Angas, who had magic forces (and) the gift for combination. He [it was who) inserted an extract of the Great Text of Pancamangala in the original text (of the Mahānisiha). As to [its) wording the original text has been enunciated by the Chief Disciples (ganadhara), as to [its) inner sense by the Arhat, the venerable Dharmatirthamkara [and] Master of the Three Worlds, the great Jina (Mahā]vira. This is the old tradition. Add to this that wherever a paragraph of the text lacks exact coherence, the Doctors should not put the blame on it that it has been badly written, but (one must consider that] many leaves of the original copy of the inconceivable wishing-stone-like Great Text of the Mahānisiha that was (available)
had partly gone to pieces owing to white ants and other causes. (9) Yet, esteeming this Book Mahānisiha (to) rank exceedingly high for (its] very
important subject-matter, [to be indeed] the most essential, most true [and] most
important part of the whole lore, (10) the acārya Haribhadra, out of love for the lore [and] in order to help many
beings receptive (to salvation) as well as for his own benefit, wrote down what he
had seen in that (original] copy, putting everything in order at his discretion. . (11)
This [text] has also been highly esteemed by the other chief Doctors of the epoch, all the Rishis Siddhasena Divākara, VỊddhavādin, Yakşasena, Devagupta, Yaśovardhana (who was Devarddhi Gani-]Kşamāśramana's pupil Ravigupta, Nemicandra, Jinadāsa Gani-Kşamakas etc.
35 I would rather prefer to translate: "Ravigupta, the pupil of Yaśovardhana kşamāśramaņa", thus dropping the brackets inserted by Deleu.
56 This is surely a reference to the famous Jinadāsa gani kşamāśramaņa, the author of the Niśithabhāsyavišeşacūmi and other works.