Ch 17 Yoga of the Discernment of tri-fold Śraddhā (Part 4)

This article is part 95 of 143 in the series Jīvana-dharma-yoga

Let us now reflect a little upon its meaning.

1.Om

tasmādomityudāhṛtya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ |
pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satatam brahmavādinām ||

BG 17.24

"The votaries of Brahma perform yajña, dāna and tapas after uttering Om".

We have discussed the meaning of Om in the eighth chapter under "Omityekākṣaraṃ Brahma." Om has three constituent units of a + u + m. When considered separately, they can be construed as representing either the trinity of Brahma-Viṣṇu-Maheśvara or the triad of sattva-rājas-tāmas or the waking-dream-sleep states or earth-atmosphere-sky or svarga-martya-pātāla or energy-water-food or masculine-feminine-neuter genders or day-night-twilight, thereby bringing to mind all the aspects and qualities of the universe organised into triads. With Om - that is the culmination of the three units - we can not only bring the world to mind but also that which is beyond the world. Thus Om is a complete and all-encompassing symbol of the worldly and supra-worldly, the expressed and unexpressed energies, as well as the visible and invisible aspects of truth.

2. Tat

tadity-anabhisandhāya phalaṃ yajña-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ |
dāna-kriyāśca vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣa-kāṅkṣibhiḥ ||

BG 17.25

"After uttering the syllable tat, those desirous of mokṣa perform yajña, dāna and tapas without wanting anything else."


Tat refers to "that" or "it" in English. We use "it" and "that" to refer to something familiar. For example - "That man" or "at that time". Though Brahma is well-known, it is not directly perceived. Hence, the use of the word tat is appropriate here. There is yet another interesting reason. Any object that has no established name or whose nature is unexplainable by human language is also referred to by "that". In traditional families, a wife did not address her husband by name, choosing instead to address him by words such as avaru. The husband too would not call his wife by name and would use the words - "she" or "her". Similarly, it is an established tradition that the knowers of Brahma use the word tat to refer to Brahma.
Tattva can be resolved as tat+tva - "a thing being itself." The state of an object devoid of all its external attributes like its form or colours, its activities - as just itself - unrelated to anything other than itself, without any other adjuncts is tat+tva. Brahma is such. 

3. Sat

sadbhāve sādhubhāve ca sat+ityetat prayujyate
praśaste karmaṇi tathā sat+śabdaḥ pārtha yujyate৷৷
yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ sat+iti cocyate.
karma caiva tadarthīyaṃsat+ityevābhidhīyate৷

BG 17.26,27

The word sat has two meanings.
1.     Sat is that something that has eternal existence. Sat is existence - in one state for all time. That indeed is the truth. Supreme Brahma is the supreme truth - satyasya satyam - the truth of the truth.
2.     Whatever is fit or good is also denoted by sat. For example, sat+jana, sat+karma etc.,. This second meaning comes from the first.  It is the truth that is good. Untruth cannot be good. Only whatever is eternal is good; not transient objects. Paramātmā is the truth, and eternal. Hence any action or object or event related to him is good and is the most excellent. Whatever takes us towards the truth, whatever gets us divine grace is sat. That is the absolute good. All auspiciousness and good come to us from that truth. Brahma is the repository of all auspiciousness, it is the source of all that is good. Therefore, the worship of Brahma is sat+karma.

The word sat thus indicates eternal existence as well as something that is good and right. Any worthy endeavour deserves the prefix sat as well. Therefore all actions of yajna, dāna and tapas offered to Bhagavān befit the prefix sat.
It is instructive to examine the similarities between the Saṃskṛta word sat and the Kannada word uḻ. In Kannada, the word uḻ refers to something “that is”, from which is derived the word uṇṭu (present). The Kannada word for good - oḻḻeyadu - also comes from the root uḻ. Whatever is related to or can take us closer to the ever present (uṇṭu), is also good (oḻ, oḻḻeyadu).

Thus the word "Om tat sat" is worthy of reverence from all perspectives. It designates the entire universe, all the devatās, all the jīvas, and in fact everything! Therefore these three words are used to reference any devatā or dharma. The meaning of this word-triad declares that it is a happy obligation for anyone devoted to truth to have śraddhā in it. Śraddhā in such a great mantra is life-redeeming. 
Placing śraddhā in any one object ensures an easier path towards progress. Whatever is done without śraddhā is waste, for  without it, there is neither worldly nor other worldly achievement.

