Shata-shlokI of Adi Shankara - Introduction

[Guest guest]

Namaste

 

A series of 50 posts on Adi Shankara’s Shata-shlokI, was

announced a few days ago. I shall be starting it tomorrow.

Each post will have two shlokas and their word-by-word

meaning. Whenever there arises a discussion I shall give

the necessary time before I post the next pair of shlokas.

Half the time a discussion may not be needed. With all the

profound discussions on the June thread on RgVeda and the

continuing discussion on ‘Time and Space’, I am sure the

readers will find Shata-shloki a lighter supplement and a

refreshing recall of the fundamentals. I reproduce below

the introduction I already gave.

 

The title means ‘A Century of Verses’. It actually

consists of 101 four-line verses, all of the same metre

with 21 syllables in each quarter. The work is a capsuled

version of the whole spectrum of advaita, straight from

the Master. Because it is poetry, it spares us the

difficult terrain of long-winding arguments and dialectics

in prose that is characteristic of the commentaries or

Bhashyas. So even those of us who are beginners to

advaita, as well as those who are not comfortable with

Sanskrit, can appreciate it. And further, unlike the

commentaries, it could probably have been ‘spoken’ out by

the Acharya rather than composed in a ‘written’ manner.

Consequently there is an added style – which, in addition,

includes the usual majesty of Shankara’s writing -- of a

purposeful extempore after-dinner conversation, the poetic

impact of which may be enjoyed more if we know the

language. I recommend it to every reader, who has any

interest in advaita. Indeed I would like to call it:

“Triple A – FAQ on advaita” – standing for “Authentic

Answers from the Acharya to Frequently Asked Questions on

advaita”. Some of the shlokas would probably admit a

lengthy discussion by the group. Many shlokas would correct

the wrong fear current among newcomers to advaita that it

might after all only be a dry philosophy far removed from

humane and ethical considerations.

 

My source is the book ‘Select works of Sri Sankaracharya’ –

with a general translation by S. Venkataramanan, and with

a Foreword by K. Balasubramania Iyer, published by G.A.

Natesan and Co., Madras, in 1944.

 

PraNAms to all students of Adi Shankaracharya.

profvk

 

 

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Prof. V. Krishnamurthy

My website on Science and Spirituality is http://www.geocities.com/profvk/

You can access my book on Gems from the Ocean of Hindu Thought Vision and

Practice, and my father R. Visvanatha Sastri's manuscripts from the site.

Also see the webpages on Paramacharya's Soundaryalahari :

http://www.geocities.com/profvk/gohitvip/DPDS.html