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Loka-tattva-nirnaya: A Critical Study noble [readers] the fundamental substance of human beings'. Here the author has mentioned the name of his work as the 'nrtattva-nigama', while the popular title is Loka-tattva-nirnaya. In this work as published by the Jaina-dharma Prasāraka Sabhā, Bhāvanagara, 1902, while translating this verse, the word ‘Nr-tattva-nigama' was explained as loka-tattva-nirņaya. It is a problem worth considering as to why the editor/translator explained it as such. In another translation the word ‘nr-tattvanigama' is explained as “loka-svarūpa-nirnaya'. The word ‘Nr means 'human being'. But explaining it as 'loka', Prof. Hiralal Kapadia says that the reason for mentioning the title as ‘Lokatattva-nirnaya' is that it has been so mentioned in the colophon. If we come across some author subsequent to Haribhadra who has mentioned this work, one ought to check how has he done it and to how much old period does he belong. One may thus come to some plausible conclusion. If the colophon has come into existence author's pen, one may surmise that both the names were intended for the work. It may be that since the compound word ‘nr-tattava-nigama' could not fit in the verse, the name ‘loka-tattva-nirnaya' was utilized.? Pt. Sukhalal Sanghavi and M.D. Desai accept the latter name as the title of this work, while Prof. Hiralal Kapadia mentions both the names.
Dr. R. S. Betai, discusses the significance of this mangalaverse and says that Haribhadrasūri salutes to Mahāvīra, the best of the Jinas, and declares that he is presenting this treatise in order to determine the real significance of the human life, so that all human beings may constantly keep themselves conscious in future about its reality. He introduces Mahāvīra as the best of the Jinas, one and yet many, and of the nature of Kaivalya. He expects here that people of the world may awaken and get to the true significance of the essential basic principle of human life. He has composed this treatise for this very purpose. It is only by devotion to this best of the Jinas, and through the grace obtained from Him that men can acquire the secret of this life
