Prakrit Gadya Padya Saurabh Part 1

This document is the second edition of "Prakrit Gadya Padya Saurabh Part 1" (A Garland of Prakrit Prose and Poetry, Part 1), compiled, translated, and grammatically analyzed by Dr. Kamalchand Sogani. Published by Apabhramsa Sahitya Academy, affiliated with the Jainavidya Sansthan, Shri Mahavirji, Rajasthan, this book aims to make Prakrit literature accessible to learners.

The book highlights Prakrit as a rich folk language of the Indian Aryans, containing multifaceted aspects of Indian life and philosophical traditions. It notes that Lord Mahavir and Buddha used Prakrit for their teachings, making spiritual knowledge accessible to common people. Prakrit was also the official language during the Maurya and Satavahana periods, and its influence is evident in South Indian languages and even in Kalidasa's plays, indicating its widespread use.

This compilation follows earlier works like "Prakrit Rachna Saurabh" and "Prakrit Abhyas Saurabh" in its effort to teach and understand Prakrit. "Prakrit Gadya Padya Saurabh" presents selected prose and poetry passages from various Prakrit texts. For each passage, the book provides a Hindi translation, grammatical analysis, and vocabulary. The methodology emphasizes grammatical translation over purely ભાવ (bhavanuvad - emotional translation) to facilitate a deeper understanding of the poetic meaning and appreciation of Prakrit literature.

The table of contents lists the following texts included in this volume:

• Mangalacharan (Invocation)
• Shramanasuttam
• Uttaradhyayana
• Vajjalagga
• Ashtapahud
• Kartikeyayanupreksha
• Dasharathapravajya
• Ramnigaman-Bharharajjavidhanam
• Amangalapurushasya Katha (Story of the Unlucky Man)
• Vidushi Putravadhva Kathana (Tale of the Learned Daughter-in-Law)
• Kasyesaa Bharya (Whose Wife is this?)
• Sasurgehavasinaam Chatur-Jamataranaam Katha (Story of Four Sons-in-Law Living in their Father-in-Law's House)
• Kurme (The Tortoise)

The book is dedicated to the Tirthankar Mahavir Janma Kalyanak Day, Vira Nirvana Samvat 2535 (April 7, 2009). The second edition was published in 2009 with 1100 copies.

The introductory notes express gratitude to the Apabhramsa Sahitya Academy and the organizing committee of Shri Mahavirji for their support. The publication aims to assist students in understanding the grammatical nuances within Prakrit poetry and to foster an appreciation for the language's literary richness.