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INTRODUCTION
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From the information given above it follows that the Isibhāsiyain is an ancient work.
There are four anuyogas (groups of texts), of which one is dharmānuyoga. The Rşbhāṣitasutra is included in the dharmanuyoga. (See Niśīthasūtracūrni, Part IV, p. 253.)
Printed Editions of the Rşibhāşitasūtra : Even before this edition of ours, there existed three printed editions (1) An edition published by Rsabhadeva Kesarimal, Ratlam, (2) Dr. Walther Schubring's edition published by the L. D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad, 1974. This edition is the reproduction of the original edition printed in Germany. It is printed in both the scripts, Roman as well as Devanagarī. (3) Pt. Shri Manoharamuniji's edition published by Sudharma Jñānamandir, Bombay, 1963. Of these, the first edition seems to be for the use of deserving readers who want to know simply the meaning of the text. Hence therein we do not find variants recorded in the foot-notes, nor do we find special notes and appendixes. Compared with the old manuscripts, it is easy to read. Dr. Walther Schubring's edition records variants and gives explanations in English (being the translation of explanations originally written in German) and Sanskrit; the explanations cover the entire text. Pt. Manoharamuniji's edition does not simply follow the editions published earlier. Pt. Manoharamuniji has independently examined the old manuscripts and recorded the variants. He seems to have taken great pains in carrying out this tedious work. This edition contains the text of the Isibhāsiyāim, its Hindi and Gujarati translation, Sanskrit commentary and at places translation of the Sanskrit commentary. Moreover, in the beginning it gives 'Isibhāsiyáim Sūtra Paricaya' (an introductory essay on the Isibhāsiyāim) wherein Pt. Shri Manoharamuniji has given useful information, quoting the Jaina and the Non-Jaina works.
In the preparation of the critical edition of this Prakīrņaka, I have specially drawn upon Dr. Schubring's edition. In spite of this, at a very few places, I have accepted the readings different from those accepted by Dr. Schubring. I have done so on the basis of my understanding and some sound textual corroboration. Some of these readings accepted by me differ from those accepted by Dr. Schubring in optional syllable alone; at these places I have followed the old manuscripts utilised by me. Readers will easily know that whereever in foot-notes I have recorded the reading giving the sign To (= Schubring), in the body of the text I have accepted the reading different from the one accepted by Dr. Schubring. To illustrate this I give one example. In the third foot of the fourth gāthā of the
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