Shadavashyaka Banav Bodh Vrutti

Here's a summary of the Jain text "Shadavashyaka Banav Bodh Vrutti" by Prabodh Bechardas Pandit, based on the provided information:

Book Title: Shadavashyaka Banav Bodh Vrutti Author: Prabodh Bechardas Pandit Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Publication Year: 1976

Core Content:

This comprehensive scholarly work is a critical edition of the "Shadavashyaka Balavabodh Vritti," a commentary on the Jain text "Shadavashyaka," composed by Acharya Tarunaprabha in the 14th century Gujarati language. The book also includes a detailed study of the Gujarati language during that period, with a specific focus on its linguistic evolution.

Key Aspects:

1. Critical Edition: Dr. Prabodh Bechardas Pandit meticulously prepared a critical edition of the text, utilizing four ancient manuscripts. The work was composed by Tarunaprabha in 1411 V.S. (Vikram Samvat) and the manuscripts used date from 1412 V.S. to 1508 V.S., providing a reliable basis for textual reconstruction. The text itself contains popular narratives designed to educate young readers, making it a significant early document of Gujarati.

2. Linguistic Study: The book offers a deep dive into the 14th-century Gujarati language. It analyzes:

   • Orthography: Variations in spelling, particularly in nasal signs and common scribal tendencies, are discussed.
   • Morphology: The study covers nominal stem formation, gender distinctions, case declensions (noting the disintegration of older case systems and the rise of postpositions), pronoun usage (personal, demonstrative, interrogative, indefinite, reflexive), and verb conjugation (present indicative, future, imperative, precative, passive, causal, present participle, past participle, and gerundive).
   • Historical Phonology: The book traces the evolution of Gujarati vowels from Classical Prakrit to the Old Gujarati period, positing stages of change and analyzing phenomena like vowel contractions and lengthenings. It highlights how Proto-Gujarati developed and influenced early Gujarati prose.

3. Significance of the Text:

   • Early Gujarati Document: The "Shadavashyaka Balavabodh Vritti" is considered one of the earliest detailed documents of Gujarati, providing invaluable data for reconstructing the history of the language.
   • Popular Jain Literature: The commentary on the "Shadavashyaka" (an important Jain text for both monks and laypeople) makes complex Jain principles accessible through popular narratives and illustrative stories. These stories are crucial for understanding the spoken Gujarati of the period.
   • Cultural Insight: The text offers insights into Jain religious practices, ethical guidelines for merchants, and the literary traditions of Gujarat during the 14th century.
   • Genealogical Information: The praśasti (concluding verses) at the end of the work provides genealogical details about the author's teachers and the patron, offering historical context.

4. Editorial Process and Publication:

   • The publication of this work faced significant delays due to various factors, including the selection of printing presses and unforeseen circumstances.
   • The General Editor, Acharya Jinavijaya Muni, had a long-standing interest in Old Gujarati manuscripts and personally edited earlier collections of source material for the history of the language. He expresses gratification that Professor P. B. Pandit brought out the complete text of Tarunaprabha's work.
   • Tragically, Dr. Prabodh Bechardas Pandit passed away in 1975, before the book's publication. The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan released it as a posthumous tribute to his scholarly contributions.

Overall:

"Shadavashyaka Banav Bodh Vrutti" is a vital academic contribution to the study of Old Gujarati language and Jain literature. It provides a critical edition of a significant 14th-century text, accompanied by an in-depth linguistic analysis that sheds light on the historical development of Gujarati. The work is a testament to the author's dedication to scholarship and the preservation of cultural heritage.