A Critical Analysis of the Translations of the Bṛhaspatisūkta of the Ṛgveda by the Western Scholars

Abstract

: When it comes to understanding ancient scriptures, particularly Vedas, commentaries not only play a crucial role but are rather indispensable. Even to understand the nuances present in the commentary, one has to learn them from scholars rooted in the tradition, and hence we have the guru-śiṣya-paramparā. Given this, the kind of translation given to mantras in the Ṛgveda by some of the western scholars not only does not synchronise with indigenous thought inlaid in the commentaries but is also found to be misleading. In order to illustrate this, in the present paper, we have taken up the Bṛhaspatisūkta (10.68) for analysis. Here each mantra is examined with respect to morphology, grammar, syntax and context. The key differences between the commentaries of Sāyaṇācārya and translations of select western scholars, as well as incoherence with the indigenous narrative and philosophical tradition, are discussed.