A collection of Kannada verses in the sāṅgatya metre

ಸತ್ತ್ವರಜಸ್ತಮವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸ ಜೀವಕೆ

ಸ್ವಸ್ತಿವಿಭಂಗವೆಂದರಿತು ।
ನಿತ್ಯಾಭ್ಯಾಸದೆ ಮಿಶ್ರಸತ್ತ್ವಾಂಶದಿಂ ಶುದ್ಧ-
ಸತ್ತ್ವಕ್ಕೇರಲು ಅದು ಮುಕ್ತಿ ।।
sattvarajastamavyatyāsa jīvakè
svastivibhaṃgavèndaritu ।
nityābhyāsadè miśrasattvāṃśadiṃ śuddha-
sattvakkeralu adu mukti ।।

Knowing that the imbalance of sattva, rājas and tāmas
impedes the jīva’s progress towards well-being,
ascending to pure sattva from mixed sattva
through constant practice is mukti.

ತ್ರಿಗುಣವ ಮೀರ್ದನು ಜಗವನೆ ಮೀರ್ವನು
ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಗೆ ಸೋಲದನವನು ।
ಪಗೆಯಿಲ್ಲ ದಿಗಿಲಿಲ್ಲ ದುಗುಡವಿಲ್ಲಾತಂಗೆ
ಭಗವದ್ವಿಲಾಸವೆಲ್ಲೆಡೆಯುಂ ।।

triguṇava mīrdanu jagavanè mīrvanu
prakṛtigè soladanavanu ।
pagèyilla digililla duguḍavillātaṃgè
bhagavadvilāsavèllḍèyuṃ ।।

He who crosses the three guņas exceeds the world,
and is undefeated by prakrti.
He has neither enmity nor fear or sorrow, (for)
he sees Bhagavān’s līlā everywhere.

ಶ್ರದ್ಧೆಯೆಂತಿರ್ಪುದೊ ಪುರುಷನಂತಿರ್ಪನು
ಉದ್ಧರಿಕುಂ ಶ್ರದ್ಧೆ ಶುದ್ಧಮ್
ಶ್ರದ್ಧೆಯಿನವನೋಂತತ್ಸದ್ಧ್ಯಾನವಂಗೈದು
ಸದ್ಧರ್ಮಗಳನಾಚರಿಪ್ಪಂ ।।
śraddhyèṃtirpudò puruṣanaṃtirpanu
uddharikuṃ śraddhè śuddham
śraddhyinavanoṃtatsaddhyānavaṃgaidu
saddharmagaḻanācarippaṃ ।।

As is his śraddhā, so is the man;
elevated śraddhā makes him pure.
Meditating on om,tat,sat with śraddhā,
he performs dhārmic activities.

ಓಂಪದಮಖಿಲವ್ಯಕ್ತಾವ್ಯಕ್ತ-ಸ್ಥಿರ-ಚರ
ವಿಶ್ವ-ವಿಶ್ವಾತೀತ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಂ ।
ತತ್ ಪದಂ ನುಡಿಗೊಳಪಡದ ವಸ್ತುವ ತೋರ್ಪ
ಗುರುತದು ಅದು ತಾನೆ ತತ್ತ್ವಂ ।।
om-padam-akhilavyaktāvyakta-sthira-cara
viśva-viśvātīta brahmaṃ ।
tat padaṃ nuḍigoḻa-paḍada vastuva torpa
gurutadu adu tān tattvaṃ ।।

The word Om denotes Brahma that is
beyond the manifest and unmanifest,
the moving and unmoving, and is the world as well as that beyond it.
The word tat is the symbol that shows
the principle beyond words and is itself the principle.

ಸತ್ ಪದಂ ಸತ್ಯಮನಂತಮವಿಕ್ರಿಯ-
ಮದ್ವಯಮಖಿಲಾಂತರಾತ್ಮಂ ।
ಈ ತ್ರಿಪದಾರ್ಥದ ಸ್ವಾನುಭೂತಿಯನ್ ಎಲ್ಲ
ಕರ್ತವ್ಯವೆಸಪುದೆ  ಸತ್ತ್ವಂ ।।

sat padaṃ satyam-anantama-vikriya-
m-advayam-akhilāntarātmaṃ ।
ī tripadārthada svānubhūtiyan ಎlla
kartavyavsapudè  sattvaṃ ।।

The word sat denotes the truth that is infinite,
eternal, non-dual and is the self of all.
It is sattva is that gives the experience
of the meaning of these three words.

