Brahma Sutras According to Sri Sankara and Sri Ramanuja (Set of Two Books for Comparative Study)

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From the Jacket

Badarayana's Brahma-Sutras are the aphorisms which systematize the teachings of the Upanishads. Sri Ramanuja, taking these Sutras to be 544 in number, elucidated them in his famous commentary, Sri-Bhashya, from a theistic standpoint. The present compendium in English of the Sri-Bhashya, is similar to an earlier on of Sri Shankara's commentary on the Brahma-Sutras by Swami Vireswarananda. The foreword presents a scholarly resume of the Sri-Bhashya. The Introduction contains an illuminating comparative study of the commentaries by Shankara, Ramanuja, Vallabha, Nimbarka, and Madhva. It concludes with a section drawing attention to the harmony underlying these different commentaries.

Preface

In 1936 was published my earlier work on the Brahma-Sutras according to Sankara's commentary, containing text, word-for-word literal rendering, running translation of the text made as literal as possible consistent with easy reading, and notes based on the main Bhasya of Sankara, and also on the Tikas on his Bhasya by his followers. The present volume is a similar edition of the Brahma-Sutras according to the Sri-Bhasya of Ramanuja, with the exception that it does not contain the word-for-word translation of the Sutras as in the earlier volume based on Sankara's commentary. The notes are based on the main Bhasya of Ramanuja, namely Sri-Bhasya, and also on his other two short commentaries-Vedanta-Sara and Vedanta-Dipa. The notes are also based on the various Tikas on Sri-Bhasya by later scholiasts of the Sri Ramanuja school. Upanisadic text occurring in the Sri-Bhasya quoted in the notes are rendered into English according to Dr. Thibaut's edition of the Sri-Bhasya (Sacred Books of the East Series) with slight adaptations.

Chapter I, II, and Section 1 and 2 of Chapter III appeared in Prabuddha Bharata in serial form earlier during the years 1938, 1954, and 1957 to 1960. Owing to pressure of work and later because of weakening of my eyesight it was not possible for me to complete the remaining portion of the Sri-Bhasya, namely, Sections 3 and 4 of Chapter III, and Chapter IV, which has been completed by Swami Adidevananda. I am happy he could complete it.

I have included in this volume a comparative study of the various commentaries on the Brahma-Sutras, Pointing out the difference in the interpretation of some of the main Sutras by different commentators. This also appeared serially in Prabuddha Bharata, 1953, from January to July.

I am thankful to Prof. S.S. Raghavachar for his learned Foreword and for having gone through the manuscript.

It is hoped that the present volume will be a fitting companion to my earlier work on the Brahma-Sutras based on Sankara's commentary, as also other Sanskrit works published by the Ramakrishna Order.

**Brahma Sutras According to Sri Sankara**

About the Book

In 555 Sutras or aphorisms the BRAHMA-SUTRAS systematizes the philosophy of the Upanishads. Swami Vereswarananda'a is the first English translation of the text, with word-for-word English rendering and exhaustive notes based mainly on Shankaracharya's commentary, and Tikas on it by scholiasts of his school. The licid and instructive introduction contains an enlightening exposition of Adhyasa or superimposition, besides a comparative study of Shankara, Ramanuja, and Nimbarka.

Review

"Though based on the Bhashya, the book is neither a translation nor even an abridgment of the same; all that is important in the Bhashya has been embodied in the English commentary; while no essential point has been left out, a few of the pregnant hints scattered throughout the Bhashya have been elaborated in the commentary; the inclusion of the exposition of Adhyasa, rarely to be found even in Sanskrit work of this class, has added to the worth of the book and the insertion of the gist of Adhikarnas, to its usefulness."

-The Modern Review

"Readable and clear and, so far as we have examined it quite reliable and students will be grateful for the help it affords them in understanding the Adhyasa Bhashya, which is as difficult as it is important."

-The Hindu

"Such an English Translation of this highly philosophical work as the present one was badly needed. Gives a faithful summary of the arguments of Sankaracharya's commentary on the sutras without in any way detracting from the strength of clarity of the original exposition. The author has accomplished his task in a most praiseworthy manner."

-Bombay Chronicle

"To me it is an outstanding specimen of Indian scholarship - conceived with great clarity in its scheme of presentation, and executed with painstaking fidelity to tradition. It should prove to be an invaluable addition to the library of anyone interested in the study of Vedic truths. I was particularly interested in your handling of Sankara's convincing views on superimposition. I should like to congratulate you on the book's excellent format superior to any book from an Indian Press which I have upon my shelves.
-Hamish McLaurin, Writer on Eastern

Philosophy, California, U. S. A.

 

CONTENTS

Introduction	i
ADHYASA OR SUPERIMPOSITION	1
CHAPTER I
Section I	17
Section II	58
Section III	82
Section IV	116
CHAPTER II
Section I	142
Section II	174
Section III	209
Section IV	246
CHAPTER III
Section I	262
Section II	283
Section III	315
Section IV	373
CHAPTER IV
Section I	409
Section II	426
Section III	443
Section IV	457
INDEX TO SUTRAS	473
GENERAL INDEX	483

 

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