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and the reader finds it extremely difficult to make out the meaning of the remaining portion.
This palm-leaf manuscript is the only original text to arrive at a correct reading.
There is of course. another paper manuscript (T3-25 of Andhra Pradesh Government Oriental Manuscipts Library and Research Institute) available is department. This was purchased from Sri N Venkata Rao. Even this is almost a faithful and true replica of the Tanjore palm-leaf manuscript with interpolations over-writing in certain places and a handful of poems missing here and there.
With the help of these two manuscripts a preliminary press copy has been prepared. A major portion of the omissions has been supplied and the blank columns have been duly filled in, just to help the common reader to have a comprehensive idea of the poera, without berg hindered at every stage. I know very well that this is a bold venture on our part, but we are aware that experienced editors like Sri Manavalli did not hesitate to make the necessary corrections and supply omissions in the text.
Further, the condition of original text is such that it is too difficult for the common reader to understand at a number of places. Hence it has become a due necessity to make corrections and supply omissions. But the accepted norms have been followed to do full justice to the author. The following are the norms.
The Norms of Editing
Faithfulness to the original text must be the basic principle of editing. Under any circumstances the poet's version should not be tampered with. The editor's honesty will be ablished only through this principle. At the same time the needs of the reader also should be kept in view. If at all, any correction, are made and omissions supplied, they should be made clear though footnotes etc.
It is really a hazardous task to supply omissions and fill in the blanks. As a matter of fact, no editor has the right to alter even a single syllable of the original text of the poet At the same time the scribe's short-comings also cannot be attributed to the author It is, therefore, necessary to identify the scribe's short-comings and eliminate them. What is original and what is not should clearly be shown Meticulous care has been taken in doing this highly responsible job. The detailed footnotes speak of the faithfulness and honesty with which the critical edition has been prepared.
In this connection, I have to make a mention of one important aspect. After preparing a rough copy of the critical edition, I have brought (on 23-11-1981) the paper manuscript copies of Udayanodayamu and "Vanamalivilasamu' available at the Andhra Sahitya Parishad, Kakmada,
