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Review
taries will benefit so far as the readings of their commentaries are concerned. He repeatedly states the importance of the Sāradipikā as a research tool and the help the Allahabad editors will get in the reprint of their work. With the help of the manuscript J. which is a very clear manuscript he has furnished an appendix (No 3), in this work, in which nearly fifty passages marked as 'not clear' in Vol I at different places are corrected to satisfaction. The three manuscripts utilised by Shri N. are complimentary to one another, so that lacunae in one are improved upon by the other two.
In the Introduction, some of the things stated in, the preface are referred to again. Gunaratna's commentary is simple, explanatory and clear. At very few places it enters into scholarly discussions. It almost avoids discussion in the context of Mimāms and Vjākarana. It is heavily indebted to the earlier commentaries that is why it is called Sāradipikā, a lamp illuminting the essence of the earlier works. There are no religious or sectarian digressions and no undue interest in explaining verses depicting love in union. According to Shri N, the commentary has a touch of originality and it has its utility as a research tool.
There are nine appendixes, which are based on Dr. N's notes at the end of each Ullasa. In A, N refers to, by giving the contexts of the foot note numbers, the places where Gunarataa is indebted tɔ Bālacittā nur añjadi. Io B, there are references to other commentaries (tikāntara) or other explanations (vyākhyāatara). C gives references to the Sārabodhio. D gives words missing in J, B or P. E records Gunaratna's better readings. F states some genuine mistakes located in the Sāradipikā. G gives references to literary and other works and also to some ālamkārikas.. H points out passages improved upon with the help of J. I refers to Gunaratna's elaboration, or remarks.
Photo-stat copies of seven pages of the manuscripts P and Jare given.
The work of editing an older text is difficult. It requires patience, care and a thorough knowledge of the relevant subject treated by the text. This is particularly so when the manuscripts, being incorrect, are not of much help. Dr. Nandi with his detailed knowledge of Alamkāraśāstra and his experience of editing works of this śāstra, has proved his competence in this work. As it is, the Kavyaprakāśa is an elaboration of almost all the discussion in Poetics, before Mammata, Gunaratna's commentary is bound to be a lengthy work, when the author explains each word of Kāvs aprakāśa. Dr. Nandi has completed very ably, a difficult task.
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