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PREFACE
Out of the three works of the poet Puspadanta, the Jasaharacariu was edited by me in 1931, the second edition of which with Hindi translation by the late Dr. Hiralal Jain was recently published. The second work, the Nayakumaracariu, edited by Dr. Hiralal Jain was published in 1933, the second edition with Hindi translation was also recently published. The third work, the Mahapurana is the biggest, and it was edited by me in three volumes, 1937-1941. I spent over ten years, 1932-41 in its preparation. This is its second edition with Hindi translation by Dr. Devendra Kumar Jain, and published by the Bharatiya Jnanpith. I feel particularly happy that the above institution undertook its publication and thus made the work available to scholars. The lovers of Apabhramba literature are very grateful to the Bharatiya Jnanpith.
I expected that some young scholars of Apabhramsa would come forward to undertake some studies on this epoch-making publication. In 1964, my friend and pupil the late Dr. A. N. Upadhye introduced to me a young lady who obtained her doctorate degree on the Dest words in the Mahapurāpa. I am sorry I do not remember her name and whereabouts. There is yet another subject, I suggest, relating to an analysis of metres used by the poet in his works which also is a necessity. Let me hope that some young scholar would come forward to undertake the problem.
The reader should note that poet Puspadanta belonged to the Digambara sect of the Jainas, while its editor is neither Digambara nor Svetāmbard. In interpreting the philosophical doctrine, he may have committed some mistakes because his knowledge of Jainism is from books. I, therefore, allow the reader to correct the editor's mistakes, if any, in the critical Notes.
Poona,
11th May, 1974.
-P. L. Vaidya
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