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PREFACE
There have been already several valuable efforts to present systematically the facts of Apabhramsa grammar taking some particular text as the basis. One such attempt has been made from a comparative view-point also. Hence for the Apabhramba of the text edited here I have thought it enough to point out only those grammatical facts which in some way or other appeared striking or which were found to specially corroborate facts known from other sources. Similarly in preparing the Index Verborum the aim has been rather to give a glossary of select words than to register all the words exhaustively. Still all the verbal forms have been included along with their analysis, and care has been taken not to leave out any word of note.
Svayambhū would naturally invite comparison with his successor Puşpadanta, the only Apabhramśa epic poet whose works are published so far. And to anyone making a casual comparison it will be obvious that Svayambhū's style as compared with that of Puspadanta is simpler, direct, less elaborate and ornate and less weighed down with the burden of learning. His language is also comparatively simpler. Of course a correct appraisal of Svayambhū's poetic genius could not be made till all his works are published. In this connection I may state that so far as the Paümacariu is concerned further thirty-six Sandhis have been already printed and it is intended to publish the rest of the text as early as possible.
As the present edition was prepared by way of a thesis for the Ph.D. degree of the University of Bombay and as a particular time limit was fixed for its submission, the Introduction had to be rushed through the press within the short period of one month. Without much difficulty one can spot a few signs of hurry in the printing etc., of this work. For these I crave the indulgence of the scholars.
In the end there remains for me the pleasant duty of acknowledging my obligations to various persons and institutions who have been in some way or other helpful to me in the task that was undertaken by me. In the first place I have to express my deep sense of obligation to my Guru Acharya Jinavijaya Muni. I owe to him so much right from the selection of the subject and acquiring and deciphering of Mss. down to the taking up of the work for publishing in the Singhi Jain Series that it would be very difficult to mention everything in detail. This last fact of becoming once again associated with the Singhi Jain Series, which has been accepted by the world of scholars as a highly illustrious achievement of its all-dedicating general editor, I regard as a valuable privilege. Without Muniji's help and guidance and especially without his personal and affectionate interest in my studies, I could not have undertaken or brought out the present work.
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