Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary
by Nandalal Sinha | 1923 | 149,770 words | ISBN-13: 9789332869165
The Vaisheshika-sutra 6.1.10, English translation, including commentaries such as the Upaskara of Shankara Mishra, the Vivriti of Jayanarayana-Tarkapanchanana and the Bhashya of Chandrakanta. The Vaisheshika Sutras teaches the science freedom (moksha-shastra) and the various aspects of the soul (eg., it's nature, suffering and rebirth under the law of karma). This is sutra 0 (‘preference, should be given to worthy recipients afterwards’) contained in Chapter 1—Of Vedic Duties—of Book VI (of the investigation of dharma and a-dharma.).
Sūtra 6.1.10 (Preference, should be given to worthy recipients afterwards)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 6.1.10:
पुनर्विशिष्टे प्रवृत्तिः ॥ ६.१.१० ॥
punarviśiṣṭe pravṛttiḥ || 6.1.10 ||
punaḥ—again, afterwards; viśiṣṭe—in or to a superior, or a qualified or worthy person, i.e., recipient; pravṛttiḥ—inclination, attention, preference.
10. Preference (should be given), to a worthy recipient (who is available) afterwards.—234.
Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:
(English rendering of Śaṅkara Miśra’s commentary called Upaskāra from the 15th century)
It may be asked, what should the rule of conduct be in a case where worthy recipients being not available, unworthy ones are at first invited, but gradually worthy recipients become available. To this he replies:
[Read sūtra 6.1.10 above]
At a Śrāddha, or where gifts have to be received, if qualified persons, i.e., those who do not transgress the rules of the Śāstra in their conduct, are obtained, then one should entertain them only, leaving aside tḥe censurable ones, although invited. The rule, “One should not reject persons invited,” refers to worthy recipients only. One should, however, gratify censurable persons, who have been invited, by giving money, etc.—10.
Commentary: The Vivṛti of Jayanārāyaṇa:
(English extracts of Jayanārāyaṇa Tarkapañcānana’s Vivṛti or ‘gloss’ called the Kaṇādasūtravivṛti from the 17th century)
But what is to be done where Śrāddha, etc., have been performed through the services of an impure Brāmaṇa? He gives the reply:
Attention should be given to the thing of quality, i.e., the, re-performance of the Śrāddha, etc., by a pure Brahmaṇa, etc. The Śrāddha, previously performed, is all useless. This is the import.