Epic Civ: Chapter 3

Question 0

वेद

Answer 0

The knowledge that forms the creation and by which it is known. Manifesting as hyms, it was compiled into three or four sections. The वेद is eternal and of non-human origin.

Question 1

शास्त्र

Answer 1

Scripture ( lit. what is taught.)

Question 2

व्यास

Answer 2

The sage who compiled the Veda into sections and who also composed the महाभारत, the पुरणs and the ब्रह्मसूत्र etc.

Question 3

धातु

Answer 3

Seed of a word.

Question 4

श्रुति

Answer 4

What has been heard. The Veda, which is the highest authority, the world of the lord as it were. This includes the उपनिषद्s etc.

Question 5

ब्राह्मणs

Answer 5

The more explanatory part of the Vedas giving rules for recitation, legends etc.

Question 6

आरण्यकs

Answer 6

‘forest discussions’ of the Vedas inner meaning.

Question 7

उपनिषद्s

Answer 7

Explanations of the ultimate truth of the आत्मन् and ब्रह्मन्.

Question 8

वेदान्त

Answer 8

The teaching of the उपनिषद्s [lit. The end of the Veda ]

Question 9

वेदाङ्ग

Answer 9

The support of the Veda. Six sciences which preserve the proper understanding and recitation of the Veda. The their subjects are: pronunciation, metre, grammar, meaning of words, astronomy and performance of sacrifices.

Question 10

व्याकरण

Answer 10

Science of grammar. One of the Vedāńgas.

Question 11

पाणिनि

Answer 11

Author of the 4000 or so sūtrani compromising the व्याकरण. In this science all words are shown to derive from a few simple धातुs and an even similar system of प्रत्ययs.

Question 12

स्मृति

Answer 12

What has been remembered. The teachings of the great sages only secondary to the authority of श्रुति.

Question 13

सूत्र

Answer 13

A very terse statement which is part of a complete system explaining a science.

Question 14

ब्रह्मसूत्राणि

Answer 14

The system of sutras explaining the harmony of the upanishads in teachings that oneself is Brahman. Composed by व्यास.

Question 15

भगवद्गीता

Answer 15

The song of the lord,nfound in the महाभारत recording of the spiritual discourse between श्री कृष्ण and the great warrior अर्जुन.

Question 16

मनुस्मृति

Answer 16

The laws of Manu, setting out the laws of human life according to the universal system of धर्म.

Question 17

पुरणs

Answer 17

The ancient teaching. Eighteen works by व्यास

Question 18

श्रीमद् भागवतम्

Answer 18

The most famous purāna, dealing especially with the life and exploits of krsna.

Question 19

रामायण

Answer 19

The story of Rāma and his battles with राक्षसs by the sage वाल्मीकि.

Question 20

महाभारत

Answer 20

The worlds longest epic, by व्यास telling the story of the battle between the पण्दव and the कौरव and the events leading to it.

Question 21

भाष्य

Answer 21

A commentary to a major work.

Question 22

शङ्कर

Answer 22

The great philosopher, also known as आदि शङ्कराचार्य, who reestablished the Vedic tradition through philosophic debate and commentaries on the principle Upanishads, the गीता, the ब्रह्मसूत्राणि and other works.