श्वेताम्बर अर्धमागधी आगमों के अन्तर्गत प्रकीर्णिकों की कुछ गाथाओं का पाठ‑निर्धारण

Summary

This article examines select verses from the Śvetāmbara Ardhamāgadhi canon’s Prakīrṇa texts to establish their most authentic readings. The author surveys several manuscripts and editions of canonical works like the Mahāśata‑sahasra‑Prakīrṇa and compares variant readings, metre and morphology. By analysing differences in syllable counts, consonant substitutions and poetic metres, he proposes corrections that better fit traditional prosody and the context of the verses. The study emphasises that even minor scribal changes can alter meaning or disrupt the metre, so philologists must consider both linguistic and prosodic factors. Several examples illustrate how common changes—such as replacing conjuncts, eliding vowels or miscopying conjunct consonants—affect meaning and rhythm. The author argues that a reliable text emerges only from careful comparison of multiple manuscripts and a sound understanding of Ardhamāgadhi grammar and prosody. He concludes that restoring the original readings not only clarifies doctrinal nuances but also preserves the poetic beauty intended by early Jain authors.