Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c6.s5.t16.6

c6.s5.t16.6

Śaṅkarācārya agreed to the nomination of the very wife of his opponent, Bhāratī Miśra, as the only jury (*sadasya*).¹⁴⁰ The *vāda* between the two combatants continued for several days. Bhāratī Miśra eventually conceded that her husband has been defeated, but not completely. As per law, she is the half of her husband, and without defeating her, Śaṅkarācārya cannot be declared as the winner.¹⁴¹ In some accounts Śaṅkara is reported to have expressed his reluctance to enter into the debate with a woman. However, when Bhāratī Miśra reminded him of the discussion between Gārgī and Yājñavalkya, he accepted her challenge.