Sambodhi 2007 Vol 31

Author(s): J B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 26

20
RABINDRA KUMAR PANDA
SAMBODHI
renderings as they are found in MSS."8
Ghatage enlightens us by saying that "Fairly good from the Prakrit point of view is the edition of Mrcchakatika by Godbole (BSS, 1886) though a more critical edition of this all important drama for Prakrits is urgently needed."9 Similarly "the editions of Malatimadhava by Bhandarkar, Mudrārākṣasa by Telang, Ratnavali by Cappeller in the second edition of Bohtlingk's Chrestomathie where the usual chāyā is replaced by a Prakrit -Sanskrit index. S. Konow has prepared an admirable edition of the Karpūramañjarī of Rajasekhara.
S. R. Banerji brings to light one more problem in connection with the Sanskrit dramas. "The names of dialects and sub dialects given by Sanskrit dramaturgists and rhetoricians in their respective treatises are another problem. The problem arises because the names of the speakers used some languages are prescribed by them are not always found in the existing Sanskrit dramas, except a few speaking Sauraseni and Magadhī. We will be surprised to know that fisherman will speak Magadhi is not sanctioned by any Sanskrit dramaturgist. But, at a much later time in the 14th cent. A.D. in Simhabhūpāla's (1330) Rasārṇavasudhakara it is said that dhivara will speak in Magadhi (dhivaradyatinicesu māgadhi ca niyujyate). Whether Simhabhūpāla was carried out by Śakuntala or by some other grammar is only a speculation. But Bharata in his Natyaśāstra has not really mentioned about dhivara speaking Māgadhi. However, it is necessary that these aspects of Prakrit dialects and sub dialects are to be reinvestigated in the light of the documentary evidence."9
At the end let me conclude the paper with the following valuable remark of Prof.Ghatage:
"As compared to the vast number of editions of Sanskrit dramas there are very, few good ones for the Prakrit passages, even for the best known plays. It is to be hoped that future editors would give greater attention to this aspect of their work andmake up for the deficiency which is so keenly felt."10
References:
1. Ghatage, A.M.," A Brief Sketch of Prakrit Studies," in Progress of Indie Studies, Edited by R.N. Dandekar, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona, 1985,p.154
2 (a). Mṛcchakatika Edited by Stanzler. Bonn, 1847,