Notes on Brahmasuutra-1

[Shrisha Rao]

On Tue, 15 Aug 2000, Vidyasankar Sundaresan wrote:

> >  alpaaskharamasamdhigdham saaravat vishhvatomukham|
> >
>
> It should be alpaaksharam....
>
> ....
>
> >The definition says sutra has to be  -
> >
> >alpaaskaram - very concise - very brief
>
> alpa + akshara = little + syllables, implying conciseness/brevity,
> by virtue of using the minimum possible no. of words.
>
> >
> >Visvatomukham - having many meanings or many facets if possible.
> >
>
> vishvatomukha means, "facing all sides". Rather than "having
> many meanings," the intention is that the sUtra should address
> a given subject (vishhaya) from all possible angles/perspectives.

That would generally be correct: `vishvatomukham.h', ekaprayojanaM
pratyapexitArthasya kR^itsnasya pratipAdakam.h, etc.

However, why is this verse of any interest to Advaitins?  It is from
Madhva's bhAshhya (cited from the Skanda P.) and the passage includes
tenets not acceptable to Advaita, and indeed, one is not aware of any
classical Advaitin from Shankara down to Advaitananda in the 17th cent.
saying that this is the Advaitins' view.

Regards,

Shrisha Rao

> Vidyasankar

--
bhava shankara deshikame sharaNam

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