The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Ramanuja

The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Ramanuja - Sacred Books of the East, Volume 48

In the Introduction to the first volume of the translation of the 'Vednta-Stras with Sankara's Commentary' (vol. xxxiv of this Series) I have dwelt at some length on the interest which Rmnuja's Commentary may claimas being, on the one hand, the fullest exposition of what may be called the Theistic Vednta, and as supplying us, on the other, with means of penetrating to the true meaning of Bdaryana's Aphorisms. I do not wish to enter here into a fuller discussion of Rmnuja's work in either of these aspects; an adequate treatment of them would, moreover, require considerably more space than is at my disposal. Some very useful material for the right understanding of Rmnuju's work is to be found in the 'Analytical Outline of Contents' which Messrs. M. Rangkrya and M. B. Varadarja Aiyangr have prefixed to the first volume of their scholarly translation of the Srbhshya (Madras, 1899). The question as to what the Stras really teach is a critical, not a philosophical one. This distinction seems to have been imperfectly realised by several of those critics, writing in India, who have examined the views expressed in my Introduction to the translation of Sankara's Commentary. A writer should not be taxed with 'philosophic incompetency,' 'hopeless theistic bias due to early training,' and the like, simply because he, on the basis of a purely critical investigation, considers himself entitled to maintain that a certain ancient document sets forth one philosophical view rather than another. I have nowhere expressed an opinion as to the comparative philosophical value of the systems of Sankara and Rmnuja; not because I have no definite opinions on this point, but because to introduce them into a critical enquiry would be purposeless if not objectionable. The question as to the true meaning of the Stras is no doubt of some interest; although the interest of problems of this kind may easily be over-estimated. Among the remarks of critics on my treatment of this problem I have found little of solid value. The main arguments which I have set forth, not so much in favour of the adequacy of Rmnuja's interpretation, as against the validity of Sankarkrya's understanding of the Stras, appear to me not to have been touched. I do not by any means consider the problem a hopeless one; but its solution will not be advanced, in any direction, but by those who will be at the trouble of submitting the entire body of the Stras to a new and detailed investigation, availing themselves to the full of the help that is to be derived from the study of all the existing Commentaries. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 7297
Author: Ramanuja, 1017-1137 [Commentator]
Release Date: Jan 1, 2005
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Translator: Thibaut, G. (George), 1848-1914