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regarding the work. The reader is referred to it for information, regarding these topics. .
A cursory glance at the work will show that it is a kind of lexicon in Sanskrit. It is well known that from ancient times many scholars of Sanskrit learning have been preparing various kinds of lexicons and the activity still continues. From ancient times we have such works as Amara, Viśva, Vaijayanti, Medini, Dhanañjaya, Abhidhăna-cintāmaņi etc. In modern times we have huge works like Sabdakalpadruma, Vacaspatya Bșhadabhidhāna, Sabdastomamahānidhi, Sabdacintămaņi etc. We have also Sanskrit dictionaries prepared by western scholars like Wilson, Monier Williams, Macdonell and others. Of these the most important and authoritative is 'the St. Petersburg's Sanskrit-Worterbuch in seven volumes prepared by the German scholars Roth and Bothlingk. The work occupied more than fifty years of life of these scholars. It was published by the Royal Academy of Science, St. Petersburg (now Leningrad ), the imperial capital of Russia. For this reason the work is known to scholars as Petersburg Sanskrit Lexicon.
The Deccan College Research Institute of Poona has undertaken, on a large scale the preparation and publication of Sanskrit Dictionary based upon, the principles of the modern science of linguistics. Along with the preparation of this work the Institute is publishing. old Sanskrit lexicons, small and big, such as Anekārthatilaka, Amaramandana, Sāradiyā nāma-mālā, Sivakośa, Nānārtha-Ratna-Mālā etc.
This work also is being published with a similar purpose in view. It will, it is hoped, meet with approval of those scholars who desire to see the works of various branches of Sanskrit learning published.
The name of the author of this work is not known nor are there any definite indications in the beginning or end of the work by which we can know something about the religion of the author. So, what the learned editor has said in his introduction, is proper.
There are, however, one or two references in it by which one may guess that the author was a Jain. I refer to one of them for the
consideration of the learned. In the 56th verse of the first Muktaka four meanings of Jina' are given, viz. (1) Vitarāga (as worshipped by the Jains) (2) Vişnu, (3) Kandarpa and (4) Sāmānyakevalin. Of these the first two are to be found in other lexicons; but the third and the fourth meanings are not to be (generally found in other lexicons. Of these the
fourth meaning viz. Sämanyakevalin deserves special notice. According · to Jain scriptures those who attain Keyala Jñāna are called Kevalins;
