Madhusuudana Sarasvatii's introduction to the Giitaa (2)

[anand hudli]

  sahetukasya saMsaarasyaatyantoparamaatmakaM |
  paraM niHshreyasaM giitaashaastrasyoktaM prayojanaM || 2 ||

  Word for word meaning:

  sahetukasya - that which is with the cause(s)
  saMsaarasya - of the empirical existence
  atyanta - absolute or complete
  uparamaatmakam - that whose nature is cessation
  paraM - the greatest
  niHshreyasaM -  good ( as a noun)
  giitaashaastrasya - of the Giitaa scripture
  uktam - was said
  prayojanaM - the objective

  Translation:

    The objective of the Giitaa scripture is said to be the supreme
    good (mokshha) which is characterized by the absolute cessation of
    empirical existence together with its cause.

   Notes:

   1) Madhusuudana has used here some of the words that Shankara
      does in his introduction. For example, we read in Shankara's
      Giitaa bhaashhya :

       ... asya giitaashaastrasya saMkshhepataH prayojanaM paraM
           niHshreyasaM sahetukasya saMsaarasya-atyantoparamalakshhaNaM|

       Briefly, the purpose of the Giitaa shaastra is to set forth the
       highest good which is defined as the complete cessation of
       saMsaara and its cause.

  2) Anandagiri, in his gloss on Shankara's Bhaashhya, says that
     the word sahetukasya is added to indicate that samsaara or the
     transmigratory life  along with its causes such as delusion
     are also eliminated, when niHshreyasa is attained.


  Anand