Chi-Squares and the Phenomenon of 'Change of Exemplar' in the Dyūtaparvan

In this paper we investigate the use of computational tools in the textual analysis of Sanskrit manuscripts. We use the maximum chi-squared method, a technique borrowed from molecular biology, to analyse the distribution of variants in two different pairs of manuscripts of the Dyūtaparvan . This method gives some insight into the process of manuscript copying in the Mah***bh*** rata tradition. In particular it provides evidence that at least one of the scribes used more than one exemplar to produce his own version of the Mah***bh*** rata .