Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.89

c16.89

As regards tautology, the reply is that the re-inculcation is of advantage and is done either for completing a certain number of syllables or explaining a matter briefly expressed. The entire Vedic literature is classified according to its several purposes, such as those of *Vidhi* (injunctions pointing to certain courses of action), *Arthavāda* [persuasion through *stuti* (extolling the consequences of a certain course of action), *nindā* (pointing out the consequences of neglecting it), *parakṛiti* (precedent), *purākalpa* (prescription)], and *Anuvāda* (repetition of what has been enjoined by injunction). Lastly, it is stated that the Veda is reliable like the Mantra and Āyurveda, because of the reliability of their authors. The commentator explains that the authors are reliable because they were Ṛishis who had (1) an intuitive perception of truth, (2) love of living beings, and (3) the desire to communicate their knowledge of the truths for the common good [ii, 1, 57–68].