Two Commentaries are available at present on Prasamarati
one by Haribhadrasuri (12th Century A. D.) and another with avacurni by
an unknown author.41 Both these commentaries belong to Svetambara school
and it seems that no Digambara has commented upon it. Except for these
two commentaries, unfortunately, other commentaries are not available at
present, but their existence is inferred from the colophon given at the
end of Haribhadrasuri�s commentary on Prasamarati.42 But no special
profundity is found in these two existing commentaries. The essential
qualities of a genuine commentary especially, critical insight of
textual explanation, alternative interpretations, the supplementary
discussions, standard quotations and similies are absent in these
commentaries.
COMMENTATOR
HARIBHADRASURI: (12 A. D.)
This Haribhadrasuri is not the same individual as the
distinguished erudite writer, known as Yakinisunu Haribhadra, who
flourished in circa 8th Century A. D. He is also different from that
Haribhadra (1216 V. S. = 1160 A.D.) who is the author of Neminahacariu
in Prakrit, and who belonged to Vadagachha and was a pupil of
Sricandrasuri. The colophon (1-2) given at the end of the commentary on
Prasamarati by Haribhadra himself tells us that i.e., was a pupil of
Jinadeva who was a disciple of Devasuri and this commentary is composed
after going through all other commentaries existing before him, during
the king Jayasimhadeva�s rule at Anahilapura Patan43 in V. S. 1185. From
this colophon we learn that this commentator Haribhadra flourished in
the first half of the 12th Century A. D. and there were many
commentaries on Prasamarati already composed prior to the period of this
commentator.
At the beginning of his commentary Haribhadra gives most
valuable information about the author of Prasamarati by stating that
Umasvati was a great logician, Acarya, Vacakamukhya, author of five
hundred treatises and glory of the entire Svetambara family. His
father�s name was Svati and Uma was his mother.44 This commentator
divides this book into 22 chapters according to the subject-matter
treated in it.
Haribhadra�s commentary is very
lucid and simple, but satisfied with giving only the literary meaning of
the verses. There are no additional philosophical discussions which can
be distinguishedly pointed out nor are there any standard quotations
from earlier works. Very few passages from Agamas are quoted, here and
there, and the commentator�s aim seems to be limited to giving literary
meaning of the texts.
COMMENTARY
BY AN UNKNOWN AUTHOR:
Yet another commentary with Avacurni by an unknown
author appears to be older than Haribhadra�s commentary and is more
elaborate in its nature. This commentary, in addition to verbal
explanations gives detailed explanation about some important ethical and
philosophical conceptions of Jainism though very few standard passages
are quoted from earlier texts.
COMPARISON
BETWEEN TWO COMMENTARIES:
Both the commentaries unanimously attribute this work to
Umasvati and comment upon all the 313 verses45. The style of both the
commentaries is more or less similar. The verbal explanations are often
the same word for word. But the unknown author�s commentary is more
elaborative. Haribhadra/s commentary appears to be very modest, gives
word for word explanations of the text and the extent of it is shorter
than that of the unknown author�s commentary46. Haribhadra�s style is
more refined and he uses precisely worded sentences. His commentary is
very precise and systematic. It seems that Haribhadra follows this old
commentary and thus does not feel it necessary to give detailed
explanations of many well-known principles of Jainism. His commentary
justifies his statement �samasena� (very briefly), made in the colophon.
Though it is very difficult to say as to which commentary
is older, still Haribhadra�s commentary seems to be later than the
unknown author�s commentary on the basis of the following grounds:-
Haribhadra mentions some
alternative readings of the text in his commentary which are found in
the unknown author�s commentary and in the text that it follows.48
Secondly, Haribhadra divides prasamarati into 22
chapters on the basis of different topics dealt49 in it, while these
divisions are not found either in the text accepted by the unknown
author or in his commentary. It is certain that, if the unknown
author�s commentary is later than Haribhadra�s commentary these
divisions could have been mentioned by this commentator also.
Thirdly, Haribhadra�s commentary is very precise and
seems to be a summary form of the unknown author�s commentary.
Fourthly, Haribhadra commenting on 204th verse of
Prasamarati, clearly mentions that, some scholars explain this verse as
indicator of doctrine of sevenfold judgment (saptabhanginaya) and gives
complete explanations found in the unknown author�s commentary, word to
word. Again commenting on 2111th verse, he mentions that the word �Ca�,
used in the verse here is not found in many texts. It is very important
to note that the word �Ca� is not found in the text that is accepted by
the unknown author. Again, Haribhadra, commenting on 213th verse,
points out that, the word �avasesa� is considered as an adjective to
word �Catustaya� by others. This view is again found, in the unknown
author�s commentary.
Fifthly, some of the incorrect readings of the text
followed by the unknown commentator seem to be corrected by
Haribharda.50 Haribhadra corrects the commission and omission committed
by the unknown author51.
Haribhadra�s refined and precise
style, which is lacking in unknown author shows that Haribhadra�s
commentary is later than the unknown author�s commentary.
We have followed here the text of Prasamarati accepted
by Haribhadra with his commentary which is precise, refined and omits
nothing which is very essential to understand the text.52
