Zend Avesta Part 01

SR No.: 007671
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: James Darmesteter
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1895
Total Pages: 2695
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 49 MB

Page 1885

30
BHAGAVADGITA.
unmistakable. The word 'firmly-fixed' is identical in both passages; the idea is identical, and Mallinatha refers to the passage in the Gîtå as the authority which Kalidåsa had in view. It follows, therefore, that the Gîtå must be prior to Kálidasa's time. It may be added, that Kalidasa in his Raghu XV, 67, cites Manu as an authority for the proposition that a king must protect all castes and all orders or asramas. Manu, therefore, must have lived considerably earlier than Kalidasa, and the Gîtà, as we have already argued, must be considerably earlier, not only than Manu, but also than his predecessor Apastamba. The Gitâ may, therefore, be safely said to belong to a period several centuries prior to the fifth century A.C.
The next piece of external evidence is furnished by the Vedânta-sútras of Bådaråyana. In several of those Sútras, references are made to certain Smritis as authorities for the propositions laid down. Take, for instance, I, 2, 6, or I, 3. 23, and many others. Now three of these Sütras are very useful for our present purpose. The first we have to consider is Sútra II, 3, 45. The commentators Sankarákarya, Râmânuga. Madhva, and Vallabha' are unanimous in understanding the passage in Gità, chapter XV, stanza 7 (p. 112), to be the one there referred to by the words of the Sútra, which are, 'And it is said in a Smriti.' Now a glance at the context of the Sûtra will, I think, satisfy us that the commentators, who are unanimous though representing different and even conficting schools of thought, are also quite right. Sûtra 43, in the elliptical language characteristic of that branch of our literature, says. A part, from the statement of difference, and the reverse also ; some lay down that it is a fisherman or a chcat.' Sûtra ff runs thus, ' And also from the words of the Mantra.' And then comes Sutra 45 as set out abovc. It is plain, that the Sútra No. 45 indicates an authority for something not specified, being regarded as part of some other thing also not
"I am indebied o Professor M. M. Kunts for a loan of Vallabhakarya's commentary on the Sútras noted in the text. I had not seen it in 1873, when I last dr.cussed this question.
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