My Companion to Sanskrit Literature has been well received by the scholarly world. This has given the impetus of writing the present work. In it, almost the same plan as in the earlier work has been adopted.
The literature in Päli and Präkṛta is vast and varied. In course of my study of the literature in these languages, I have keenly felt the need for such a book as this for ready reference. The selection of the items, which should be included in the work, is difficult. This work has no pretension to completeness. Such items as seem to be noteworthy have been included. Opinions, however, may differ in this respect.
In the introduction, the meaning of the terms Pali and Präksta, the homeland of Pali, the principal dialects of Praketa, the main phonological and morphological features distinguishing these languages from Sanskrit and outlines of the literature, written in them, have been set forth in a nutshell.
Some entries in Sanskrit may seem to be incompatible with the title of the work. These are, however, indispensable for one who studies Buddhism and Jainism. It is well known that a considerable number of works relating to the Buddhists and the Jainas is written In Sanskrit.
Under some entries, which have close resemblance with Sanskrit words, the Sanskrit equivalents have been noted.
In a work like this, the use of works on History of Literature and other works, dealing with various aspects of the literature concerned, is unavoidable. Of such works, utilised in preparing this work, special mention is deserved by the following :
History of Indian Literature, Vol. II. by Winternitz. Pali Language and Literature by Geiger.
History of Pali Literature. Vols. I. II by B. C. Law. Early Monastic Buddhism, Vols. I, II by N. Dutt. Introduction to Prakrit by Woolner.
History of Sanskrit Literature by Keith.
Sanskrit Drama by Keith.
Videśiya Bharat-Vidyā Pathik (in Bengali) by G.G.S. Gupta.
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