Author: Hans Henrich Hock
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass
Year: 2007
Language: multilingual
Pages: 203
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8120832140
Description
Since its publication in 1884, Lanman's Sanskrit Reader has been the most widely used English-language introduction to original Sanskrit texts. What has been especially useful for begining students are the copious notes and the glossary, as well as helpful references to Whitney's Sanskrit Grammar.
This new, updated Reader, adds to lanman's Vedic selections and, in so doing, offers beginning Sanskrit students an avenue to the Vedic language. The texts in this Reader have been selected to present as wide and representative a picture of the literature as possible.
Selections 1- XIX are presented in the same fashion as Lanman's selections, as texts to be translated by the students, aided by a glossary and notes with references to whitney's Grammar. It provides at the beginning of the notes to each selection a brief content summary or in some cases a rough translation, as a guide to understanding the selection's puurport and line of argumet.
This reader is supplemented by an Appendix, Selection XX, which gives related texts, mainly from the earlier Vedic literature, but including one post-Vedic Upanisadic text that provides a glimpse of how the different strands of thinking found in the earlier texts could be integrated. These ancillary readings are presented together with translations that make it possible for readers to work out the meanings of the texts for themselves.
Contents
Preface.
Introduction. The texts.
1. The mystical significance of the sacrificial horse (BAU (M) 1:1).
2. A creation myth associated with the Agnicayana and Asvamedha (from BAU (M) 1:2).
3. 'Lead me from untruth (or non-being) to truth (or being)... (from BAU (M) 1:3).
4. Another creation myth: The underlying oneness (BAU (M) 1:4).
5. A Brahmin turns to a Ksatriya as teacher, and the parable of the sleeping man (from BAU (M) 2:1).
6. Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi (BAU (M) 2:4).
7. Yajnavalkya's disputations at the assembly of King Janaka, 1: The cows and the hotr Asvala (BAU (M) 3:1).
8. Yajnavalkya's disputations at the assembly of King Janaka, 2: Release from "re-death" (BAU (M) 3:3).
9. Yajnavalkya's disputations at the assembly of King Janaka, 3: Vacaknavi Gargi challenges Yajnavalkya (BAU (M) 3:8).
10. Yajnavalkya's disputations at the assembly of King Janaka.
11. The beginning of Svetaketu's instruction in the transcendental unity of everything.
12. The parables of the fig tree and of the salt.
13. The significance of 'OM' (ChU 1:1 with parallels from the Jaiminiya-, Jaiminiya-Upanisad-, and Aitareya-Brahmanas, and from the Taittiriya- Aranyaka: 1. Chandogya-Upanisad. 2. Jaiminiya -Brahmana. 3. Jaiminiya-Upanisad-Brahmana. 4. Aitareya-Brahmana. 5. Taittiriya-Aranyaka.
14. Mystical passages.
15. The significance of the Gayatri, and mystical knowledge saves even the sinner. 16. The dogs' sacrifice: a satirical view of ritual.
17. Reincarnation and karman, 1: Two closely related passages from BAU (M) 6:1 and ChU 5:3-10.
18. Reincarnation and karman, 2: Selections from KU 1.
19. Identification with a personal God.
20. Appendix: Related texts, mainly from earlier Vedic literature, with translations: a. Wedding Mantras. b. Ritual 'coupling'. c. More on 'OM' and other 'ritual particles'. d. The Gayatri or Savitiri. e. 'Lead me from untruth to truth. f. Rg-Vedic Brahmodyas. g. The Purusa-Sukta. h. Being and non-being. j. Ritualist passages connected with the agnicayana that "put it all together" (from Satapatha-Brahmana (M) 6 and 10). K. A late upanisadic passage that "puts it all together" (from Subala Upanisad 1-3).
Notes.
Glossary.
References to resources,
editions, and translations.
Indices.