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vi )
readings as they are, in asmuch as they could not be referred back to the original manuscripts which were not at my disposal while preparing this edition. I felt this difficulty vehemently in the case of the fifth adhyāya, which is copied very unsatisfactorily in both manuscripts. I have endeavoured to trace the correct readings as far as possible, but have succeeded only to a certain extent. The material for all the remaining adhyāyas was to the mark on the whole.
All the manuscripts are complete in their contents. C has, however, left off the last twenty verses (Nos. 73-92) of the second adhyāya, six (Nos. 73-78) of which are later given as an addendum at the end of the work.
• A comparative study of the manuscripts brings out a few peculiar features, which may be noted as follows: (i) A contains the largest number of verses on the whole. (ii) B omits a number of verses that are given in A, but it rarely adds any verses that are not given in the latter. (iii) In comparision to B, C differs from A considerably in omission as well as in addition. (iv) In relation to A, B and C contain a number of common variants some of which are preferable to those given in A.
The Title : The title of the work is generally given in its colophon, but the manuscripts of this work contain no general colophon at all. The adhyāyas, however, bear colophons, some of which specify the title 9734TMS . It is especially specified in the colophon of the last adhyaya in both manuscripts. The title is not mentioned anywhere in body of the work, nor do any verses hint at the exposition of its significance. But the title given in the colophon of the adkyāyas is a very apt title for a lexical work of this type.
'Taaragtt' means a lamp of word-jewels.' The jewel-lamp' is not uncommon in the Sanskrit literature. The metaphor of 'word-jewels' is very similar to that of 'word-pearls' given in the first introductory verse in A. The lexicon is thus likened to a lamp, which enlightens full aspects of jewels in the form of words. The title applies to this lexicon very appropriately, as it elucidates the denotation of several words, especially those that yield more than one meaning.
Muktakas : A, however, employs a different metaphor for the nomenclature of the adhyayas. B designates them ogs', while C styles them 2. B. fa Tom asza firar ]at anta: His: #14:
B. इति शन्दरत्नप्रदीपे लोकाधिकारः चतुर्थकांडः समाप्तः । B. la propuesta porfar: 024: ER 991473 Į A. giờ lê xa q=HT gh[]: HIG: 1.
