Book Title: Notes On Manuscript Transmission Of Vaisesika Sutra And Its Earliest Commentaries
Author(s): Harunaga Issacson
Publisher: Harunaga Issacson
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emphasized the importance of examining manuscripts containing the text of the VS alone, i.e. without a commentary, in view of the possibility that some such manuscripts might either represent an independent transmission of the sütrapātha or contain a text which was extracted (uddhrta from a commentary which preserved at least a better text than that of the 'Maithila version,' i.e. that commented on by Sankara Miśra. Wezler concluded his observations on the manuscript transmission of the VS with the following paragraph.
Since I do not intend, or rather am not able at present, to carry out this indispensable examination of all the MSS of the VS, I shall not dwell on this point any longer. This much only I should like to add by way of summary: the transmission of the VS has unfortunately been of such a kind that even the faintest opportunity should not be missed to enlarge the documentary basis on which a critical edition of this important text ought to be built. Though well known, the fact bears repetition: elementary philological work done till now in the field of Indian philosophy is quite inadequate and unsatisfactory. (Wezler 1982, 645)
These words were written and published already more than a decade agoyet, as far as I am aware, the 'indispensable examination of all the MSS of the VS' has still not been carried out. Nor have I been able to do so, but for some time now I have been making efforts to examine as many manuscripts of the VS and its commentaries, as well as of Prasastapāda's Padārthadharmasargraha, as I could gain access to, either directly or in the form of copies of some kind. Though this study is still far from being complete and exhaustive, the manuscripts thus far examined include a number which do indeed seem to provide new and significant evidence for the text of the VS, so that I believe it may be worthwhile to present a preliminary report.
As to manuscripts containing the text of the VS without an accompanying commentary, the only two scholars who have published information so far, to the best of my knowledge, are Gopinath Kaviraj and Anantalal Thakur.3 In a brief article which was published as long ago as 1929, but which has been perhaps somewhat undeservedly neglected," Gopinath Kavi
2 The manuscript tradition of this text forms a separate problem, and one of a different nature. A discussion must be postponed till a future occasion.
* Their relevant publications are also referred to by Wezler in the article which was quoted above: see p. 643-644, note 3 on p. 674, and n. 8 on p. 675.
*Nozawa's Comparative Table of the Vaiseșikasūtra (1985), for instance, does not report
