On Restoring Corrupt Prakrit Verses - Book Summary

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The article "On Restoring Corrupt Prakrit Verses" by V. M. Kulkarni details the challenging but rewarding process of recovering the original readings of corrupted Prakrit verses found within Sanskrit works on poetics. Kulkarni highlights the crucial role of consulting eminent scholars of Sanskrit and Prakrit, specifically mentioning Dr. A. M. Ghatge, the late Professor M. V. Patwardhan, and the late Dr. H. C. Bhayani. He emphasizes that his own work in this area was significantly aided by Dr. Bhayani's valuable suggestions.

The author then presents six specific examples of Prakrit verses that he, often with Dr. Bhayani's assistance, managed to restore, either partially or fully. For each example, he provides the corrupt citation, the proposed restored version with its Sanskrit chāyā (literal translation), and explanatory notes.

Here's a breakdown of the presented examples:

Verse (i): This verse, concerning intimacy and the absence of repetition with a beloved, was restored with a suggestion from Dr. Bhayani for the third quarter. The note references Hemacandra's Desisabdasamgraha for the term 'avarundia'.
Verse (ii): This verse celebrates King Jayasimha of Gujarat. Dr. Bhayani's insight revealed that the citation in Vagbhata II was a corrupted version of a verse found in the Prabandhacintamani. Bhayani's reconstruction clarifies the identity of the king and provides a more accurate reading of the verse, which celebrates Jayasimha's reign.
Verse (iii): This verse describes the distress of a woman separated from her husband. Kulkarni found the original citation to be "corrupt and obscure." Dr. Bhayani reconstructed it, offering a version that addresses metrical defects in the original. The verse depicts a woman anxiously watching the road at dusk, hoping for her husband's return.
Verse (iv): This verse, cited as an example of comforting words to a separated lover, was a collaborative effort with suggestions from both Professor Patwardhan and Dr. Bhayani. The restored text identifies the imagery not as clouds, but as soot from a lamp's flame, accumulating in the sky. The chāyā provides a detailed Sanskrit explanation of this poetic imagery.
Verse (v): This verse, illustrating sanketa-tātparya (the implication of a rendezvous), is restored by Dr. Bhayani. It describes a woman's fluctuating emotions as she observes her secret meeting place, which is threatened by rising waters. Her heart swells with hope and then sinks as the place is submerged.
Verse (vi): Cited by Kuntaka as an example of suggested utprekṣā (fancy or simile), this passage was highly corrupt and presented as prose. Dr. Bhayani's reconstruction, detailed in a paper, proposes a poetic reading where women, hearing thunder, are reminded of their separated lovers. Kulkarni also notes that the Kalpalatāviveka seems to preserve a more original text. He also points out that Hemacandra's explanation of the term 'Oralli' might not fit this specific instance. The verse depicts ladies experiencing viraha (separation grief) when they see the clouds during the night, illuminated by lightning.
Verse (vii): Kulkarni shares a personal experience with a verse cited by Bhoja as an example of gitanimittaḥ (a song as a cause). He initially reconstructed the verse, but later, upon finding the original in the Gathā-saptśatī, realized his reconstruction had metrical flaws and arbitrary emendations. The verse describes a song that evokes the pain of separation and the wounds inflicted by Cupid's arrows. He concludes by reflecting on the learning process and the importance of patience in research.

In essence, Kulkarni's article is a testament to the collaborative nature of textual scholarship and the meticulous effort required to revive lost or corrupted literary passages, particularly in the rich field of Prakrit literature embedded within Sanskrit tradition. The central theme is the critical role of scholarly consultation and the systematic approach to textual restoration.