Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 4

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 35

26
Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin No. 4
suit. Now in between the first-uttering and the first-walking, the solemnizing of birth-day ceremony in no way fits. So the meaning attached to the word in question by the commentators is certainly inconsistant. But it is quite natural that after the first uttering of meaningful words, the child should be taught to greet.
A very laboured meaning is given to the word by the commentators. They equate it with 97554ą and explain it as the art of piercing by an arrow the wings (97) of a flying bird88. Among the 72 arts the child is said to be taught the above art too. But the said meaning involves too much of strain upon the text. The word should simply mean the art of cutting figures upon a (lotus) leaf.
नवङ्गसुत्तपडिबोहए Dradhapratijña is described as having attained youth and completed his study under teachers of art and become well-versed in the 72 kinds of arts and 18 kinds of native languages. Consecutively he is described as
Fanfsalat and then in the same vein he is described as an adept in singing, dancing etc.
Now the commentators interpret the said word as नवांगसुप्तप्रतिबोधक i. e. one whose nine sleeping limbs were awakened.85 This is however a lay and unconvincing interpretation of the word and is not in harmony with the preceding and the succeeding epithets.
The dictionary meaning of the word 'पडिबोहए' (प्रतिबोधक) is twofold, liamely (1) 'one who imparts knowledge' and (2) 'one who awakens'.
32. ... OTTFÖTTEET TADEJUHT FETTET . 33. (FO 17H ) the art of piercings (97) of a bird in air (with an
arrow) -R. C. Tripathi 34. ...बावत्तरिकलापंडिए णवगसुत्तपडिबोहए अट्ठारसविहदेसिप्पगारभासा
fagreg. 35. (FTO paint ca sfaat:14:) one whose nine sleeping or inactive
(TCT) limbs have been awakened up. It means that the child's nine limbs-eyes, ears, hands, nose, tongue, mind etc. are not very active in that state of life, but they do become active as the child grows up to be a man.-R. C. Tripathi