Monks Monarchs And Materialists

Author(s): Piotr Balcerowicz
Publisher: Piotr Balcerowicz

Page 11

MONKS, MONARCHS AND MATERIALISTS
581
that forest, where there were no villages, where passages were
cut across and long paths (ran). (7) $ 767, 751: Likewise, the same phrase sülâie vā egāhacce
kūdâhacce jīviyāo va-varovaejjā varovijjai is translated slightly differently in its two occurrences: 'I would have him impaled ... and have him deprived of his life' (8 751[168] pp. 101/103) and: ‘is impaled or at once deprived of his life' ($ 767[184] pp. 136137). In BOLLÉE's rendering the underlined expression is missing It is derived from the verb avhan 'to strike' to kill': eka + āhatya and kūța + āhatya ('having pierced with one (sharp end), spiked with a prong'). Thus, suggested: ‘I would have him impaled, by having shim) pierced with one (sharp end], having shim) spiked
with a prong... and have him deprived of his life'. (8) $ 769: BOLLÉE leaves out the sentence: Evām-eva tumaṁ pi
vavahāri no c'eva na tumam, Paesī, a-vvavahāri. - 'In exactly this manner also you are socially engaged, certainly it is not the
case that you, Paesī, are not socially engaged'. The above are just minor suggestions of what I hope could be slight improvements in cases which are indeed extremely problematic and the interpretations of much later Sanskrit commentators often rather clouded the matter, instead of throwing some light on Prakrit expressions.
A very good idea was to supplement 'The Story of Paesi' with the edition of Prakrit text and English translation of another dialogue devoted to the subject of the (non-)existence of the soul and afterlife in the Appendix (pp. 357–368). This is a discourse between a materialist Pingakesa, called a nihilist (nāhiya-vāi), and a Jaina monk Vijayasimha, that is included in the religious poem Samarāicca-kahā of Haribhadra-sūri (d.c. 800). Also this dispute remains practically unknown to the Occidental student of Indian philosophy.
The disturbing feature in the book is the abundance of stray hyphens, a result of final re-formatting of the book before the actual process of printing, which is the fault of the publisher alone, not of the author.
The book is a well-researched contribution to the study of the philosophy, especially materialist thought, and society of ancient India. In addition, in view extensive philological elucidation and methodical glossary of Prakrit terms, BOLLÉE's book may serve as a good companion or practical introduction to the Ardha-māgadhī Prakrit.