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PREFACE
Shri Pujyapada's Sarvarthasiddhi has exercised a great fascination on my mind ever since I commenced the study of this great work. Very few works of the world's literature have inspired me to the same extent or have provided equally satisfactory answers to the world's riddles, which have perplexed the greatest thinkers of all ages. No philosophical work that I know of treats of the great issues that confront humanity with the same simplicity, charm, ease and freedom.
I have tried to capture the spirit of the original in thought and expression to the extent it is possible in a translation. It is extremely difficult to convey fully the spirit and charm of Sanskrit in the Engligh language. There are turns of expression and ways of exposition peculiar to Sanskrit, which, in a literal translation into English, would appear mechanical repetition instead of heightening the charm of the work as they do in Sanskrit. I have endeavoured to make my translation a true and faithful rendering into English of the Sanskrit original, without violating the idiom and genius of the English language. The derivations and other grammatical peculiarities have no significance when translated into English. I believe that these might very well have been omitted without detriment to the value of the work. But I have rendered into English these portions also for the sake of those who may be interested in them.
The work needs no special introduction. I shall just touch on a few features peculiar to the system expounded in this work. The Universe and the living beings are uncreated, self-existent and eternal. The living beings are in impure condition on account of the bondage of karmas with the souls, which has no beginning. Once they become pure, they are free from further stain forever. Each soul is a distinct entity and does not merge into another. Permanence in change is the characteristic of all substan
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