namah sri varddhamanaya nirdhutakalilatmane
salokanam trilokanam yadvidya darpanayate

Dear friends,
Shubh Dipavali
Mangalamaya Nava Varsha ki shubhakamanayen!

RATNAKARANDA SRAVAKACARA (Sanskrit-Hindi)
By Acarya Samantabhadra
Translated into Hindi with 2 Appendices by Dr. Jaykumar Jalaj
Preface by Dr. Paul Dundas
Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 3
2006 215 x 140 mm 48 pp
ISBN 81-88769-04-5
EAN 9788188769049
Softcover Rs. 40

A feature of Jain scriptures is the importance accorded to the
conduct of the laity. One of the first such works is Acarya
Samantabhadra's "Ratnakaranda Sravakacara". Written in the early
centuries of the Common Era, it is an enduring masterpiece
prescribing normative lay conduct. Its style is terse and to the
point.

If the Jain doctrine has survived for the past two millennia after
the death of the last ford maker Tirthankara Mahavira despite great
socio political-upheavals and the fluctuating fortunes of the Jain
community, credit should go to the innate correctness and relevance
of the Tirthankaras' teachings of which the Ratnakaranda Sravakacara
is a splendid example.

The Ratnakaranda Sravakacara occupies a special and revered place in
the hierarchy of Digambara scriptural tradition. It has been a
defining authority on ideal Jain lay conduct for the past two
millennia.

Comprising of 150 slokas, this work has ensured Samantabhadra's place
in Jain history as it serves as an inspiration to Jains even today,
more than two millennia after it was composed.

Since the study of the classical languages Sanskrit and Prakrit is
not very prevalent in the Jain lay community today, the Jain
community has largely learnt of the Ratnakaranda Sravakacara through
sermons by the monks and learned lay Pandits.

More than once, the Ratnakaranda Sravakacara has been translated into
Hindi in the 20th century. But the translations have tended to be so
weighed down by the Sanskrit mulapatha and the communicative
limitations of the translator, that very often the Hindi translation
is well nigh incomprehensible to all but the scholars, who could read
the work in its original Sanskrit.

There came a point in time wherein the Ratnakaranda Sravakacara was
being read less and less by those whom it was written for – the
sravakas!

This translation is an attempt to rectify this situation. This is why
we requested Dr. Jaykumar Jalaj, a best-selling poet, writer and an
independent scholar of Jainism to translate afresh the Ratnakaranda
Sravakacara. He has attempted to translate the mula Sanskrit slokas
in lucid Hindi in a manner that will empower the layperson to read
this great work on his/her own.

Jalaj has succeeded in producing a Hindi translation that is at once
incisive, does not deviate from the original text is succinct and to
the point.

Jalaj does not try to dazzle his readers with difficult tatsama words
or by needlessly launching into great detours from the text to
showcase his own views.

He does not come in the way of Acarya Samantabhadra and his 21st
century readers. He is merely a facilitator between them.

This edition boasts of a brilliant Preface by Dr. Paul Dundas, the
famed Scottish Indologist and leading authority on Prakrit, Sanskrit
and Jainism.

The book is helped by impeccable proof reading and immaculate
production values. For which, the publisher would like to express his
sincere thanks to Shri Girish Jani, Sahityacarya who patiently went
through all the proofs.

The book also has two appendices, including an alphabetical
Slokanukramanika.

Truly a path breaking venture, it is hoped that this book will
revitalise the tradition
svadhyaya by the members of the lay community.

The Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series has been named after Pandit
Nathuramji Premi, a deeply insightful scholar of Jainism; perceptive
critic of Indian literature and history; the Bhishma Pitamah of Hindi
publishing and pioneering publisher and editor of Jain sacred
literature.

This series aims to bring out accurate, well researched scholarly
studies or translations of classic Jain works in Prakrit / Sanskrit.
This series will attempt to present the most important Jain
scriptures in modern languages ensuring at all times immaculate proof
reading and excellent production values.

Forthcoming in this series: Acarya Pujyapada's "Samadhitantra" and
the "Vyavahara Bhasya" ed. by Prof. Willem Bollée.

vidusamanucaro,
Manish

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