For unknown reasons, Alsdorf left the matter. A year later he died and part of his literary legacy remained in the basement of his former institute in Hamburg and part elsewhere until 2004, when his family were able to gather it together. At this point, Mr Patil's manuscript came into the hands of the present writer, who, in order to find out whether the translation had meanwhile been published, wrote to Dr Peter Flugel in London, a friend of Mr Patil (who had been searching for his translation in vain and himself had no copy). Dr Flugel then forwarded me Patil's address.

In arrangement with the latter, a thorough revision thereof was undertaken as these lectures are as relevant as ever and ought to be read by everyone who wants to work in the field of Prakrit. This may therefore be enough legitimation for an English version.

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