Upadesasahasri : Prose and Poetry of Sri Sankaracarya

Contents: Preface. Acknowledgements. Abbreviations. Introduction. Part I (Prose). 1. A method of enlightening the disciple. 2. The knowledge of the changeless and non-dual self. 3. Reiteration and reflections. Part II (Metrical): 1. Introduction. 2. Negation. 3. Self-Brahman. 4. The nature of right knowledge. 5. Error in understanding. 6. Negation of attributes. 7. Knowledge through the intellect. 8. Merging of the mind. 9. Subtleness and pervasiveness. 10. Right conception of the nature of consciousness. 11. Nature of the witness. 12. Light. 13. Eyelessness. 14. Dream and memory. 15. Impossibility of one being another. 16. Consisting of earth. 17. Right knowledge. 18. Thou art that. 19. A conversation between the self and the mind. Index to verses (Part I-prose). Index to verses (Part II-Metrical). General Index.

"Sri Sankaracarya was a great philosopher, a prolific writer and a true devotee of God. The Upadesasahasri is a famous treatise on Advaita Vedanta and also known as the master piece of Sri Sankara. The text is named so, because it contains thousand advices of the great Advaita philosopher, i.e., Sri Sankaracarya. The book is divided into two parts, viz., prose (gadya) and poetry (padya). The prose part has three chapters and poetry part has nineteen chapters. The work vividly describes and also established the non-dualistic approach of Sri Sankara in a lucid way. Its language is very simple and easily accessible. The poetry part mainly deals with various concepts of Vedanta, viz., Brahman, Atman, Maya, Srsti (Creation), Jiva, Moksa, etc. The prose part is in the form of a dialogue between a teacher and his disciple, where in the teacher and his disciple, where in the teacher satisfies the student by answering all his doubts.

The present volume contains the original Sanskrit text along with the commentary of Sri Ramatirtha. Besides, the English translations is also added with the text. The work is also ornamented with an index. The students of Indian philosophy will be benefited by this excellent scholarly work. However, the work will definitely show a new light in a positive direction to the researchers and true lovers of Advaita Vedanta." (jacket)