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GENERAL SURVEY AND CONCLUSIONS
"Srati Pramana is one of the six varieties of proofs classified
in Sanskrit Logic, such as direct perception, etc. The instruction from an Apta or Professor of a practical sobject with wbich he is practically acquainted, is described as Sabda or Sruti Pramana. The instructions received from him furnish only a theoretical knowledge which has afterwards to be converted into practical koowledge, by actual experiment or experience, in order to attain to the level of the professor's knowledge....... The word Rishi denotes a person who has obtained the real knowledge by direct personal experience and his description of such experience is first grasped by Brati or hearing by his scholars who have afterwards to practige for themselves and become Rishis or Seers like
their Master" (vol. i. pp. 28 avd 29.) Of course, the greatest Professor of Religion is the Tirthamkara, wbo rises to Godhood and Omniscience than which, respectively, no status is more exalted and worshipful and knowledge, more perfect, The Word of the Master is spread far and wide by men; and is pre. served in Scripture composed in different ways, according to the abilities and tastes of its composers.
In the present cycle what seems to have happened is this that a class of poets busied themselves with the Word of Truth, and built elegant fanciful myths round it. These were highly appreciated and proved so attractive for their hidden charms that men of all classes and countries vied with one another to secure the highest excellence, with the result that the Word of Law was literally smothered under the prolific produc
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