Bhagwad Gita Vivechanatmak Shabdakosh

Author(s): Prahlad C Divanji
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt Ltd

Page 10

Critical Word-Index to the Bhagavad gita
D
occasionally rendered to me in ascertaining the method of dissolution of some of the unusual compounds occurring in this work. Lastly, I am thankful to Sir S. Radhakrishnan for going through the book and favouring me with his valuable opinion.
Both the said learned scholars have remarked that the value of this work would have been greatly enhanced had I incorporated in it a comparative study of the diverse methods of interpretation of doubtful passages resorted to by the eminent ones amongst the commentators of this work, which has been looked upon as an authoritative treatise on the correlation existing between the three ways of approach to the realisation of the truth contained in the Upanisad doctrine of the identity of the individual soul, Atman, with the cosmic soul, Brahman, namely Jõāna, Upāsanā and Karma. While I agree that it is a very useful line of work which the higher students of the work would have appreciated but apart from the fact that, as pointed out by Prof. Velankar himself, it is a different line of study and therefore outside the purview of a purely word-index. My aim in preparing this Index as it is, which contains references to the views of some commentators only so far as they were necessary in order to show which of two alternate readings was preferable, was to provide a reference-book for those, who having some knowledge of the language of the text and the subjects dealt with therein, had a desire to form their own independent judg. ment as to the meanings of doubtful words and phrases and the purport of the work as a whole by the application of the universally accepted canons of interpretation. That had been my aim because my view is that it is only when one's mind is free from the traditional grooves that original ideas spring up therein and enable one to make some original contribution to the world's stock of knowledge by making an intensive and comparative study of that work. So much has already been written on the subject of the teaching of the Bhagavadgitā from several philosophical and theological view points that there is hardly any scope for making any substantive addition by making a synthetic and doctrinal study of the work. The field of analytical and historical study thereof is not yet sufficiently explored, and particularly not by us, Indians. The future of the Bhagavadgitā study therefore lies for us in the direction of ascertaining the authorship, probable sources and date of the work, the place which can be legitimately assigned to it in the history of the Sanskrit language and literature and in that of the Indian philosophy and theology. I have by preparing a separate note on those subjects shown that direction. For that purpose I had to make a more intensive study of the work and compare its contents relating to different subjects with various other works dealing with the same subjects. I hope other scholars will make a similar use of this Word-Index for either checking and evaluating my own conclusions after I am able to publish them or applying their minds to other cognate problems arising out of the words of this important and soul-elevating work. Prerana, Ghodbunder Road, Santacruz, Bombay 25.
P. C. DIVANJI. Dated 15th October 1945. )