6 Mr. Colebrooke on the Philosophy of the Hindus. 



brought into a regular form by the followers, rather than by the founders 

 of either school. 



The sdriraca sutras are in the highest degree obscure, and could never 

 have been intelligible without an ample interpretation. Hinting the ques- 

 tion or its solution, rather than proposing the one or briefly delivering the 

 other, they but allude to the subject. Like the aphorisms of other Indian 

 sciences, they must from the first have been accompanied by the author's 

 exposition of the meaning, whetlier orally taught by him or communicated 

 in writing. 



Among ancient scholiasts of the Brahme-sutras the name of Baudhayana 

 occurs : an appellation to whicli reverence, as to that of a saint or rishi, 

 attaches. He is likewise the reputed author of a treatise on law. An 

 early gloss, under the designation of vritti, is quoted without its author's 

 name, and is understood to be adverted to in the remarks of later writers, 

 in several instances, where no particular reference is however expressed, 

 it is apparently Baudhayana's. An ancient writer on both mvmdnsds 

 (prior and later) is cited, under the name of Upavarsha, with the epithet of 

 venerable (bhagavat),* implying that he was a holy personage. He is 

 noticed in the supplement to the Jmera-coshaf as a saint (muni), with 

 the titles or additions of Hala-hhriti, Crita-cot'i, and Ayachita. It does not 

 appear that any of his works are now forthcoming. 



The most distinguished scholiast of these sutras, in modern estimation, is 

 the celebrated S'ancara acharya, the founder of a sect among Hindus 

 which is yet one of the most prevalent. I have had a former occasion of 

 discussing the antiquity of this eminent person ; and the subject has been 

 since examined by Rama mohen raya and by Mr. Wilson.t I continue of 

 opinion, that the period when he flourished may be taken to have been the 

 close of the eighth or beginning of the ninth century of the Christian era ; 

 and I am confirmed in it by the concurring opinions of those very learned 

 persons. 



How much earlier the older scholia were, or the text itself, there is no 

 evidence to determine. If the reputed author be the true one, it would be 

 necessary to go back nearly two thousand years, to the era of the arrangement 

 of the vedas by Vyasa. 



S' Angara's gloss or perpetual commentary of the sutras bears the title of 



• S'anc. 3. 3. 53. f Tricand. shh. % Sans. Diet., pref. xvi. 



