Bhartuhari Shataka Trayam

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Bhartrhari Shataka Trayam," based on the provided pages:

Title: Bhartrhari's Shataka Trayam (The Three Centuries of Bhartrhari)

Author: Mahakavi Bhartrhari (Great Poet Bhartrhari)

Commentary: The oldest known Jain commentary by Pandit Dhansara Gani.

Publisher: Singhi Jain Granthamala, published by Adhisthata, Singhi Jain Sastra Siksha Pitha, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay.

Series: Singhi Jain Series, Number 29.

Publication Year: Vikram Samvat 2015 (corresponding to 1959 AD).

Editor: Professor Damodar Dharmanand Kosambi.

Content: The text comprises Bhartrhari's three famous shatakas (centuries):

1. Niti Shataka: Focuses on ethics, wisdom, and moral conduct.
2. Shringar Shataka: Deals with love, romance, beauty, and the nuances of human relationships, particularly those involving attraction and desire.
3. Vairagya Shataka: Explores detachment, renunciation, the impermanence of worldly pleasures, and the path to spiritual liberation.

Key Highlights and Themes:

• Jain Commentary by Dhansara Gani: The significant value of this edition lies in its inclusion of the oldest known commentary by the Jain scholar Dhansara Gani. This commentary is dated Samvat 1535 (1535 AD) and was written in Jodhpur. Dhansara Gani was a scholar from the Ukesgachchha sect of Jainism.
• Linguistic Features of the Commentary: Dhansara Gani's commentary is noted for its use of colloquial Jain Sanskrit. The language is simple and accessible, even for those with limited Sanskrit knowledge. It also incorporates Sanskritized forms of local/vernacular words prevalent in Jain literature of the period, a style common among medieval Jain scholars aiming to make spiritual and philosophical concepts understandable to a wider audience. This linguistic approach is praised by the editor, D. D. Kosambi, as reflecting the dynamic evolution of language and its use in making complex ideas relatable.
• Bhartrhari's Popularity and Influence: Bhartrhari's Shatakatrayam is recognized as an immensely popular work in Sanskrit literature, with a reach even greater than that of Kālidāsa's works in terms of widespread recitation and memorization. Its verses often encapsulate profound ethical and philosophical insights that resonate with Jain principles, particularly in the Niti and Vairagya sections. The text highlights how many Jain authors have drawn inspiration from Bhartrhari's verses, and how Jain monks frequently use them in their sermons.
• The Poet Bhartrhari: The text touches upon the historical uncertainty surrounding Bhartrhari's exact time and place of birth. It mentions the traditional account from Merutunga Suri's Prabandha Chintamani, which links him to King Vikramaditya and a Brahmana scholar, though acknowledges the lack of definitive historical proof. It also notes the existence of another Bhartrhari, the author of the grammatical work Vakyapadiya, and the possibility of a connection to the Nath sect yogi Bhartrhari.
• Editor's Perspective (D. D. Kosambi): Professor Kosambi's preface emphasizes the critical nature of his work, involving the collation of numerous manuscripts and the preparation of a constituted text. He highlights the value of Dhansara Gani's commentary as a unique specimen of Jain Sanskrit and its contribution to understanding Bhartrhari. He also acknowledges the significant role of Acharya Jinavijaya Muni in the publication of this work.
• Acarya Jinavijaya Muni's Contribution: The publication is dedicated to the memory of Seth Sri Dalchandji Singhi, and it is established and published in his sacred memory by his son, Sri Bahadur Singh Singhi, under the general editorship of Acharya Jinavijaya Muni. Acharya Jinavijaya Muni is credited with the overall inspiration and guidance for this critical edition and the broader Singhi Jain Series. His extensive involvement in Oriental research and his leadership in establishing various academic institutions are also mentioned.
• Singhi Jain Series: This volume is part of the Singhi Jain Series, which aims to publish critical editions of important Jain canonical, philosophical, historical, literary, and narrative works in Prakrit, Sanskrit, Apabhramsha, and Old Rajasthani/Gujarati languages, as well as new research by scholars.
• Intended Audience: The book is intended for scholars, students of classical Sanskrit, and anyone interested in the philosophical and ethical wisdom of Bhartrhari, particularly through the lens of Jain tradition.

Overall Purpose:

This publication makes available the classical wisdom of Bhartrhari's Shatakatrayam with a valuable and ancient Jain commentary, providing a critical edition that benefits both Sanskrit scholarship and the study of Jain intellectual history. It is a testament to the intellectual exchange and shared cultural heritage that existed between different philosophical traditions in India.