ಸಾತ್ತ್ವಿಕಶ್ರದ್ಧೆಯಿನಹುದು ಜೀವೋದ್ಧೃತಿ
ರಾಜಸತಾಮಸವಧಮಂ ।
ಶ್ರದ್ಧೆ ಬುದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಸ್ಫೂರ್ತಿ  ಬುದ್ಧಿ ಶ್ರದ್ಧೆಗೆ ಶಕ್ತಿ
ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾಬುದ್ಧ್ಯೈಕ್ಯದೆ ಸಿದ್ಧಿ ।।

sāttvikaśraddhyinahudu jīvoddhṛti
rājasatāmasavadhamaṃ ।
śraddhè buddhigè sphūrti  buddhi śraddhgè śakti
śraddhābuddhyaikyadè siddhi ।।

In sāttvika-śraddhā is the elevation of the jīva,
rājas and tāmas take him down.
Śraddhā inspires buddhi; buddhi powers Śraddhā.
In their unity lies siddhi.

Gist

ಓಂತತ್ಸತ್ಪದಸಂಸ್ಮೃತಿ
ಸಂತತಮಿರ್ಪವನ ಯಜ್ಞದಾನತಪಂಗಳ್ ।
ಸ್ವಾಂತಕೆ ಶುಚಿರುಚಿಬಲಗಳ 
ಸಂತಸವಂ ಕುಡುವುವಿಂತು ಸಪ್ತದಶಾಂಶಮ್  ।।
om-tatsat-padasaṃsmṛti
santatam-irpavana yajña-dāna-tapaṃgaḻ ।
svāṃtakè śuci-ruci-balagaḻa 
santasavaṃ kuḍuvuviṃtu saptadaśāṃśam  ।।

Recalling “Om tat sat” always
During yajña, dāna and tapas
Gives clarity, bliss and strength to one’s manas.
The seventeenth chapter goes thus.

ಮನುಷ್ಯಾಂತರಂಗೋಚ್ಚನೀಚಂಗಳಂ ಶಿ-
ಕ್ಷಣೋಪಾಯಮಂ ಯೋಗ್ಯತಾಮಾನಮಂ ತಾ-।
ನಂತಸ್ವತಃಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆಯಿಂ ಕಂಡು ಜೀವ-
ಕ್ಕನುಗ್ರಾಹಿಯಪ್ಪಂ ಸದಾ ವಾಸುದೇವಂ ।।

manuṣyāntaraṅg-occa-nīcaṃgaḻaṃ śi-
kṣaṇopāyamaṃ yogyatā-mānamaṃ tā-।
nantas-ssvataḥ-prajñèyiṃ kaṃḍu jīva-
kkanugrāhiy-appaṃ sadā vāsudevaṃ ।।

Seeing the ups and downs in man’s manas,
the means to remedy them, and a measure of fitness,
through his inner wisdom, Vāsudeva,
ever bestows his blessings on the jīva.

|| iti śam ||

cidānandākāraṃ jalada-ruci-sāraṃ śruti-girāṃ
vraja-strīṇāṃ hāraṃ bhava-jaladhi-pāraṃ kṛta-dhiyāṃ ॥
vihantuṃ bhūbhāraṃ viddhad-avatāraṃ muhur-aho ।
maho vāraṃ vāraṃ bhajata kuśalāraṃbha-kṛtinaḥ ॥

(Śrī Madhusūdana-sarasvatī)

The one of the form of supreme bliss,
A dark cloud raining words of śruti,
Adorning the necks of the gopa-strīs
The ferryman of saṃsāra for the steady of heart
Him, taking various forms now and again
To rid the Earth of her burdens great
To him you should pray, again and again
The great one, when you start at a new beginning.

To be continued...

The present series is a modern English translation of DVG’s Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award-winning work, Bhagavad-gītā-tātparya or Jīvana-dharma-yoga. The translators wish to express their thanks to Śatāvadhāni R Ganesh for his valuable feedback and to Hari Ravikumar for his astute edits.

Author(s)

About:

Devanahalli Venkataramanayya Gundappa (1887-1975) was a great visionary and polymath. He was a journalist, poet, art connoisseur, philosopher, political analyst, institution builder, social commentator, social worker, and activist.

Translator(s)

About:

Engineer. Lapsed blogger. Abiding interest in Sanskrit, religion, and philosophy. A wannabe jack-of-all.

About:

Mother of two. Engineer. Worshiper of Indian music, poetry, and art.

