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PREFACE
1. The Need of a Critical Edition of Prakrtasarvasva.
A brief explanation is necessary while bringing out a critical edition of Präkṛtasarvasva, the well known Prakrit grammar of Märkandeya Kavindra. Its edition in Devanagari script by Shri. P. V. BHATTANATHASVAMI appeared for the first time in the year 1912 and was published by Arṣasangha in Granthapradarsani periodical at Vizagapatam. It was reprinted by the Arṣasangha in the form of a book at Vizagapatam in the year 1927. This edition was probably based on a single manuscript, for the editor does not give any clue to this effect and excepting the bare text the reader is disappointed at the absence of notes, variant readings and indices in it. After this edition, however, no other edition of this grammar has been brought out though the scholars have allthrough felt a great need of a critical edition of this work based on more manuscript material. GRIERSON opined that the critical edition of the said work was a desideratum and he actually attem pted to bring out one in his ripe age with the help of more manuscripts. But unfortunately he passed away, before he could accomplish it. Dr. A. N. UPADHYE in a footnote to his paper "Paisāci Language and Literature” (ABORI, XXI. p. 10) similarly opines that a critical edition of Mk's grammar based on more manuscript material is an urgent need. NITTI DOLCI expresses her disappointment at the uncritical edition of Präkṛtasarvasva in Devanagari script which is lacking in notes and indices ( Les Gram. p. 127). I now proceed to give a brief account of the manuscript material used by me for bringing out this edition.
2, The Critical Apparatus.
It is first of all necessary to give a short account of the Mss. which GRIERSON collated for a critical study of the work.1 They are as follows:
1. See footnote on p. 514-The Prakrit Vibhāṣās " GRIERSON, JRAS, 1918.
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