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EDITOR'S PREFACE
 
Laplacian mechanics. Here, not only is the "true" value a meaningless concept,
but the actual variation observed is often of far greater importance than the
value determined; much the same position may be taken for a modern critical
text and its apparatus of variants. For the rest, this edition might help in the
recognition of some ancient Bhartṛhari version incorporated bodily into the
text of another work, say an anthology. The possibility is rather faint that a
major work of Bhartrhari may one day be found as far superior to the śatakas
as is the Arthaśāstra to the trivial collections known as Vrddhacanakya and
Laghucāṇakya.
 
9
 
I have presented the evidence as fairly as I could without having the
space in which to set forth the ideal critical apparatus - one which would allow
every MS utilized to be reconstructed with the minimum effort. The reader is
welcome to choose from the variants any other reading that pleases him better
than mine, or to select any other set of stanzas as the most authentic, in any
order that he prefers. In a word, he can prepare his own edition from the
material placed before him; but, as I have had the advantage of studying the
evidence more closely, with the aid of many more MSS than those actually
collated, I trust that he will not deny me the same privilege which I offer him.
If the problem hereafter has been set upon a new footing, I shall be satisfied.
With much less aplomb than Valiant, I give my edition to him that shall suc-
ceed me, and my collation sheets to him that can get them. Let it be admitted
that my own work falls far short of that tight construction, mastery of tech-
nique, accuracy of touch, and time-defying surface that characterize a painting
by the brothers van Eyck, a statue by Michelangelo, a symphony by Brahms,
or a mathematical proof by Weierstrass; but it is all that my resources, other
duties, and limited energy permitted me to finish. Even Leonardo is reported
to have said, "Peregi quod potui, veniam da mihi posteritas".
 
The debt to Sukthankar has been acknowledged. To him is also due a
·more rigid use and strictly alphabetic ordering of the anusvāra, as well as the
training given to two assistants whose services I was so fortunate as to be able
to engage on a part-time basis. Of these, Mr. D. V. Naravane died before
writing more than a part of the critical apparatus of the first 150 stanzas.
Tho other, Pt. K. V. Krishnamoorthi Sharma [Visharad] gave effective help
till he found other less exacting but more lucrative employment for his spare
time. His knowledge of southern scripts was essential for the collations which
we made together; his beautiful handwriting was of great service in making
the press copy; in addition, I have relied heavily upon his knowledge of
Sanskrit and mastery of versification* for many of the emendations in group
III. These emendations were further improved by Pt. N. R. Acharya of the
Nirnay Sagar Press.
 
On the other hand, he expressed as follows the impression made upon him by my
method, appearance, and the neighbour's dog who invariably followed me to cast
a supercilious eye upon our work at the BORI Guest House :
 
कराग्रपरिवं भ्रमन्मृदुल वेत्रयष्टिश् चलन् विदेशजनलक्षणं सुचिरं शिरस्त्रं दधत् ।
उदग्रचलवालधिप्रियशुना सहवाधुना विशत्यतिथिमन्दिरं त्वरितमेप दामोदरः ॥ १ ॥
अवाप्य गणितागमेऽप्यनुपमां हि यो नैपुणीं सुभाषितरसार्णवप्लवनलोल चित्तोऽधुना ।
महत्यपि कलालये गणितबोधकोऽथाग्रहीत् स भर्तृहरि निर्मित त्रिशतपद्यसंशोधनम् ॥ २ ॥
2 भ. सु.