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INTRODUCTION
(c) The Style of the Text and comm.
Style of the Text: The whole of Sanmati is written in verse. The metre employed throughout the work is Ārya. The popular test of determining the date of a particular author is the critical study of the particular metres used by the authors in his works. But this test will not at all be helpful in determining the date of Siddhasena. Though the authors preceding and succeeding Siddhasena have used Anustubh, Upajati and other metres in their Prākṛta works, the most popular metre used in writing Prākṛta verses from ancient times right up to the 18th century has been the Arya metre. Looking to the very great popularity of Arya metre in Prakṛta, one is led to believe that this Arya metre is more suited to the genius of Prakṛta language than all other metres; and it is because of this that the author has selected this particular metre here. It does not seem that his times have, in any way, influenced Siddhasena in making a choice of this metre. It can, however, be safely inferred that as Umaswati got his inspiration of writing Sutra works from the Vidic scholars and writers preceding him, Divakara also got his inspiration in writing philosophical works in verse from his predecessors. Siddhasena himself had before him as his model the verse-works such as Nagarjuna's Madhyamikakärikā as well as other Bauddha works, Vedic works such as Sankhyakarika of Is warakṛṣṇa and the famous Jaina works such as the Pravacanasara and Pañcastikaya of Kundakunda.
Style of the comm.: The commentary is written not in verse but in prose. Except the first few verses
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