The Apabhramsa Passages of the Dharmaratnakarandaka

Summary

H. C. Bhayani examines eleven Apabhraṃśa passages embedded in Vardhamānasiri’s Dharmaratnakarandaka, a Jain manual. Because scribes often misunderstood Apabhraṃśa, these verses require critical restorationfile:///home/oai/share/520768%20(18)%201-170_compressed.pdf#:~:text=THE%20APABHRAMSA%20PASSAGES%20OF%20THE,text%20and%20115%20Sanskrit%20chaya. Bhayani identifies and analyses the passages, which include hymns to the Jinas and didactic verses, comparing variants across manuscripts. He notes that the verses display metrical irregularities and phonetic assimilations characteristic of Apabhraṃśa. The paper proposes emendations, provides translations and explains how the verses convey core Jain teachings such as non‑violence and impermanence. Bhayani argues that these passages illustrate the popularity of Apabhraṃśa for religious literature and help trace the evolution of Indo‑Aryan languages. By restoring them, the study contributes to Apabhraṃśa grammar, phonology and textual criticism. It also highlights the multicultural environment in which Jain authors worked and the importance of preserving vernacular components in classical texts.