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I feel happy at the publication of the second printing of the English translation of Pandit Sukhlalji's commentary on the Tattvārthasūtra. Its first edition was published back in 1974. The book was for long out of print and was in demand from several quarters. It was, therefore, decided to reprint it, which is herewith released for circulation.
FOREWORD
The Tattvarthasutra is the most famous work of Vacaka Umäsvāti on Jaina darśana. There exist several commentaries on it in both Svetambara and the Digambara tradition. And several books have also been published on it in languages such as Gujarātī, Hindi, English and Kannada. A large number of editions based on the original Sūtra-text and its commentaries testify to the importance of this work. Among the critical editions on this famous work, Pandit Sukhlalji's commentary on it in Gujarātī is simple as well as lucid. It was translated into English by Dr. K. K. Dikshit and the editor of that version was Pt. Dalsukh Malvania. It is indeed tragic that none of the three scholars is today with us. We hope that, with the publication of this second printing, the scholars studying Jaina doctrine and philosophy will once more get a ready access to the work.
Thanks to laser-printing, the second edition looks more attractive and handsome. Shri Akhilesh Mishra and Smt. Purviben Shah had diligently typeset the book. And Shri Naranbhai Patel had carefully read the proofs. They all are on the staff of the Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre, Ahmedabad. I am thankful to them all.
L. D. Institute of Indology
Ahmedabad-380009
24-4-2000.
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
Jitendra B. Shah Director
www.jainelibrary.org
