Vivek Chudamani

Author(s): Chandrashekhar Bharti Swami, P Sankaranarayan
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidyabhavan

Page 13

VIVEKACŪDAMANI
ix
called temper of the modern times. I shall be gratified if, after going through the translation, such as it is, the reader feels an impulse to qualify for reading the original itself to catch its spirit and substance which no translation can ever convey.
Brahmaśri Bhäsyabhāvajña V. R. Kalyanasundara Šāstrigal, at present University Grants Commission Professor of Samskrt in the Vivekānanda College, Madras, śisya of Šāstraratnākara Veppathur Vaidyanātha Šāstrigal and an erudite scholar in the śāstras, was good enough to assist me to make this translation. I went through the original for the best part of a year reading it with him line by line, in certain cases more than once, and verifying the translation with him. That he condescended to give his time to me in this behalf in the midst of the heavy schedule of his duties in the College and the demands on him outside, and so willingly and so cheerfully, overpowers me in my sense of unrequitable obligation to him.
Dr. C. S. Venkateśvaran, Head of the Department of Samskrt in the Annāmalai University very kindly went through the translation, rectified the omissions and amended it in many places. I am very much beholden to him for this and for commending it to be printed and published.
Twọ esteemed friends of mine warmly appreciated my intention to make this translation of a work by an author held in great and devout reverence by both of them. One is the late lamented Śrī K. Balasubrahmanya Aiyar and the other, sri T. V. Viśvanātha Aiyar. From the time I took it up, they gave me every encouragement and counsel, watched its progress with a concern which was indicative of their desire to see the accomplishment of a good and holy purpose a concern which also bespoke their affection for me. For all of this, my debt to them is immense. My only regret is that Śri Balasubrahmanya Aiyar is not alive today; for, he would have been greatly delighted to see the translation printed and published for the very excellent reason that the name of the illustrious author of the original Commentary always evoked from him expressions of deep and spontaneous reverence.
Before I close, I must place on record the very valuable assistance of my friend, Dr. M. Narasimhācāri of the Samskrt Department in the Vivekānanda College, Madras, in going through the proofs from the Press and correcting them with his usual thoroughness and efficiency, particularly wading through line after line re