Grammatical Riddles From Jain Works - Book Summary

This document is a scholarly article by Nalini Balbir titled "Grammatical Riddles from Jain Works." It explores the fascinating genre of riddles within Jain literature, with a particular focus on those that test knowledge of Sanskrit grammar.

Here's a comprehensive summary of the article's key points:

1. Introduction to Indian Riddles:

Balbir categorizes Indian riddles into two main types:
- Prahelikā: Riddles where the entire stanza forms a single question, requiring a global answer. These can sometimes be considered fine muktaka poetry.
- Praśnottara: Riddles composed of multiple independent questions, with the final answer being the sum of the elements guessed in the preceding parts. These are further categorized based on their structure and the nature of the elements to be guessed.
The study of riddles is a specialized field (śāstra), with Dharmadāsa's Vidagdhamukhamandana being a prominent example.
Both types of riddles test intelligence, but praśnottaras demand a greater degree of erudition in mythology, poetic conventions, realia, lexicography (especially synonymic and monosyllabic dictionaries), and a deep understanding of grammar (sandhi and morphology).

2. Focus on Jain Grammatical Riddles:

Balbir's paper specifically investigates riddles propounded by Jain monks that have grammar as their central subject.
She dedicates this study to Muni Jambuvijayaji Maharaj, acknowledging his significant contributions to Jain scholarship, including critical editions of important Jain works and Hemacandra's grammar.
The author notes that all the grammatical riddles discussed are in Sanskrit, even when found in Prakrit works. This highlights Sanskrit's status as the language of scholarship and erudition in the Jain tradition.

3. Categories of Grammatical Riddles:

Balbir identifies five categories of "grammatical riddles":

I. Praśnottaras with Grammatical Questions: General praśnottaras that include grammatical queries.
II. Nāmākhyātajāti: Riddles where the ultimate aim is to discover a word that functions as both a nominal (noun) and a verbal form.
III. Grammatical Technical Terms: Riddles whose final answer is a specific grammatical technical term.
IV. Grammatical Sūtras: Riddles that aim to uncover a grammatical aphorism (sūtra).
V. Metrics: Riddles concerned with knowledge of prosody (chandas), considered an extension of grammar.

4. Key Sources for Jain Grammatical Riddles:

Balbir draws upon several important Jain works for her analysis:

Praśnottara-śasti-ekaśata (JP) by Jinavallabha: A collection of 159 riddle-verses, rich in grammatical content, with commentary available in manuscripts and printed editions. Jinavallabha's work aims to showcase cleverness and knowledge.
Praśnāvali (P) attributed to Municandra: A shorter collection of 15 Sanskrit riddle-verses with a commentary.
Alamkāracintamani (AC) by Mahākavi Ajitasena: A comprehensive work on poetics that extensively deals with praśnottaras and citrabandha. Ajitasena's work, while indebted to earlier traditions (like Dharmadāsa's VMM), adapts them for a Digambara Jain audience.

5. Types of Grammatical Riddles and Examples:

The article then delves into specific examples and analyses of the different categories:

Testing Basic Language Knowledge: Riddles that test elementary grammatical concepts, such as identifying specific case endings or verb conjugations, often employing Pāṇinian metalanguage.
Synonymic Roots: Riddles requiring knowledge of various verbal roots (dhātus) and their synonyms, drawing from dhātupāthas.
Alphabet and Phonetics: Riddles utilizing the Sanskrit alphabet and phonemes to form monosyllabic answers or as hints for more complex wordplay.
Nāmākhyātajāti (Noun-Verb Ambiguity): Riddles where a single sequence of sounds can be interpreted as both a noun and a verb. This section extensively quotes definitions from VMM and AC, providing detailed examples of how such riddles are constructed.
Metalanguage (Pratyāhāras, Affixes, Technical Terms): Riddles that test familiarity with Pāṇini's grammatical metalanguage, including pratyāhāras (sound groups), kṛt and taddhita affixes, and specific grammatical terms.
Sūtra-Jāti (Riddles about Grammatical Sūtras): Riddles where the answer is a grammatical aphorism or a hint about its source text. Balbir highlights the connection between these riddles and the tradition of Sanskrit grammar teaching, particularly the Kātantra school.
Metrics (Chandas): Riddles that test knowledge of metrical patterns and terminology, often requiring the solver to identify the metre of a stanza or related concepts.

6. Jain Adaptation and Innovation:

Balbir emphasizes that while Jain authors drew heavily from established traditions (like Pāṇini's grammar and Dharmadāsa's work), they also adapted and innovated. This is evident in the thematic adaptations for Jain contexts and the creation of unique riddles.
The article showcases the deep engagement of Jain scholars with the nuances of Sanskrit grammar and poetics, viewing this erudition not as a dry academic pursuit but as a source of intellectual play and pleasure.

7. Conclusion:

The article concludes by reiterating the Jain authors' fondness for linguistic games and their high level of proficiency in grammar, lexicography, and metrics.
Balbir suggests that for Jain scholars, "erudition is not boring, on the contrary it serves the games of intelligence and as such is valuable."

In essence, Nalini Balbir's article provides a scholarly exploration of how Jain scholars utilized Sanskrit grammar as a subject for intricate and intellectually stimulating riddles, demonstrating their mastery of language and their playful approach to knowledge.