Commentaries on Vedas

Vedas are acknowledged as the most ancient literature of the world. The exposition of the meaning of Vedas traditionally remained oral only till the advent of writing and printing. Later on these traditional expositions were reduced to writing and they were known as commentaries. With the passage of time there is an inevitable change in the use of language and the meaning of words in some cases. To interpret the Vedas according to current dictionary meanings of words can therefore be misleading . Meanings have therefore to be taken as they are traditionally handed down. Even then human error may tend to distort the meanings. An elaborate technical system was therefore introduced in the ancient past to aid correct interpretation. It is known as Vedangas. It is traditionally incumbent on any commentator to interpret the Vedas consistent with this system only.

In addition to the aid provided by Vedangas, one must follow the traditional Meemansa method while interpreting the Vedas. Meemamsa method is primarily used in harmonising , or reconciling the apparent inconsistencies found in Vedic texts or other scriptures. It is considered inappropriate to use the modern Historical method to interpret the Vedas .It can and often does distort the original and traditionally handed down meaning .All traditional Commentators have scrupulously followed these conditions in writing their commentaries.

Compared with the Vedas, the Sutra literature is of recent origin. Sutras are aphorisms or short or concise technical sentences convenient for memorising .Commentaries on sutras are absolutely necessary to understand the sutras as they carry considerable meaning in a few words.

Unfortunately ancient commentaries on Vedas are not now available and those available are of relatively recent origin. The known commentators on Vedas are Skandaswamy, Anandtirth, Narayancharya , Udgithacharya,Hastamalak,Venkatmadhav,Laxmanacharya,Dhanushkayajwa ,Atmanandtirth, Sayanacharya,Ravana, Mudgalacharya, Devaswamy, Chaturvedaswamy, Dayanandswamy, Bhattaswamy,Bhattabhaskar, Guhadeva,Durgacharya,Ubbat and Mahidhar.However, barring Sayanacharya, Ubbat and to some extent Dayanandswamy ,the commentaries of all other commentators are incomplete. The commentaries of Sayanacharya and Ubbat are greatly recognized and considered as authoritative. Even so, the meaning of many words and mantras(stanzas , hymns) have defied all the commentaries till date.

All these commentaries are in sanskrit language.

Pandit Satavlekar’s Commentaries

Pandit Satavlekar was the first to write complete commentaries on Rigveda, Madhyandin Vajsaneyi Shukla Yajurveda and Atharvaveda and provide complete translation of Samaveda. The distinguishing feature of his works is that they are all in Hindi language, It was only appropriate , that Hindi being our National language ,Panditji gave priority to Hindi while writing his commentaries, Panditji has thus rendered a great service to the large Hindi knowing public in India and abroad. Some of these commentaries are available in Marathi and Gujrati as well.

Panditji was not a mere academician. Born in orthodox Vedic family he was steeped in Vedic tradition. He had deeply studied the Vedas for decades before he thought of writing commentaries on them. He had also published the correct versions of the Vedas earlier and they were accepted and followed all over India. He was neither an iconoclast nor a blind follower of earlier commentators Rather, he was an independent thinker. That is why in spite of his long association with Arya Samaj he had significant differences with them. He was also strongly opposed to the offerings of animals as oblations in the ritual Vedic sacrifices( Yajnas) as they were not sanctioned by the Vedas In fact there is a positive injunction not to kill animals in Rigveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda, Shatapatha,Brahman and Mahabharata Shanti Parva. Panditji valued all traditions consistent with the Vedas and he himself lived accordingly.

Pandit Satavlekar’s views on Vedas

According to Panditji Vedas are of human origin and Rishis ( sages) were human beings only albeit highly accomplished and elevated. The knowledge contained in the Vedas is divine knowledge only. That knowledge was articulated by Rishis . Divinity itself spoke through the Rishis. It was and is necessary for all the commentators on Vedas to pay special attention to the national, social, and political perspectives ; understanding of human life, impulses and conduct; spiritual and philosophical contemplation and social duties and obligations vis-a-vis the Vedas. Consider the Vedas on the basis of Vedas only, understand Vedas per se and then only proceed to either translate them or write commentaries on them. This was Panditji’s view .

The culmination of all scriptures including the Vedas is in the overall human progress and achievement. Spirituality per se tends to distort human life .Overall success and achievement here must precede liberation hereafter.Any deliberation on scriptures is possible only in a nation fully protected with arms.Those who merely recite the Vedas are not thinkers at all. They never think on the meaning of Vedas. Those who literally translate or comment on Vedas without any consideration of the national, social, and other aspects of Vedas, end in ritualism. Those who obstinately stick to the meaning given by their tradition refuse to consider any other view or meaning. Panditji belonged to none of these categories. He deeply studied all the commentators and their commentaries but never blindly followed them. He engaged himself in thinking, contemplation and writing and always kept an open mind.

English Translation of Panditji’s Commentaries

There has been a persistent demand for publishing English translation of Panditji’s Hindi commentaries on the three Vedas and translation of Samaveda .It has not, however been possible to comply with this demand owing to the paucity of resources and competent manpower. Even so, Swadhyay Mandal has under active consideration, a proposal to undertake the English translation. In the meanwhile we plan to provide English translation of a few selected Suktas (hymns) and hope you will welcome it.