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INTRODUCTION
31
yamáläkahå we could obtain correct readings. The reason of giving correct and original readings in foot-notes in the printed Kuvalayamáläkah, and of accepting the corrupt readings in the body of the text in the same printed edition is learned editor's intention to give importance to the oldest manuscript that he obtained. In this regard I would like to repeat what I stated elsewhere, that one must accept the readings of even the recently written manuscript provided it yields correct readings, considering that the concerned manuscript must have been based on some ancient manuscript. Much could be written on this point, but it is irrelevant. The interest ed and learned readers will easily recognise correctness or otherwise of readings if they compare the present recension with the printed Kuvalayamalakahā recension.
Regarding tracts included in this part, I would like to draw the attention of readers to one useful point. Of the tracts Nos. 4 to 12 in this part, the tract No. 5 is an independent short treatise. Of all other tracts except it, the one (No. 4) is from the Kuvalayamālākahā, another (No. 6) is from the Säntināthacaritra and the third one (No. 7) is from the Trişaştisalākapuruşacaritra. Thus these three tracts are extracted from those voluminous works. Similarly, it is quite possible that the remaining five tracts (Nos. 8 to 12) too are extracts from small or big works. All the eight tracts (Nos. 5 to 12) are contained in one and the same manuscript forming a collection. It seems some one has prepared a collection of spiritually beneficial writings gleaned from different works, considering them to be very useful to those desirous of spiritual good and interested in the study of works conducive to it. The manuscripts written as collection of different works are available in Bhandāras at various places. In recent times, it is very easy to collect useful writings, simply glancing at Contents of the printed works.
DESCRIPTION OF MANUSCRIPTS 1. Paināyariyaviraiyā Ārāhanapadaya – In editing this tract, Muni Shri Punyavijayaji has utilised one palm-leaf manuscript bearing the sign A and five paper manuscripts bearing signs B, C, D, E and F. The description of these six manuscripts is as follows:
A- This is a palm-leaf manuscript written in c. 14th cen. tury V.S., of Samghavī Pādā Jaina Jñanabhandāra preserved in the Hemacandrācārya Jaina Jñānamandira, Patan. The present Ārādhanapatākā is contained in Folios 1 to 51 of the manuscript. The text of this Aradhanapatākā ends in the 51st folio. After
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