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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
XV
It is not possible to include all the Pāli words in a dictionary which have been used in the entire Päli literature. Nevertheless the compilers of this dictionary had been cautious enough and vigilant in every step so that any useful word must not slip or be omitted.
This is necessary to make it clear as regards the meanings and explanations of the words adopted in this dictionary that to understand the real meaning of a word suitable quotations and examples are given especially from the Pali-Tipitaka, Atthakathās, Mūlaṭikās and while giving meaning of a word the compilers did not depend only on the etymology of the word but also on the explanations of the word given in the Apphakathās, Tikäs and Anuțikās. This will help the readers to know the synonyms of the word as well as to ascertain the doctrinal meaning implied in a particular word. The only available dictionary in Pali language i.e. the Abhidhanappadipika with its Suci has been immensely utilised here to ascertain the proper meaning of a particular word. For the derivations of the words the Pali grammatical works like Kaccāyana-vyākaraṇa, Moggallāna-vyākaraṇa and Saddaniti have been consulted wherever necessary.
In this dictionary the technical words, especially Abhidhammic and Vinayic terms and also the words connected with Vipassana meditation have been briefly explained and given in the proper place in the form of note (= f.). To make this dictionary more useful to the readers of all categories some appendices will be given in the last and concluding volume of this dictionary. In these appendices we propose to explain metres of the Päli-Gathas, rhetorics, narratives and the words of geographical and cultural importance. Instructions for the use of the dictionary are given in a separate para titled "Necessary guidance for the use of the dictionary” (शब्दकोश देखने के लिये आवश्यक निर्देश ).
The writings of the great Päli commentators like Acharya Buddhaghosa, Acharya Buddhadatta and Acharya Dhammapala were very much helpful, while compiling this dictionary as well as giving it a purified form. What the Theravada tradition ascertained the main purport of the different words of the Pali language, its sources of knowledge had been the Pāli Atthakathas. Again while the explanation of a word seemed not clear in the Athakathas, in later period were further clearly explained in the Mulațīkās and the Anuțikäs. In the present dictionary meanings of the entry-words are based on these traditional explanations. We, therefore, express our heartiest gratitude to those famous commentators and exegetists. Apart from these, the Pali-Hindi dictionary (Rhys Davids and W. Stede, P.T.S., London), A Dictionary of the Pali Language (R.C. Childers, London), A Critical Pali Dictionary (V. Trenckner, Royal Danish Academy, Copenhagen), Pali-Hindi dictionary (A.P. Buddhadatta Mahathera, Colombo), Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Grammar and Dictionary (F. Edgerton, New Haven), Dictionary of Pali Proper Names (2 Vols. G.P. Malalasekera, London) and Dictionary of Early Buddhist Monastic Terms (C.S. Upasaka, Nalanda) also have been very much helpful for the compilers of this dictionary. We, therefore express our heartiest thanks to the learned editors of these dictionaries.
His Excellency the Governor of Bihar, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Management of the Nava Nalanda Mahāvihāra, took keen interest in the alround development of the institute and encouraged us for making the institute an ideal centre of education. His
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