Vinaya Texts

SR No.: 007684
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids, Hermann Oldenberg
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1881
Total Pages: 2523
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 47 MB

Page 1882

INTRODUCTION.
cxxi
Medhatithi's date acquires great importance. It is a matter of regret that in this, as in so many other cases, we do not possess any trustworthy historical information, but have to depend on such circumstantial evidence as can be collected from Medhatithi's own quotations and from the quotations made by other authors from the Bhashya. If we begin with the latter, the lower limit for the composition of Medhatithi's work is fixed by Vigñanesvara's reference to his explanation of Manu IX, 1181 Vignane. svara wrote his commentary on Yagñavalkya in the reign of the Kalukya king, Vikramaditya VI, who ruled at Kalyana from Sakasamvat 997–1048, or 1073-1126-7 A.D.2 The manner in which Vigñanesvara's reference is made, shows that in his times the Bhashya possessed an established reputation. Hence it may be inferred that it was then not of recent date. To the same conclusion points also a passage in Kullaka's commentary on Manu VIII, 184, where, in a remark on the arrangement of verses 181–184, Medhatithi's name is placed before that of Bhogarâga. As in enumerating their predecessors the commentators usually adhere to the natural order, and place the oldest name first, it is very probable that Kullaka means to indicate that Medhatithi preceded Bhogaråga. If, as again is most likely, the latter is identical with the royal polyhistor who reigned at Dhårà during the first half of the eleventh century A. D., it follows that Medhatithi cannot have written later than in the tenth century. With respect to the remoter limit for the composition of the Bhashya, I have formerly stated 4 that Medhatithi quotes Kumarila and Sankarakarya, the great authorities on Mîmâmsa and Vedanta. The former is mentioned by name in the remarks on Manu I, 3, and by his usual title Bhattapâdah,
Colebrooke, Mit. I, 7, 13.
See Joum. Bo. Br. Roy. As. Soc. vol. ix, pp. 134-138, and West and Bühler, Digest of Hindu Law, pp. 15-17, third edition.
'यो निक्षेपमित्यादिशोकचतुझ्यस्य चेदृश रव पाठमो मेधातिपिभोनरादिfuf fun. See also Jolly, Tagore Lectures, p. 8. • West and Bühler, Digest, p. v, first edition.
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