Sastra Darpanam-शास्त्रदर्पणम्-Tamil translatation by-Vid.MM.Dr.Manidravid -Pranastahanugamata

Pada-2-Class-10 Sastra Darpanam-शास्त्रदर्पणम् Tamil translatation by-Vid.MM.Dr.Manidravid sastri SASTRA Darpana is, true to its name, a mirror wherein are faithfully reflected the tenets of the ADVAITA VEDANTA as embodied in the well-known Brahma Sutras. These Brahma-sutras have been variously interpreted by several learned men of different creeds but it is clearly and convincingly VYASATATPARYA NIRNAYA* by Ayyanna Dikshita who lived about 150 years ago that Sri Vyasa while writing the Brahmasutras could have had in view the advaitic interpretation only. Hence a peculiar importance is attached to this interpretation and among the Advaitins the expression "VEDANTA SASTRA" includes the following five works vis, 1. Brahmasutras by Sri Vyasa, 2. Bhashya by Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada, 3. Bhamati, a commentary on the Bhashya, by Vachaspati Misra, 4. Kalpataru, a commentary on Bhamati by Amalananda and 5. Pari mala a commentary on Kalpataru by Appaya Dikshita. Of these mighty intellects in the field of Advaita Philosophy the fourth viz. Amalananda was not satis- fied with writing the Kalpaturu. He yearned to write an independent treatise on the Brahma Sutras with the result that this Sastra Darpana was given to the world. It is a masterly treatise consisting of learned lectures on each adbikarana expounding forcibly its meaning and its purport in a way hitherto unrivalled in the field of Sanskrit Literature. This novel method of writing lectures on each Adhikarana as a whole makes an effec tive impression on the minds of the learned readers. The author of this masterpiece who is himself an excel- lant scholar has in the course of his lectures versified the substance of the Purvapaksha and the Siddhanta of esch Adhikarana into Slokas, thereby showing how facile his pen was. These Slokas are helpful to the readers in that they serve as a mnemonic to bring to- mind the various arguments adduced in the different lectures. The existence of this rare masterpiece was. brought to our notice by His Holiness the late Sri Jagadguru of Sringeri. Immediately after, we set about the collection of manuscripts of this work and obtained the following: one palm leaf manuscript and one paper manuscript from the Sringeri Mutt, Two palm leaf manuscripts through Brahmasri K. Rama Sastrigal of Mysore, one palm leaf manuscript through Brahmasri Rangsvadbyar of Kalladakurichi and one excellently written paper manuscript from Brahmasri Ramaswamy Sastrigal of Gopichettipalayam. The last manuscript was in Grantha characters and was written after a care- ful collation of three different manuscripts.