Bhasa Pariccheda with Siddhanta-Muktavali

The Bhasa-parichheda with its commentary, the Siddhanta-muktavali, by the same author, Visvavatha Nyaya-pancanana Bhattacarya, is a manual on the Nyaya-Vaisesika philosophy, which is extensively read throughout India by all who want to get a fair knowledge of the subject within a short compass. Though intended for beginners, it is a pretty difficult book, the chief reason for which a short compass. Though intended for beginners, it is a pretty difficult book, the chief reason for which is its extreme terseness. In 1850 Dr. E. Roer published as English edition of the Bhasa-pariccheda, with extracts from the Muktavali, which is long out of print. An English rendering of the work with the Muktavali was therefore overdue.

Some consider books on Navya-Nyaya untranslatable into English because of the bewildering intricacy of their language. However true of the more advanced works, it may not be true of a treatise like this. For those who are not well versed in Sanskrit, an English version of it is sure to be of great help. Really this is a task that should have been undertaken by scholars. But since no one has so far done it, I have ventured to make an attempt- with what success it is left to the readers to judge. Students of Nyaya, however, should always remember that, no matter how good a translation is, they must be ready to do hard thinking for a proper understanding of the subject.

In the preparation of this book the gloss Dinakari and its scholium Ramarudri have of course been of inestimable aid. I have also received much help from Pandita Upendracandra Tarkacarya, Kavay-Vyakarana-Purana-Samkhya-Vedanta-Saddarsana-tirtha, of the Catuspathi at the Belur Math, with whom I studied the book. I am deeply indebted to Dr. Satkari Mookerjee, M.A., PH.D., Lecturer in Sanskrit, Pali and Philosophy in the University of Calcutta, who has kindly revised the manuscripts, added a few notes and written a scholarly Introduction. Some other friends have assisted me in different ways. I have also got substantial help from the Bengali version of the book by the late Mr. Rajendracandra Sastri, M.A.

The book will be of most profit to those who will go through the Muktavali in the original, a small edition like the one published by the Nirnaya-sagara Press, Bombay, serving the purpose. But it will be quite helpful to others also. Of the different readings, the one that seemed most appropriate has been followed. I have tried to make the rendering as literal as possible without being unintelligible. The catchword of the text quoted in the commentary are taken from the running translation and are given in Italics. The text has been punctuated, and copious notes have been added to elucidate difficult passages. References have been given to most of the quotations. The Index and the Glossary of Sanskrit terms will, it is presumed, be found useful. It is hoped that the book will facilitate the study of Nyaya, and be widely read by the interested public both in the East and in the West.