________________
Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
284
OLD BRĀHMI INSCRIPTIONS
resemblance, among other evidences, 1 between the most peculiar dialectical style of the Kathāvatthu and that of Asoka's R.E. IX, so, perhaps, the authenticity of the tradition about the compilation of the Milinda-Pañha some 500 years after the Buddha's demise may be proved by the observed close resemblance of its style with that of the Hāthi-Gumphā text. As regards the similarity of style between the Kathāvatthu and Asoka's R.E. IX, the following quotations may here suffice :1. Katbāvatthu, 1.6—Atthi siyā atītam siyā nvātītanti. Hañci
atītam atthi, althi siyā atitam siyā nvātilam tendtītam nvātitam
nvātītam atitanti, etc. 2. Asoka’s R. E. IX—Siya va tam atham nivateyā siyā punā no
hidalo kike ca vase. Tyam puna dhamma-magale akālikye. Hamce pi tam atham no nite ti hida atham palata anamtam punā
pasavati. Hamce punā tam atham nivate ti, etc. (2) The invocation formula, Namo arihamtānam namo sava-sidhānam, used at the commencement of the Hathi-Gumphā text is closely similar to and somewhat simpler than the formula, Namo samma-samouddhānam paramatthadassīnam silddigunapāramippattānam, occurring at the commencement of the Petakôpadesa. It may be noted that the Sātavāhana inscriptions have mostly Siddham for their benedictory formula. Another form of the convention characterising such works as the Netti-Pakarana, the Milinda-Pañba and the Kauţiliya Artha-Sāstra is the epitome of the text presented in one or more verses. This twofold convention 3. which became a universal phenomenon in Indian literature dating from
1. Kathāyatthu, I. 3, stating : Majjhimesu janapadesu atthi brahmacariyavāso, Puccantimesu janapadesu n'atthi brahmacariyavāso Milakkhesu aviññātāresu. yattha n'atthi gati bhikkhūnam bhikkhuninam upāsakānam upāsikānam. 2. Netti-Pakaraṇa, p. 1 :
Yam loko pūjayate salokapālo sadā namassati ca
Tass'eta sasanavaram vidūhi neyyam naravarassa | Milinda-Panha, p. 1:
Milindo nāma 80 rājā Sāgalāyam puruttame
Upagañchi Nāgasenam Gangā va yatha sāgaram | Artha-Sāstra, p. 6:
Sukha-grahana-vijñeyam tattvärthapada-nis citam
Kautilyena krtam śāstram vimuktegrantha-vistaram || 3. The rule that a treatise should be commenced with either benedictory invocation or the specification of the thesis (asirnamaškriyā vastu-nirdéso vāpi tanmūlam) which is prescribed in the Kivya-Prakāśa and other Indian works on poetics must have been sug. gested by the twofold convention that came into vogue.
For Private And Personal Use Only
