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42
Atmabodha
sinall work is critically edited witli an introduction and accurately tra. nslated into English for the first time on the basis of the MS. found in Punyavijayaji's collection at L.D.Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad under the heading of Ekatvasaptatikādı - Ācārya - Padmanandı Krtisangi alia, 28 No. 4425/12/
This complete Ms. of 33 verses consists of 3 folios (24 B to 26 A), containing 58 lines and 47 to 49 letters to a lie. The size of each page is 25 5 x 11.5 cm. It is hand-written in black ink on the hand made paper ( = country paper ) Handwriting is very clear and fair, space is left for full-stop (danda) after completion of every verse. The Ms seems to be very old (circa 400 years ), solid in appearance and condition of the MS is very good. This work is written along with other works of Padmavandi, so, it begins after, the work Siddhastuti in the MS. and it ends with Krtinamıha panditottama Sri Padmanandinah. Few mistakes are found here and there. Possible corections are shown in the bracket with questionmark.29
To speak about this work, it is termed as Atmabodha-self awarness or Alocana-self-confession. It seems that the name Älocana is more popular than Atmabodha. The author himself, in the concluding verse. calls it Alocanā.30 An unknown Sanskrit commentator's commentary on this work, ends with ityalocana samāpta 31 This work is also termed as Atmabodlia on the basis of the inner current of thought. This name is more bifitting to this work. There are two currents of thought running thioughout the hymn One is in the form of self-confession of onc's own faults and another as in the form of describing the nature of Atmall and self-realization. Most of the verses are devoted to the latter. The author's statement that recitation of this work leads one to the abode of bliss in the concluding verse, itself, justifies the title Atmabodha. Though small in size, it is a very important hymn from the Jaina religious point of view. It seenis to be a sponte neous expression of a mystic mind in its attempt to realise the Supreme Reality i.e., Ātnian on the religious plane. This hymn is full of rhythm, (28) Published Catologue, (29) It is very important to mention here that when we have completed the criti
cal edition and English translation of this sinal treatise, the printed book Padmanandi Pancavimsati, with Sauskuit commentary ed by AN. Upadhye and H. L. Jaina came to our hand. We have made good use of it in introduction, but we have maintained our own critical readings, and different readings accepted by thosc cditors are mentioued in the notes, wherever
necessary. (30) Süreh Pankajanandinah Kuninámälocanam;-33 (31) Padmanandi-Pancavimsati-Alocanz-P-168
