Essay name: Tarkabhasa of Kesava Misra (study)
Author:
Nimisha Sarma
Affiliation: Gauhati University / Department of Sanskrit
This is an English study of the Tarkabhasa of Kesava Misra: a significant work of the syncretic Nyaya-Vaisesika school of Indian philosophy widely used as a beginner's textbook in southern India and has many commentaries. This study includes an extensive overview of the Nyaya and Vaisesika philosophy, epistemology and sources of valid knowledge. It further deals with the contents and commentaries of the Tarkabhasa.
Chapter 5 - Uttarabhaga of Tarkabhasa: Contents
43 (of 64)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
203
In S膩峁僰hya-k膩rik膩 of Isvarak峁涐梗峁嘺 we get three types of pains,
膩dhy膩tmika, 膩dhibhautika and 盲dhidaivika. Adhyatmika is due to intra-
organic psychological causes and includes all mental and bodily
sufferings. It is therefore sub-divided into two. The bodily pains are illness etc.
Mantel sickness is the cause of mantel pain. Adhibhautika is due to extra-
organic natural causes like men, beasts, birds, thorns etc. The third 膩dhidaivika
is due to supernatural causes like the planets, eternal agencies, ghosts, demons
etc. According to Sa峁僰hya, one should have the knowledge of Puru峁 and
Prak峁泃i to get rid of from these pains."
According to the NS pain has the characteristics of causing
uneasiness. 112 Pain is affliction which everyone desire to avoid. So it can be
called the mark of hindrance to the soul. Anna峁僢ha峁弓a says that misery is felt
by every one as undesirable.
Kesava Misra says that pain is trouble or suffering. It is undesirable for
all. 'It is a characteristic of soul and it is not eternal as it is non-existent in
Supreme soul. Three types of pain are mentioned here, 膩dhy膩tmika峁� etc?113
x) Salvation
Salvation means mok峁 or liberation. It is highest state of religious
realization. The Upanisadieview is that there is in the highest condition a
disintegration of individuality, a giving up of selfish isolation, but it is not a
mere nothing or death. "As the flowing rivers disappear in the sea, losing there
111.
SK. K.1.
112. NS. 1.1.21.
113.
KTB. p. 172.
