Essay name: Svacchandatantra (history and structure)
Author: William James Arraj
The essay represents a study and partial English translation of the Svacchandatantra and its commentary, “Uddyota�, by Kshemaraja. The text, attributed to the deity Svacchanda-bhairava, has various names and demonstrates a complex history of transmission through diverse manuscript traditions in North India, Nepal, and beyond.
Page 453 of: Svacchandatantra (history and structure)
453 (of 511)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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446
disorder (adharma�), ignorance (ajñānam), non-
dispassionateness (avairāgyam), non-mastery (anaiśvaryam).
From among these,
That [intellect] binds in seven ways, but by [the eighth]
property (bhāva�) knowledge, deludes. /42/
Namely, [binds and deludes] those adepts of the Sāmkhya
[doctrine].
[19] And this [intellect] is thus characterized through [its] chief
[activity], he says:
And the intellect makes determinations in regard to many,
Things.
Hear, O Dear, next, the characteristics of the eight, order,
etc. :
Therein,
Fasting, repetition, silence, non-anger, non-stealing, straight
conduct, truth, purity, alms, compassion, and patience at
all times, /44/
knowledge, study, shame, restraint of the senses, charitable
acts, service at holy places, offerings to the forefathers,/46/
lack of fear toward all creatures, safeguarding of life; [20]
this is the first property (guṇa�) of the intellect called
order./46/
This [property], which was discussed previously (Bk. 11, vss. 144b-
145a, p.86): "Non-anger, obedience to the master, purity,
contentment, straight conduct, non-violence, truth, non-stealing,
celibacy, non-maliciousness," is established here with another
amplified pattern. Accordingly, restraint of the senses is an
amplified statement of celibacy; shame, fasting, repetition, silence,
alms, compassion, patience, [and the] the set of three beginning
with charitable acts, etc., are an amplification of non-
maliciousness; knowledge, study, and safeguarding life are the fruit
of obedience to the master; lack of fear toward all creatures is a
form of non-violence; patience and avoidance of stealing are forms
of contentment and straight conduct.
