Samipya 1991 Vol 08 Ank 01 02

Author(s): Pravinchandra C Parikh, Bhartiben Shelat
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan

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On the analogy of Nalanda, it seems that admission to the Valabhi University was granted to those who completed their primary and secondary eduation there and to those of the outsiders that passed through the test held at the entrance. Two or three candidates only were declared successful out of every ten; while the others had to leave disappointed with downcast heads with their brains simmering and their hearts rankling with intellectual humiliation. At Nalanda Yuan Chwang studied the four Vedas, works on astronomy and geography on medical art, magic, and arithmatic. He also got conversant with the Samkhya, Yoga and Nyaya doctrinos. All these subjects were presumably included in the curriculum at Valabhi as well. I-tsing makes specific reference to the study of two works in particular. In learning the Nyāyadvārataraka sastra, they rightly draw inferences; and by studying the Jalakamata their powers of comprehension increase.
As for advanced studies in grammar, I-tsing alludes to four works in particular. The first among these is Carnt by Patanjali. I-tsing introduces the work as mea. suring 24,000 verses and notes that advanced students learnt it in three years. The work is said to be citing and elucidating the former śastras and grinding the obscuro prints in the latter commentary. The Cūrni is here represented as a commentary on the Vrtti-sutra, but the work of Patanjali cannot be an exposition of Kafika-vetti by Jayaditya and Vamana, who flourished several centuries after the former. Patanjali is also known as Cūniktor Cūrnikāra, and the Curnt probably means his Mahabhasya. It is not a direct bhāsya on Panini's Sutras; it rather seems to be an exposition of some old vrtti on Panini's sūtras. Next is mentioned the Bhartrharisastra, which is introduced as Bhartshari's commentary on the Cūrni mentioned above. The author was a contemporary of Dharmapala and died in 651-52 A. D. He was renowned throughout the country and was a follower of Buddhism. He had courted priesthood, but returned to the laity. In this work he skilfully discussed about the Hetu (cause) and Udaharana (example). This commentary which measured 25,000 verses, seems to be extinct. It was followed by Vakya padiya; another work of Bhartrhari. It contains 700 verses and its commentary measured 7,000 verses. It is a treatise on the sacred teaching and on inculsive arguments. The last work on advanced grammar was also a treatise by the same author. It is entitled Bela. It contains 3,000 verses and Dharmapala's commentary on it measures 14,000 verses. This book is said to fathom the deep secrets of heaven and earth and treat of the philosophy of man. A person who studied as far as this book, was said to have mastered grammatical science, and was compared to one who had learnt the Nim Classes of China. All the above-mentioned books were studied by both priests and laymen; if not, they could not gain the fame of the well-informed (bahuśruta).
I-tsing well observes that the highest truth (paramartha-satya) is far beyond the reach of word or speech; what can be explained by words or phrases is concealed truth (samvrti-satya ). The Buddhist priests learnt besides all the Vinaya
Valabhi Vidyapith ]
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