Some Less Known Verses Of Siddhasena Divakara

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The article, "Some Less Known Verses of Siddhasena Divakara" by Prof. M. A. Dhaky, delves into the discovery and authentication of verses attributed to the esteemed Jaina epistemologist, dialectician, and poet, Siddhasena Divakara (c. late 4th - early 5th century AD). The author notes that while Siddhasena's extant works, particularly his twenty dvātrimśikās (thirty-two-verse treatises), are available, many others are lost, with evidence of their existence found in quotations by later writers.

The text highlights two main groups of potentially undiscovered verses:

1. Verses Attributed in the Prabhāvaka-carita to King Vikramaditya:

• The Siddhasena-carita, embedded within Prabhācandrācārya's Prabhāvaka-carita (AD 1278), presents a legendary account of Siddhasena. This account includes several quotations attributed to him, which are not found in his currently known works.
• One such set of verses is said to have been composed and recited by Siddhasena Divakara in praise of King Vikramaditya (likely Candragupta II, AD 382-415). These verses are presented with their Sanskrit text.
• The author expresses doubt regarding the authenticity of these specific verses for the following reasons:
  • They are not found in Siddhasena's Gunavacana-dvātrimśikā, which is also addressed to a king.
  • While possessing wit and dynamism characteristic of Siddhasena's known works, these verses are untraceable in other sources that typically cite his writings.
  • The author points to the medieval practice of prabandha and carita writers freely borrowing and attributing quotes to suit their narratives, regardless of their original source or period.
  • Therefore, the authorship of these particular verses remains open to genuine doubt, although the possibility of Siddhasena's authorship is not entirely dismissed.

2. Verses Found in the Prabhāvaka-carita and Supported by Earlier Sources:

• The Prabhāvaka-carita also introduces four other verses in the context of Siddhasena, which, according to the author, unhesitatingly bear the mark of Siddhasena's style, cadence, and content.
• The author then provides evidence for the authenticity of these verses:
  • The first two verses are quoted by Jayasimha Sūri in his Dharmopadešamālā-vivarana (AD 859). Jayasimha Sūri, a pre-medieval writer and disciple of Kṛṣṇa Arṣi, explicitly attributes these verses to Siddhasena Divakara. This earlier and reliable source leaves "absolutely no doubt" about their genuineness.
  • The next two verses are supported by Haribhadra Sūri (active c. AD 745-785), a highly respected authority. Haribhadra cites them in his Āvaśyaka-vrtti (c. AD 750) as being from "Vādimukhya" (chief of debaters). While Haribhadra sometimes uses "Vādimukhya" to refer to Mallavādi Sūri and Samantabhadra, in this specific instance, the context and a further reference by Haribhadra in his Prajñāpanā-sūtra-tikā (where he quotes a verse from Siddhasena's Dātrinsikā and attributes it to "Vādimukhya") strongly suggest that Siddhasena Divakara is the intended author. Thus, the authenticity of these four verses is considered beyond doubt established.

Additional Findings and Considerations:

• The Dharmopadešamālā-vivarana also quotes another verse, attributed to Siddhasena Divakara, which is not among the four cited in the Prabhāvaka-carita. The author believes this verse also aligns with Siddhasena's style.
• The origin of these five verses (the two from Prabhāvaka-carita supported by Jayasimha Sūri, the two supported by Haribhadra, and the additional one from Dharmopadešamālā-vivarana) is uncertain; they could be from the same dvātrimśikā or different ones. The hope is that future discoveries will shed light on their original placement.
• The author suggests, with some hesitation, that the first set of verses (attributed to Vikramaditya) might potentially belong to the Gunavacana-dvātrimśikā, which currently has 28 verses, leaving a gap for four more.
• Another verse is presented, attributed to Siddhasena Divakara by Jinaprabha Sūri (AD 1296) in his Kātantra-Vibhrama-ṭīkā. This verse vividly describes a bad speaker in an assembly of learned individuals and is believed to be from an unknown dvātrimśikā focused on the theme of assemblies and orators. The author asserts that the style, tone, and wit are unmistakably Siddhasena's.

In conclusion, the article aims to bring to light verses that are likely from Siddhasena Divakara, emphasizing the importance of tracing their attributions through earlier and more reliable sources. While some verses remain questionable due to the provenance, others are confidently attributed to the renowned Jaina scholar, enriching our understanding of his poetic and dialectical contributions. The author encourages continued diligent search within Jaina literature for further discoveries, asserting that Siddhasena's compositions are distinctive and recognizable.