Prekshaa Publications

Among the many contributions of ancient Indians to world thought, perhaps the most insightful is the realisation that ānanda (Bliss) is the ultimate goal of human existence. Since time immemorial, India has been a land steeped in contemplation about the nature of humans and the universe. The great ṛṣis (seers) and ṛṣikās (seeresses) embarked on critical analysis of subjective experience and...

One of the two great epics of India and arguably the most popular epic in the world, the Ramayana has enchanted generations of people not just in Greater India but the world over. In less than three hundred pages The Essential Ramayana captures all the poetic subtleties and noble values of the original and offers the great epic in an eminently readable form that will appeal to the learned and...

The Bhagavad-gītā isn’t merely a treatise on ultimate liberation. It is also a treatise on good living. Even the laity, which does not have its eye on mokṣa, can immensely benefit from the Gītā. It has the power to grant an attitude of reverence in worldly life, infuse enthusiasm in the execution of duty, impart fortitude in times of adversity, and offer solace to the heart when riddled by...

Indian Perspective of Truth and Beauty in Homer’s Epics is a unique work on the comparative study of the Greek Epics Iliad and Odyssey with the Indian Epics – Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata. Homer, who laid the foundations for the classical tradition of the West, occupies a stature similar to that occupied by the seer-poets Vālmīki and Vyāsa, who are synonymous with the Indian culture. The author...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the sixth volume of reminiscences character sketches of prominent public figures, liberals, and social workers. These remarkable personages hailing from different corners of South India are from a period that spans from the late nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Written in Kannada in the 1970s, these memoirs go...

An Introduction to Hinduism based on Primary Sources

Authors: Śatāvadhānī Dr. R Ganesh, Hari Ravikumar

What is the philosophical basis for Sanātana-dharma, the ancient Indian way of life? What makes it the most inclusive and natural of all religio-philosophical systems in the world?

The Essential Sanātana-dharma serves as a handbook for anyone who wishes to grasp the...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the fifth volume, episodes from the lives of traditional savants responsible for upholding the Vedic culture. These memorable characters lived a life of opulence amidst poverty— theirs  was the wealth of the soul, far beyond money and gold. These vidvāns hailed from different corners of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom and lived in...

Padma Bhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam represents the quintessence of Sage Bharata’s art and Bhārata, the country that gave birth to the peerless seer of the Nāṭya-veda. Padma’s erudition in various streams of Indic knowledge, mastery over many classical arts, deep understanding of the nuances of Indian culture, creative genius, and sublime vision bolstered by the vedāntic and nationalistic...

Bhārata has been a land of plenty in many ways. We have had a timeless tradition of the twofold principle of Brāhma (spirit of wisdom) and Kṣāttra (spirit of valour) nourishing and protecting this sacred land. The Hindu civilisation, rooted in Sanātana-dharma, has constantly been enriched by brāhma and safeguarded by kṣāttra.
The renowned Sanskrit poet and scholar, Śatāvadhānī Dr. R...

ಛಂದೋವಿವೇಕವು ವರ್ಣವೃತ್ತ, ಮಾತ್ರಾಜಾತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕರ್ಷಣಜಾತಿ ಎಂದು ವಿಭಕ್ತವಾದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಬಗೆಯ ಛಂದಸ್ಸುಗಳನ್ನೂ ವಿವೇಚಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಬಂಧಗಳ ಸಂಕಲನ. ಲೇಖಕರ ದೀರ್ಘಕಾಲಿಕ ಆಲೋಚನೆಯ ಸಾರವನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಂಡ ಈ ಹೊತ್ತಗೆ ಪ್ರಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಛಂದಸ್ಸಿನ ಸೌಂದರ್ಯವನ್ನು ಲಕ್ಷಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ತೌಲನಿಕ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅಂತಃಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೀಯ ಅಧ್ಯಯನಗಳ ತೆಕ್ಕೆಗೆ ಬರುವ ಬರೆಹಗಳೂ ಇಲ್ಲಿವೆ. ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಕಾರನಿಗಲ್ಲದೆ ಸಿದ್ಧಹಸ್ತನಾದ ಕವಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಸ್ಫುರಿಸಬಲ್ಲ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಹೊಳಹುಗಳು ಕೃತಿಯ ಮೌಲಿಕತೆಯನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಿವೆ. ಈ...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the fourth volume, some character sketches of the Dewans of Mysore preceded by an account of the political framework of the State before Independence and followed by a review of the political conditions of the State after 1940. These remarkable leaders of Mysore lived in a period that spans from the mid-nineteenth century to the...

