Report On Search For Sanskrit MSS Year 1880 1881

Author(s): F Kielhorn
Publisher: Government Central Book Depot

Page 12

15. As I have read portions of every MS., I am able to state that nearly all of them have been written with care and are very correct. From the remarks which occur at the end of some MSS. it may be inferred that the copyists were well paid, and that as long as four or five hundred years ago palm-leaf MSS. were valuable possessions. Of the MSS. in this collection Nos. 2 and 5 were purchased in A.D. 1344 for a large sum of money by a certain Mohana, and presented by him for the spiritual welfare of his mother to the sage Jinalabdhisûri; and No. 58 was copied at the expense of a lady, and presented by her to the sage Devabhadra. A similar story appears to be told at the end of No. 60.
16. The short account of the palm-leaf MSS. given below will, I trust, enable others to judge for themselves of their value. I am aware that the collection will chiefly interest those who specially devote themselves to the elucidation of the history of the Jain religion and literature; at the same time I believe that Sanskrit scholars generally will find in it some interesting works which hitherto were either altogether unknown, or of which only very modern or incorrect, or imperfect copies were accessible.
17. The 336 paper MSS. acquired during the year may be classified thus:--
1. Veda: Samhitâ, Brāhmaṇa, and Sûtra... 31 MSS. 2. Vedânga, Upanishads, Prayogas, and similar tracts ..............
.. 117 » 3. Purâna and Mâhâtmya ..... 4. Poems, Plays, and Fables ...... 5. Grammars and Glossaries........ 6. Poetics and Metrics ............ 7. Philosophy ...................... 8. Dharma ........... 9. Astronomy and Astrology ............. 10. Medicine.......... 11. Technical books. 12. Mantra-tantra works ... 13. Jaina works, not included in the pre
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