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DISCOURSE 7
expounded it, it must be consistent and indisputable. It must not contain any contradiction and it must be indisputable. Not a gross intelligence but a sharp intelligence is necessary, to understand the statements in the Shastras and to scrutinize them one needs a sharp intelligence. Hence, the acharyashri has said elsewhere; Dharmosukshma Buddhigrahyah: Dharma can be understood only with a sharp intelligence. In order to distinguish between truth and untruth in Shastras one needs a sharp intelligence and an incisive and expert intelligence.
THE KNOWLEDGE OF SANSKRIT AND PRAKRIT IS ESSENTIAL FOR SCRIPTURAL STUDIES
Question: Our Dharmagranthas are written in Sanskrit and Prakrit. But we do not know those languages. How can we read them? We cannot understand them.
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Answer: If you have to read great books in science; if you have to study the books on physical science and the science of physiology, but if those books are in English, would you not learn English to study those books? Similarly, if you want to understand the Dharmagranthas you have to learn Sanskrit and Prakrit. At present, the study of those books has become very easy. Some of them have been translated into Gujarati and Hindi. Now, you can read them in your own languages. Do you really desire to study them? If you cannot understand the Dharmagranthas yourselves, you can approach the Sadhus who have mastered them. Seek their aid and understand the principles found in those books. You have intelligence; but you have to sharpen it; and make it incisive. For this purpose, you have to study logic also a little.
From the Audience:
That is possible only in the studentcareer; but now we have neither the time nor the taste for studies. What can be done?
THE PEOPLE OF TO-DAY ARE SLAVES OF LUST AND LUCRE
Maharajashri : Even those who are students do not study Sanskrit and Prakrit. They study only to pass an examination;
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