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INTRODUCTION
spirit and conquering zeal of the Brāhmaṇas as well as the Śramaņas.
The present Dwā. is inspired by such sort of literature. The idea underlying the study of this technique of debate is that of gaining victory over the opponent. This is clearly accepted by our author who says, "If you want to secure handsome certificates, you have to go to the debate-halls and conquer your opponents" The author in this Dwā. has, in a poetic manner, given all the details of the tricks of debate-as to what a man should do, before he goes to an assembly of debate, as to what he should do after he goes there, as to how he should begin the debate, as to what qualities are needed most in debate, as to what points should be neglected. All these secrets of a successful debate have been practically given in this Dwā. by our author.
In the 9th Dwā. which is named as Veda-vāda, the Brahma of Upanişads has been described evidently on the pattern of and almost in the words of some of the Upanişads in verse especially the famous Upanişad Śwetāśvatara. In the present Dwā, Siddhasena bas quoted verses from Ķgveda describing the nature of Brahma. This Dwā. has in it such a subtle vein of disapproval regarding the Upanişadic doctrines that it is qnite possible that it might have been written to refute the famous Upanisadic doctrines. But if it be supposed that it is written by a faithful student of Vedānta philosophy then it speaks highly of the deep scholarship of the author and his intimate knowledge of Indian philosophy.
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