Bharatiya Kavya-mimamseya Hinnele is a monograph on Indian Aesthetics by Mahamahopadhyaya N. Ranganatha Sharma. The book discusses the history and significance of concepts pivotal to Indian literary theory. It is equally useful to the learned and the laity.

Sahitya-samhite is a collection of literary essays in Kannada. The book discusses aestheticians such as Ananda-vardhana and Rajashekhara; Sanskrit scholars such as Mena Ramakrishna Bhat, Sridhar Bhaskar Varnekar and K S Arjunwadkar; and Kannada litterateurs such as DVG, S L Bhyrappa and S R Ramaswamy. It has a foreword by Shatavadhani Dr. R Ganesh.

The Mahābhārata is the greatest epic in the world both in magnitude and profundity. A veritable cultural compendium of Bhārata-varṣa, it is a product of the creative genius of Maharṣi Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa. The epic captures the experiential wisdom of our civilization and all subsequent literary, artistic, and philosophical creations are indebted to it. To read the Mahābhārata is to...

Shiva Rama Krishna

சிவன். ராமன். கிருஷ்ணன்.
இந்திய பாரம்பரியத்தின் முப்பெரும் கதாநாயகர்கள்.
உயர் இந்தியாவில் தலைமுறைகள் பல கடந்தும் கடவுளர்களாக போற்றப்பட்டு வழிகாட்டிகளாக விளங்குபவர்கள்.
மனித ஒற்றுமை நூற்றாண்டுகால பரிணாம வளர்ச்சியின் பரிமாணம்.
தனிநபர்களாகவும், குடும்ப உறுப்பினர்களாகவும், சமுதாய பிரஜைகளாகவும் நாம் அனைவரும் பரிமளிக்கிறோம்.
சிவன் தனிமனித அடையாளமாக அமைகிறான்....

ऋतुभिः सह कवयः सदैव सम्बद्धाः। विशिष्य संस्कृतकवयः। यथा हि ऋतवः प्रतिसंवत्सरं प्रतिनवतामावहन्ति मानवेषु तथैव ऋतुवर्णनान्यपि काव्यरसिकेषु कामपि विच्छित्तिमातन्वते। ऋतुकल्याणं हि सत्यमिदमेव हृदि कृत्वा प्रवृत्तम्। नगरजीवनस्य यान्त्रिकतां मान्त्रिकतां च ध्वनदिदं चम्पूकाव्यं गद्यपद्यमिश्रितमिति सुव्यक्तमेव। ऐदम्पूर्वतया प्रायः पुरीपरिसरप्रसृतानाम् ऋतूनां विलासोऽत्र प्रपञ्चितः। बेङ्गलूरुनामके...

The Art and Science of Avadhānam in Sanskrit is a definitive work on Sāhityāvadhānam, a form of Indian classical art based on multitasking, lateral thinking, and extempore versification. Dotted throughout with tasteful examples, it expounds in great detail on the theory and practice of this unique performing art. It is as much a handbook of performance as it is an anthology of well-turned...

This anthology is a revised edition of the author's 1978 classic. This series of essays, containing his original research in various fields, throws light on the socio-cultural landscape of Tamil Nadu spanning several centuries. These compelling episodes will appeal to scholars and laymen alike.
“When superstitious mediaevalists mislead the country about its judicial past, we have to...

The cultural history of a nation, unlike the customary mainstream history, has a larger time-frame and encompasses the timeless ethos of a society undergirding the course of events and vicissitudes. A major key to the understanding of a society’s unique character is an appreciation of the far-reaching contributions by outstanding personalities of certain periods – especially in the realms of...

Prekṣaṇīyam is an anthology of essays on Indian classical dance and theatre authored by multifaceted scholar and creative genius, Śatāvadhānī Dr. R Ganesh. As a master of śāstra, a performing artiste (of the ancient art of Avadhānam), and a cultured rasika, he brings a unique, holistic perspective to every discussion. These essays deal with the philosophy, history, aesthetics, and practice of...

Yaugandharam

इदं किञ्चिद्यामलं काव्यं द्वयोः खण्डकाव्ययोः सङ्कलनरूपम्। रामानुरागानलं हि सीतापरित्यागाल्लक्ष्मणवियोगाच्च श्रीरामेणानुभूतं हृदयसङ्क्षोभं वर्णयति । वात्सल्यगोपालकं तु कदाचिद्भानूपरागसमये घटितं यशोदाश्रीकृष्णयोर्मेलनं वर्णयति । इदम्प्रथमतया संस्कृतसाहित्ये सम्पूर्णं काव्यं...

