Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 2

Author(s): G C Chaudhary
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 50

A RARE MANUSCRIPT OF THE VADA-RAHASYA : A REFUTATION OF UDAYANĀCHĀRYA'S ATMATATTVA-VIVEKA
BY
Dr. G.C. CHOUDHARY
I propose to introduce before the scholarly world a new work on Buddhist Logic which was hither to unknown.
It is almost an established view among the scholars of Indian. Logic that the great controversy which arose between the Buddhist logicians and the Naiyayikas in about 3rd or 4th cent. A. D. was closed for ever in the 11th cent. A. D. by the great Naiyayika, Udayanacharya (circa 1040 A. D.) who ruthlessly criticised and silenced the Buddhist logicians. But the discovery of the Vada-rahasya shows that the mighty Udayanacharya was also not spared and rebutted suitably in his turn by the Buddhists. The Vada-rahasya unlike the books on Indian logical debate, is a vehement criticism and refutation of Udayana's views held specially in his Atmatattvaviveka.
The MS of the Vada-Rahasya is one of the numerous Palm-leaf MSS of Sanskrit works, discovered by the late lamented Mahapandita Rahula Sankrityayana from the different monastic establishments in Tibet. During his four tedious journeys of the highland he prepared their copies, some in his own hand writing and others by Photographic method and handed them over to the Bihar Research Society, Patna for preservation. Out of these a number of valuable works have been brought to light in scholarly editions. The MS of the Vada-Rahasya had been found in a small establishment called Shu-he-ri-phug which is a branch monastery of Sha-lu (founded in 1040 A. D.). It was photographed by the Mahapandit during his second search of Sanskrit Palm-leaf MSS in Tibet and in his article published in the Journal of Bihar Orissa Research Society in the year 1937, he notices it among the works of Logic as a complete one with the size of 3000 slokas by an unknown author.
A few years back, the work was given to me for editing by the authorities of the K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute Patna, the photographic negatives of which were received by the Institute from the Bihar Research Society Patna. A photostate copy prepared out of the ten negatives consisting of 84 sides of 42 folios along with its rough 1. Vol XXIII, Pt. I, P. 56, No. 37.