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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.orgAcharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
( xxiv)
Udenn Targn
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rve can test whether the above three totals are in keeping with the ratio of 500: 423. (1) 199* N * = 517 which roughly gives the total verse
number of the Fa-kbeu-king original. (2) 1297339 =-6057, i.e., 606 which rougly gives the total
verse-number of the Prakrit text. The totals obtained (Pa. 123; F. O. 517; Pr. 606) might be further tested by a standard ratio provided by the verse-numbers of the Sahasra-group in the 5 recensions mentioned in the sub-joined table:P&li
Prakrit Fa-khen-king
Dhammapada original
quoted in the
Maharastu 16 16 17
2+ Taking in succession the total of the Pali text and that of the Fa-khen-king original as the standard number, the relative position of the recensions will appear as follows :(1) 429x11=449 %, ie., 450 (Pr.);
129524 -6341, 1.2., 635 (M. V. D.) ;
124*34=8987, .e., 899 (U. V.). (2) BOQ712=5315, e., 532 (Pr.);
00024=750 (M. V. D.);
504884=10627, i.e., 1063 (U. V.). Comparing these two series of totals and taking all the recensions of the Dhammapada into consideration, we cannot but persuade ourselves to believe that there were no less than six Indian copies of the Dhammapada with 423, 560, 600, 700, 900 and 1000 verses, and that these copies are no other than those represented respectively by the Pali, the Fa-kheuking original, the Prakrit, the Mahāvastu Dhammapada, the text portion of the Chul-yau-king and the Udānavarga. Of these copies, the first five were well-known before the 3rd century A.D., while the date of the Udānavarga falls in between the 4th and the 9th century A.D. Applying the verse-total as a test of priority and posteriority, we feel justified in concluding
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