रूपमण्डन एवं देवमूर्त्ति-प्रकरणम् (मण्डन सूत्रधार - प्राचीन मूर्तिकला एवं देव-प्रतिमा लक्षण सटीक)

( 40 )
By tracing back to their sources, at least about half of the
entire text of the Devatāmūrti-Prakaraṇa could be thus dealt
with. The limited time at the disposal of the present writer has
unfortunately rendered it impossible to trace and to locate every
passage with equal success, though such an eventuality may
not be impossible.
Once for all, our lines of action have been determined,
and the ways and means devised, we can proceed with greater
hopes of success, in preparing the critical edition of the Devatā-
mūrti-Prakaraṇa. Though rigorous adherence to these above
principles for guidance, and the methods of interpretation, may
have drawbacks, conjectures and assumptions without sufficient
data will be reduced to minimum. Moreover, imagination has little
scope for any outlet in the specialised branches of study.
The Muses of archaeology and history are too old to mount
the Pegasus.
With these preliminary remarks, it would now be possible,
to discuss the readings of the Devatāmūrti-Prakaraṇa. The
passages within inverted commas are due to the present writer.