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NandiSootra
Niyat (defined) - Being the source of validation of the well defined nine fundamentals like diva (being), it is well defined.
Shashvat (eternal) - As the five fundamental substances are eternal because of their being the basis of this creation, so is this Ganipitak.
Akshaya (unending) - Like the unending flow of the perpetual rivers like the Ganges, the flow of the recitation of the Ganges of shrut is unending.
Avyaya (not depleted) - The immense volume of an ocean is never depleted. As the Ganipitak has an immense volume of the inspiration for the path of liberation it does not deplete.
Avasthit-As a continent has fixed dimension and location, so is this Ganipitak.
Nitya (ever existent) - As the existence of fundamentals like space is ever existent, so is that of the Ganipitak.
*THE TYPES AND PROCEDURE OF STUDY OF SHRUT-JNANA*
[158] MEANING -There are fourteen types of shrut-jnana - Akshar, Sanjni, Samyak, Saadi, Saparyavasit, Gamik and Angapravisht (seven positives); Anakshar, Asanjni, Mithya, Anaadi, Aparyavasit, Agamik and Angabahya (seven negatives).
[159] MEANING -the eight inherent qualities of wisdom that help gainscriptural knowledge through study of Agams are defined by theserene and scholarly sages of the past as follows
[160] MEANING -1.Sushrusha, 2.Pratiprichhana, 3.Shravan, 4.Grahan, 5.Iha, 6. Apoha, 7.Dharana and 8. Samyak Acharan.
[161] MEANING -the seven qualities of listening are - be silent whilelistening, utter acknowledgment, express acceptance, raisequestions, contemplate, absorb the lesson, define the meaning.
[162] MEANING - The procedure of Anuyog is - first of all recite the text and the meaning, after this, mix it with commentaries (niryukti), and thirdly validate it with the help of nava and nikshep.
[163] MEANING-This concludes the description of Angaprauisht shrut. This concludes the description of shrut-jnanct. This concludes the description ofparokshjnana. This concludes Nandi Sutra.
COMMENTARY -Concluding the subject by listing the fourteen types of shrutjnana; the author has described the eight qualities of wisdom that help acquiring shrut-jnana. The subtle indication here is that, as the qualification of a worthy guru lays in the knowledge he has, so does the qualification of a listener or a student in these eight qualities. Without ensuring this, imparting of shrut-friana may prove to be harmful. It could even be termed as the neglect of shrut.
Wisdom is the activity of chetana (the activity of soul evident in the activity of mind). It absorbs both vices as well as virtues. The wisdom that absorbs virtues is qualified and capable of getting shrut-jnana. The Pun; adhar and able sages say that the knowledge of Agarris can be acquired only when a student learns ith the help of these eight qualities of wisdom near the guru.
The eight qualities are
Sushruha - - To serve the guru with devotion and a desire to listen. To pay homage to the guru with devotion before the start of the lesson with an intention to acquire knowledge. After this, to express the desire to acquire knowledge. In absence of this desire to know it is not possible to acquire knowledge,
Aagam- 44 -NandiSootra
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Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
