Prasthanatraya (Six Volumes)

by Vidyavachaspati V. Panoli

With Shankara's Commentary in Sanskrit and Its English Translation. (6 Volumes)

Foreword

It gives me much pleasure to write this foreword to Shri V. Panoli’s work Gita in Sankara’s Own Words Shri Panoli’s earlier work the voice of Valmiki ahs been deservedly praised and it is only to be expected that this English rendering of sankara’s Bhashya on the Gita would be done with competence.

Adi Sankara was the author of the immortal commentaries on the Prasthanathraya namely the Gita the Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras. In these commentaries sankara reveled his relentless logic subtle reasoning and terse expression. Indeed it has been opined that as philosophical writings they are unique. The establishment of Adviata on firm foundations is regarded our own people there is much confusion as to the real significance of Sankara’s Advaita which a proper study and understanding of his Bhashyas can do much to clear. However there have been some difficulties in the way of such study and understanding. In the first place the tradition that the Bhashyas of Sankara should be studied only after gaining mastery of Sahitya Vyakarana Nyaya and Mimamsa has sometimes hundred and obscured comprehension of the commentaries. Another difficulty experienced by students is that in his commentaries. Sankara dealt with many important subjects but the topics are not arranged according to any the systems to which we are accustomed. As an erudite scholar has observed. The fundamental propositions of Sankara which are his own contributions to the Indian philosophical thought lie like a needle in a haystack. Therefore to quote again. It would be a service to world of religion and philosophy if these thoughts are picked up and given in a systematic manner in his own words.