Dharmratna Karandaka Of Vardhamansuri

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This document is a review and introduction to the Dharmaratnakaraṇḍaka (DRK) by Vardhamana-sūri, a significant Jain scholar from Gujarat who was active around 1100 AD. He was a chief disciple of the renowned commentator Abhayadeva-sūri. The DRK is Vardhamana-sūri's third known work, with his other two being Manoramā-kahā and Jugaijinimda-cariya, both of which were in Prakrit. In contrast, the DRK is composed in Sanskrit.

Key Features of the Dharmaratnakaraṇḍaka:

• Content: The DRK is a religious-didactic tract, belonging to the category of Śrāvākācāra. This genre outlines the rules and disciplines for pious Jain laymen, covering injunctions and prohibitions related to their conduct.
• Structure: It comprises 376 verses spread across 20 chapters.
• Commentary: The work includes an extensive commentary written by Vardhamana-sūri himself, primarily in verse. The entire work, including the commentary, is estimated to be around 10,000 Anustubh units.
• Illustrative Stories: The commentary features approximately 53 illustrative stories, a common practice in Śrāvākācāra literature. These stories served as teaching aids, and later writers often drew from a common pool of such narratives, adapting them for their own purposes.
• Sources and Influences: The editor, Muni Chandravijaya-gani, has diligently identified the original sources upon which Vardhamana-sūri relied. He has also highlighted instances where Vardhamana-sūri incorporated material from his own earlier works. The title Dharmaratnakaraṇḍaka itself evokes similarities to Ratnakarandaka, a work attributed to Samantabhadra and Vadiraja.
• Linguistic Aspects:
  • The Sanskrit of the DRK exhibits features of "popular" or "hybrid" Jain Sanskrit, including colloquial expressions and Sanskritized colloquial forms to suit metrical requirements.
  • The text occasionally presents Anustubh feet with nine syllables.
  • The stylistic range is broad, moving from simple and colloquial to ornate and descriptive. Vardhamana-sūri is noted for his skill in traditional narrative and descriptive styles, and his adept use of existing subhasitas (wise sayings).
• Apabhramsa Passages: The review notes that the Apabhramsa passages within the DRK require separate analysis, but highlights the lexicographical importance of two specific words:
  • dhakkari: This word, found in both the Prakrit (Manoramā-kahā) and Sanskrit (DRK) versions of a story about a rankle-prone potter, is identified as the correct reading. It means "unbelievably marvelous" or "wondrous." The review cites its recording in Siddhahema and its usage in Svayambhu's Paümacariya to illustrate this meaning.
  • asaddhala (or asaddhalu): Found in an Apabhramsa verse in the DRK, this word is interpreted as meaning "extraordinary" or "unusual." The review discusses its potential textual corruption and offers a tentative restoration. It is linked to asādhārana (uncommon/extraordinary) as recorded in Siddhahema. A postscript mentions another occurrence of a similar word in Svayambhu's Svayambhūcchandas, further solidifying the interpretation of "extraordinary" or "devotional love" in that context.

Editorial and Publishing Information:

• The work was edited by Muni Chandravijaya-gani.
• It was published by the Sharadaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre, Ahmedabad, in 1994.
• The book is bound in cloth, measures 24 cm x 18 cm, and contains 24 introductory pages followed by 438 pages of text.
• The review commends the editor and the publisher for producing an excellent work, both in content and production quality.

In essence, the Dharmaratnakaraṇḍaka of Vardhamana-sūri is a significant contribution to Jain Śrāvākācāra literature, presented in Sanskrit with a detailed commentary. It reflects the author's deep engagement with earlier Jain traditions, his adeptness in various literary styles, and provides valuable insights into Jain religious practice and linguistic evolution, particularly through its illustrative stories and the presence of Apabhramsa elements.