Bhoja's Sringaraprakasa (Ch. XXXI–XXXVI) – Prakrit Text Restored

V. M. Kulkarni's article, "Bhoja's Sringaraprakasa (Ch. XXXI–XXXVI) – Prakrit Text Restored," examines the Prakrit verses quoted in the last six chapters of Bhoja's Sringaraprakasa. Kulkarni argues that the Sringaraprakasa contains the largest number of Prakrit verse illustrations among Sanskrit poetics works, exceeding 1800 verses, though many are repetitions. The main argument of the paper is to present a study of these Prakrit verses, focusing primarily on those that are highly corrupt. Kulkarni notes that a very large number of these verses could not be restored because the original Prakrit sources, such as Harivijaya, Ravanavijaya, Madhu-mathana, Abdhimathana, and Mgricavadha, are now lost. To support this argument, Kulkarni provides a detailed analysis of specific Prakrit verses, offering restorations and corrections based on comparative evidence from other texts. The evidence discussed includes cross-referencing with Weber's edition of the Gathasaptasati, the Sarasvatikanthabharava, the Abhinavabharati, the Kavyaprakasa, and Hemacandra's grammar. For instance, Kulkarni uses a quotation from the Sringaraprakasa to restore a corrupt passage in the Abhinavabharati. The article also identifies errors in the printed text of the Sringaraprakasa, such as scribal omissions and mixed-up verses, and corrects them by comparing them with the Setubandha and the Gathasaptasati. Kulkarni further clarifies that some verses cited in the Sringaraprakasa are also found in the Sarasvatikanthabharava or the Kavyaprakasa, highlighting the intertextual connections and the transmission of these Prakrit verses across different works. The author refers readers to an index at the end of the paper for verses that are not highly corrupt, indicating the extensive scope of the study.

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