Mahabhasya Dipika of Bhartrahari (Fascicule IV : Ahnika I)

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Preface This so-called critical edition' (with translation) of the first Ahnika of Bharthari's Mahabhasyadipika is no more, and can be no more, than an attempt to make sense of an often unintelligible text. banded down in one incomplete manuscript. This being the case, it can India way claim to be final. Other reconstructions and Interpretations based OD tube lame text can often be conceived. and it is not usually possible to ascertain which of these will be closest to Bhartharits original text and meaning... Only in exceptional cases is it possible to reasons true an original reading with lame degree of certainty. Examples where this is posible are, first of all, quotations from earlier works and quotations from Bbarthari in later works. In almost all other cases any emendation or the tut is bound to be conjectural.

It is for this reason that auk serious students of the Mahabhasyadipika will want to use. besides this edition. a copy or the manuscript. the two other editions of the texts.' As. therefore,. a Unavailable evidence is at the disposal of the reader. manuscript readings have not been recorded In footnotes.

My connection with Bhartrhari'. Mahabhasyadipika has been a long one. In 1976, while studying in Poona, (approached Professor K. V. Abbyankar - one of the editors of this text - with the request to read the Dipika with me. Professor Abhyankar kindly agreed, but we had read no more than a few pages before he was cruelly murdered. I decided to continue on my own. and prepared some kind of translation of the find Ahnika in the course of 1977. I then abandoned this lask until 1984 when, at the instigation of Acarya V. P. Limaye, that most unfortunately died soon after. wards. I was involved in the new Dipika project of the Bhandrkar Orient. al Research Institute. For this purpose I spent the months of July, August, and September of 1984 in Poona. During this period I was able to discuss part of my work with Pro(euro Dr. S. Daddu. What female to be done was completed in the following, month back in Europe.

I thank Prof. Ladd for working, with me on this interfaith, project, the authority’s o( the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute for inviting. me to participate in it, the Netherlands Orpnization (or the Advancement or Pure Research (ZWO) for (duding, my research. and the Netherlands. Orpnization for the Advancement o( Tropical' Research (WOTRO) (or (undid my trip to India.