Further References To Vaisesika Sutra In Patanjala Yogasastra Vivarana

Author(s): A Wezler
Publisher: A Wezler

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WEZLER : Further references to VS in PygV
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R. N. Dandekus Felicitation Volume
it also poses. In addition what I wish is not merely to supplement the list of quotations from and references to other works found in the PYSV which was compiled by T. VETTER,' though apparently on the basis of the editors' observations only for regarding the undisputed, though limited importance of such a list, provided it is really exhaustive, for tackling the problem of dating this text, in terms of a relative chronology at least, hardly anything is gained by pointing out that a particular work, in the present case the VS, is quoted or referred to more than once. It is rather my intention to throw some light on the attitude shown by the author of the PYSV towards the VS in particular and the Valsesika school of thought in general, an attitude which is not, as might have been expected on account of the criticism directed by him against the Vai esika definition of yoga, determined by biassed opposition alone. In discussing the manner in which the author of the PYSV makes use of two more elements of the Vs, I also hope to offer a contribution, though a quite modest one, to our knowledge of the reception of the VS and to that of the history of Indian philosophy.
2. Almost right at the outset of the Yogahhāsya ( - YBh) on Yogasutra (-YS) 1.1 the following statement is met with yogah samadhih e t sārvabhaumas cittasya dharmahl ksiptam, müdham, vikiptam, ekāgram, niruddham ili cittabhimayah. As I have dealt with this passage and essential parts of the PYSV on it already elsewhere, albeit not yet with the necessary comprehensiveness, I need not go here into the details again nor pursue this topic any further, but can confine myself to a portion of the PYSV passed over in my earlier article.
2.1. The manner in which the author of the YBh expresses himself poses a problem : On the one hand he provisionally defines yoga as "the state of being attentively directed" and states this latter to form a property (dharma) of the mind-stuff present in all its different states (bhumi); in enumerating these states thereafter, on the other hand, he uses expressions, viz. kşiptam etc., which cannot but be taken as attributes of the term cillam to be supplemented;" that is to say, he does not give the actual names of the five states themselves, but instead those of the mind-stuff in so far as it is in one or the other state.
It speaks clearly for the Vivaranakära's philological competence, the acuteness of his observation, that he fully recognizes this problem and deals
explicitly with it. For, after having explained the attributes kriptop etc., as regards their grammatical formation (karmakarlari nisthal) as well as their meaning, he continues his interpretation by himself raising the objection (p. 5 1.17): nanu ca bha misu dharmeņu rivaksiteşte laimartham ksiplam ityādinā dharmy ucyate). "Since it is intended to state (i. e. define the (different states as properties of the mind-stuff ],'' to which purpose is the possessor of the property taught (thereafter) by employing the attributes] ksiplam etc., and not these properties themselves )?".
Yet, as in other cases, too, when a sentence is introduced by m u ot, ised almost stereotypically in the PYSV," the objection raised is not accepted as justified. In the present case it is rejected thus (p. 5 1.18-20): nais dosah, dharmină dharma evopadiśyate / dharmānām dharmivigatvāt/atha gotue kim lingam iti / prste, visāni kokudmān präntavāladhir ili dharmina dharma evopadityate / tasmät ksepādayas cittasya bhümayo dharmā ity arthah Il.
This is not a fault; by what possesses the property (i. e. by the ex. pression denoting the dharmin) the property itself (eva) is pointed out because of the fact that the sphere of properties is by necessity ) what possesses them / is characterized by them. As e. g., when it is asked, What is the characteristic sign as regards the being an animal of the bovine species?', [by giving the answer An animal characterized by peculiar horns, by a hump and as one having a tail at the Chinder) part of its body, it is the property which is pointed out by the expressions denoting their possessor. Therefore, what is meant by the YBh statement under discussion ) is that the states of the mind. stuff forming its properties are the having thrown itself indeliberately, etc."
2.2. Anybody conversant with the VS will recall here sutra 2. 1. 813 which runs thus : visäni kaludmān präntevāladhih säsnävän ili gotue drstam
9. I give throughout my own translation, since the work done by T. LEGGETT Sankara on the Yoga-sutra-s (Vol. 1: Samadhi). The Vivarana sub-commentary to Vyasa-bhisya on the Yoga-sutra-s of Patanjali: Samadhi-pada, London 1981) can only be styled pseudo-translation: I have never come across a comparably careless translation of any Sanskrit text: it abounds in incredible misconstructions of the original to such an extent that those interested in the text itself can only be strongly warned from consulting this would be translation, unless they are fond of shaking their heads in utter disbelief.
10. This is true in so far as according to the author of the YBh as well as to the Vivaranakira samadhi is a permanent dharma of the mind-stuff, whereas the different bhms are temporary properties of it.
11. Cf. Studies in the PYSV I. p. 36. - In passing it may be pointed out that on in juxtaposition with name has only in quite vague a manner its normal conjunc. tive adversative function so that it seems even advisable to transcribe it as one word:
5. CI. bis book: Studien zur Lehre und Entwicklung Sahkaras (Publications of the De Nobili Research Library, ed. by G. OBERHAMMER, Vol. VI), Wien 1971, p. 22.
6. This proviso results from general methodological considerations as well as from what W. HALBFASS says in his Appendix (cf. fn. 2) on the authorship problem,
7. Viz. in the Studies in the PYŚVI" (cf. in.).
8. This is made clear by the author of the YBh bimself in that he introduces the immediately following sentence by : fare il ple cetasi...
12 lo gumbering sutras of the VS I follow MUNI JAMBOVIJAYAJI's edition (cf. fn, 3).