Prakrit Verses in Sanskrit Works on Poetics Part 01

Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: B L Institute of Indology

Page 11

Editor's Preface
As a Springer Research Scholar, University of Bombay, an Awardee of the University Grants Commission and as the Director, B, L. Institute of Indology, Patan (North Gujarat), I have been publishing, over the last many years research papers relating to the subjectmatter of the present volume, in which I am trying to bring in whatever is vital and significant for further study. The material available is stupendous. This should also explain the considerable delay in publishing this volume.
This work deals with over 3,000 Prakrit and Apabhramsa verses, although a considerable number of them are repetitions. For illustrations of various points of poetics, the writers on poetics mainly draw upon the famous Prakrit works, like Hāla's Gāthā-Saptašati, Sarvasena's Harivijaya, Pravarasena's Setubandha, Vākpatirāja's Gaüdavaho (Sk., Gaudavadha ), Mahumaha-viaa (Sk, Madhumatra-Vijaya), Koubala's Lilavai (Sk, Lilāvati), Anandavardhana's Vi şamabāņa-lila, Rājasekhara's Karpūramañjari, well known plays like Abhijñānaśākuntala, Ratnávali, Mālātimādhava, Būlarāmiyana and some other works like Rāvanavijaya, Uşaniruddha, etc., which are no longer extant. Even celebrated works like Hari-vijayas Madhumatha-vijaya are quite lost. Generally speaking, the Prakrit text of the verses cited as illustrations has been indifferently and carelessly presented. In many cases the Prakrit text shows small or big gaps. In some cases the text of different independent verses is inter mixed. and it is difficult to make head or tail of It.
In the following pages an earnest attempt is being made to present the Prakrit text correctly by tracing the gāthas or skandhakas to their sources, primary or secondary. In some cases where the sources are lost I have tentatively restored them keeping in view the context, the metre and parallel ideas met with in literature, Sanskrit as well as Prakrit. Still
some others have been only partially restored and a considerable number of them, which have · been my despair I left as they are, hoping that with fresh material available they could be
restored in the near future.
Volume I presents Prakrit and Apabhramsa verses, along with their Sanskrit Cehāyā, from twenty works on Sanskrit poetics (and, in many cases, their Sanskrit commentaries) in twenty separate chapters. Appendix-I and Appendix-II deal with the Apabhraría passages, as corrected by Dr. H.C. Bhayani, from Bhoja's Śrngäraprakā sa and Sarasvatikanthabharana respectively. These two Appendixes are followed by Corrections and Additions Then follow chapter-wise alphabetical Indexes of the Prakrit and Apabhramsa verses; and the volume ends with a Suppliment to Corrections and Additions. Abbreviations used in the work are listed at the very beginning- before the commencement of Chapter I.
Volume II will contain an Introduction, Translation, Critical Notes and Glossary of Notable Words.