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Phyllis Granoff, Philosophy and Argument in Late Vedānta. Sri Harsa's Khandanakhandakhādya (Studies of Classical India I). Dordrecht, D. Reidel Publishing Company, 1978. XXXV, 275 pp. Dfl. 100.-/ US $ 48.50.
Śrī Harsa's Khandanakhandakhadya, "The sweets of refutation", has the reputation of being one of the most difficult works in Indian philosophy. This reputation is certainly not undeserved. The main part of his work consists in a refutation of definitions proposed by his opponents. In order to understand his arguments it is necessary to know in each single instance who are his opponents and which views are being refuted. In the second place, Sri Harsa is a difficult writer because his reasoning is often abrupt and cannot be understood unless one supplies the arguments which are implied but not expressly formulated.
Dr. Granoff's work consists of two parts. In the preface (pp. 1-69) she examines Sri Harsa's refutations of the definitions of pramā, "valid knowledge", and pratyaksa, "perception", proposed by his opponents. Dr. Granoff shows how Sri Harsa refutes the views of his opponents by pointing out the contradictions in their reasonings. His main opponents are the Naiyāyikas and, above all, Udayana, but Sri Harsa shows himself also well versed in the doctrines of the Mimāmsakas, the Jains and the Buddhists. Dr. Granoff analyzes carefully Sri Harsa's arguments
