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148
SANATSUGÂTIYA.
other and further evidence requires a reversal of this judgment, the Sanatsugåtiya may be treated as a work nearly contemporary with the Bhagavadgita, and occupying generally the same point of view.
One word, finally, about the translation. As stated already, the text adopted is that which appears to have been before Sankaråkarya. And the translation follows mainly his interpretations in his commentary. Sometimes we have followed Nilakantha, whose commentary has been consulted as well as a very incorrect copy of apother commentary by one Sarvagña Narayana, contained in the MS. from Puna lent me by Professor Bhåndarkar. In some places even the commentators have failed to clear up obscurities, and there we have given the best translation we could suggest, indicating the difficulties. There has been an endeavour made here, as in the case of the Bhagavadgita, to keep the translation as close and faithful to the text as the exigencies of the English language permitted. The exegetical notes are mostly taken from the commentaries, even where the name of the commentator is not specified ; while the references to parallel passages have been collected, mostly by myself, in the same way as in the case of the Bhagavadgita.
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