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INTRODUCTION. The following materials liave been utilised in the edition of this work:
A-US. belonging to the India Office Library. It is the lust of four Jain MSS. bound together in a volume, numbered 1363. Each of the four MSS. bears an endorsement stating that they were " presented by H. T. Colebrooke, Esq.” They contain the l'ajjūlaya, Rajaprashniy, Shatruñjaya Sära, and Ucisakalashi. Of the two last manuscripts, the first leaf is winting. MS. A is written on paper, 40 leares with 10 lines of about 3S akşara each. It is dated Samvat 1621 (= 1564 A. D.), Shrāvana, sudi, the 14th, and is a good manuscript. The colophon states it to have been written for the reading (puthanārtham) of the Shrārikā Punya-prabhāvikā. I received it through the kindness of Dr. Rost, the Librarian of the Indian office.
B-MS. belonging to the Oriental Library of the Asiatic
ciety of Bengal. It is a comparatively modern manu. script, obtained by the Society from the Library of the Mahārāja of Bikaner, about three years ago, through the intermediation of the Government of India. The manuscript which was intended by the Society to be copied is numbered 1533 in the printed Bikaner Library's catalogue published by the Governinent of India. In that catalogue it is stated to be dated Samrat 1117', and to be accompanied “by a Sinskrit commentary named Upāsaka-dasa-vivarana.” The Society's copy, however, shows the date Samvat 1824 (=1707 A. D.), Phāguna, sudi, the 9th, Thursday; nor is it accompanied by any Sanskrit commentary, though it is accompanied by an interlinear tabbā or vernacular (Gujarātī) para
! On this date, see the remarks below, p. xxi.
