________________
INTRODUCTION
xxiii
such stanzas quoted in thetorical works or found included in literary works are not accompanied by the remark that they are derived from the VL, they are of no use in determining the date of the VL.
(vi). Sources of the Vajjālagga :
The VL, just like the Gathāsaptaśatī of Hāla, is not an original and independent creation of a single author.' It is an anthology of Prākrit stanzas (gāthās), which, as stated by the author in st. 32, were selected by him from the works of different poets and put together in the form of a single collection, being arranged topically under a number of sections (vajjās). The author claims that the stanzas included by him in the present anthology are the best that he could lay his hands on (TIEJÚ ate.citoi). The word AEOT ("according to a definite plan, method or system”) used in st. 3 seems to refer to the topical grouping of the stanzas under different sections and to the presentation of the sections under the three broad groups, Dharma, Artha and Kama. Unfortunately the names of the authors of the different stanzas are nowhere mentioned either in the MSS of the text or in the commentary of Ratnadeva. Even though we may come to know
1. According to Winternitz ( loc. cit. p. 101 ), Hāla was not a mere compiler of an anthology, but a redactor (editor), who had great enthusiasm and regard for Prākrit poetry and who. was also poetically gifted as he has made the selection of the stanzas with great skill and refined taste, and he was responsible for giving to the stanzas collected by him the last poetical form and finish. The author of the VL may be similarly credited with redactorial activity in compiling the present collection. He has taken great pains to make a very good selection out of the innumerable Prākrit stanzas available to him and may have given to many of the gathās their peculiar poetical stamp or character. It is clear that he was responsible for composing the prologue (stanzas 1-5) and the epilogue ( stanzas 794, 795) and also someof the stanzas in the three introductory sections (सोयारवज्जा, गाहाal and 77955).
2., विविहकइविरइयाणं गाहाणं वरकुलाणि घेत्तण। रइयं वज्जालम्गं विहिणा जयवल्लहं नाम ॥ 3. raamste 94711 EETRI arag I st. 1.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
