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Prologue
1) Having saluted the Goddess of learning, residing in the lotus of the mouth of the Omniscient One (the Jina), I shall proclaim the excellent utterances of wise people, connected with the three objects of human existence, Dharma (virtue) etc.
2) Those who do not know how to recite and hear (appreciate) Prakrit poetry which is (like) nectar (itself)- how do they not feel abashed (embarassed) while pretending to carry on gossip about the nature of love?
3) Having gathered excellent groups of gāthās (stanzas) composed by different poets, this Vajjalagga (also) called Jayavallabha, has been composed (compiled) (by me) according to a certain plan and system.
4) Where several gāthās (stanzas) are recited, dealing with a matter (topic) having one single idea running through, that indeed is vajjalagga, and vajjā is said to be (i.e. means or signifies) a line (row, succession or series) (paddhati).
5) He who always reads (or recites) the whole of this Vajjālagga, at the proper time, will become an (eminent) camposer of Prakrit poetry and will attain to (great) renown.
1. The Section on Listeners
6) It is with difficulty that poetry is composed; when it is composed it is with difficulty that it is (flawlessly) recited; and (even) when it is (flawlessly) recited, (appreciative) listeners are very scarce (difficult to get).
7) Whether expressed through the medium of Sanskrit or Prakrit, the sense (thought, idea) (conveyed) gives rise to extraordinary delight,depending on the kind of listeners (that one gets)- this is indeed very astonishing.
8) Poetry pure (flawless) in its sense and endowed with pleasing letters (sounds), when fallen on the cavity of the listen
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