Vanitakavitotsavah

इदं खण्डकाव्यमान्तं मालिनीछन्दसोपनिबद्धं विलसति। मेनकाविश्वामित्रयोः समागमः, तत्फलतया शकुन्तलाया जननम्, मातापितृभ्यां त्यक्तस्य शिशोः कण्वमहर्षिणा परिपालनं चेति काव्यस्यास्येतिवृत्तसङ्क्षेपः।

Vaiphalyaphalam

इदं खण्डकाव्यमान्तं मालिनीछन्दसोपनिबद्धं विलसति। मेनकाविश्वामित्रयोः समागमः, तत्फलतया शकुन्तलाया जननम्, मातापितृभ्यां त्यक्तस्य शिशोः कण्वमहर्षिणा परिपालनं चेति काव्यस्यास्येतिवृत्तसङ्क्षेपः।

Nipunapraghunakam

इयं रचना दशसु रूपकेष्वन्यतमस्य भाणस्य निदर्शनतामुपैति। एकाङ्करूपकेऽस्मिन् शेखरकनामा चित्रोद्यमलेखकः केनापि हेतुना वियोगम् अनुभवतोश्चित्रलेखामिलिन्दकयोः समागमं सिसाधयिषुः कथामाकाशभाषणरूपेण निर्वहति।

Bharavatarastavah

अस्मिन् स्तोत्रकाव्ये भगवन्तं शिवं कविरभिष्टौति। वसन्ततिलकयोपनिबद्धस्य काव्यस्यास्य कविकृतम् उल्लाघनाभिधं व्याख्यानं च वर्तते।

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the third volume, some character sketches of great literary savants responsible for Kannada renaissance during the first half of the twentieth century. These remarkable...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the second volume, episodes from the lives of remarkable exponents of classical music and dance, traditional storytellers, thespians, and connoisseurs; as well as his...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the first volume, episodes from the lives of great writers, poets, literary aficionados, exemplars of public life, literary scholars, noble-hearted common folk, advocates...

Evolution of Mahabharata and Other Writings on the Epic is the English translation of S R Ramaswamy's 1972 Kannada classic 'Mahabharatada Belavanige' along with seven of his essays on the great epic. It tells the riveting...

Shiva-Rama-Krishna is an English adaptation of Śatāvadhāni Dr. R Ganesh's popular lecture series on the three great...

Bharatilochana

ಮಹಾಮಾಹೇಶ್ವರ ಅಭಿನವಗುಪ್ತ ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ವಿದ್ಯಾವಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮರೆಯಲಾಗದ ಹೆಸರು. ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಶೈವದರ್ಶನ ಮತ್ತು ಸೌಂದರ್ಯಮೀಮಾಂಸೆಗಳ ಪರಮಾಚಾರ್ಯನಾಗಿ  ಸಾವಿರ ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಇವನು ಜ್ಞಾನಪ್ರಪಂಚವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಭಾವಿಸುತ್ತಲೇ ಇದ್ದಾನೆ. ಭರತಮುನಿಯ ನಾಟ್ಯಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಇವನೊಬ್ಬನೇ ನಮಗಿರುವ ಆಲಂಬನ. ಇದೇ ರೀತಿ ರಸಧ್ವನಿಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತವನ್ನು...

Vagarthavismayasvadah

“वागर्थविस्मयास्वादः” प्रमुखतया साहित्यशास्त्रतत्त्वानि विमृशति । अत्र सौन्दर्यर्यशास्त्रीयमूलतत्त्वानि यथा रस-ध्वनि-वक्रता-औचित्यादीनि सुनिपुणं परामृष्टानि प्रतिनवे चिकित्सकप्रज्ञाप्रकाशे। तदन्तर एव संस्कृतवाङ्मयस्य सामर्थ्यसमाविष्कारोऽपि विहितः। क्वचिदिव च्छन्दोमीमांसा च...

The Best of Hiriyanna

The Best of Hiriyanna is a collection of forty-eight essays by Prof. M. Hiriyanna that sheds new light on Sanskrit Literature, Indian...

Stories Behind Verses

Stories Behind Verses is a remarkable collection of over a hundred anecdotes, each of which captures a story behind the composition of a Sanskrit verse. Collected over several years from...