Re: Kacc 1-5-1 (query & translation)

Dr. Pind,

   I was hoping that my edition would spare you the agony of some of
the comparative reading (viz., noting and correcting minor errors in
the text that are of no interest).

   I'm happy enough to continue with my own work, but what I had been
trying to avoid was duplication of labour.

   I had thought that you wanted to focus on historical questions of
the development of the text, etc., comparisons to other (Sk. &
Prakrit) grammars, etc., and thus did not want to spend a lot of time
doing what I am now engaged in, viz., noting very minor textual
variations, and correcting Vidyabhusana & Senart's earlier work.

   Are you planning to complete your edition within this year, or would
you like to take my finished text (viz., the Pali after I've corrected
it and noted all of the minutiae) and then work on that from there?

   This is good work for me (as a young & jejune scholar) --and, as I
have said many times, I have neither the ability nor the interest to
make comparative and historical judgements on the Sk. & Prakrit
grammars that run parallel to Kacc.

   I would also note that I currently quote you (and allude to your
opinions) fairly often in the first book (on Sandhi) as you commented
on so many oddities in the Sandhi-kappa in your prior article(s) --so,
again, I would be concerned to check with you that this is "okay" with
you and does not duplicate a separate work (that you now report as
"forthcoming").

   If you would like to use my (edited) Pali text in your edition,
i.e., start from it (with so many meaningless errors corrected, to
then deal with the meaningful problems in the text, add your own
corrections and changes as you see fit, etc.) I think this would be
entirely appropriate, i.e., as soon as my work is in print.

   At that time, I could sign a formal agreement with you allowing you
to use the (raw) Pali text I've produced as you see fit --but,
obviously, I would retain exclusive rights to the translation, notes,
etc. (none of which would really be interesting enough for you to
reproduce, I must assume).

   In any case, my contribution to the study of Kacc. concerns the
process as much as the product.

   I will produce one book --but, what is more important, I will
produce one scholar.

   I am learning a great deal, and developing the minute skills
("minute muscles") used in pulling together such an edition, and in
making such a translation.

"And a book is strung together,
  Like a beard of bread-crumbs."

E.M.