Source of Brahminhood

[Patrick Olivelle]

Palaniappan and all: the Vajrasuuci is actually a Buddhist polemical 
text ascribed to Asvaghosa, but probably much later, perhaps in the 
6th century. So, this is not a Brahmanical position, but a Buddhist 
satirical comment on the so-called purity of Brahmins by showing that 
even Vyaasa had a problematic parentage.



>
>I have found an almost identical verse in vajrasuuci (23)
>
>kaivartiigarbhasambhuuto  vyaaso naama mahaamuni.h| 
>tapasaa braahma.no  jaatastasmaajjaatirakaara.nam||23||
>(See _http://www.uwest.edu/sanskritcanon/Sastra/Roman/sastra20.html_
>(http://www.uwest.edu/sanskritcanon/Sastra/Roman/sastra20.html)  )
>
>Is the presence of such verses in the Hindu texts to be attributed to 
>interpolation due to the influence of Buddhism/Jainism?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Regards,
>S. Palaniappan
>
>In a message dated 10/4/2006 6:56:03 A.M. Central Standard Time, 
>sanjay.kumar at MAIL.MCGILL.CA writes:
>
>The  verse you mentioned is perhaps from the Uttara-gita, published by the 
>Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune. The Critical Edition of the 
>Mahabharata notes a conversation between Kr.s.n.a and Duryodhana in the star 
>passage after 5.92.37, where Kr.s.n.a gives reasons for having meals 
>at  Vidura's
>house:
>
>kaivarti-garbha-sambhuto vyaso nama mahamunih. tapasa  brahman.o jatas tasmaj
>jatir na karan.am.
>
>
>
>Sanjay  Kumar
>
>McGill  University
>
>
>
>________________________________
>
>From:  Indology on behalf of Sudalaimuthu Palaniappan
>Sent: Tue 03/10/2006 11:21  PM
>To: INDOLOGY at liverpool.ac.uk
>Subject: Source of  Brahminhood
>
>
>
>Dear Indologists,
>
>Can anybody tell me the  source and date of the verse "mastsyagandhastu
>tanayo veda vyasa....tasmad  jaatirna kaaranam" ?  This verse is used by 
>some to
>argue that  according to Hindu tradition a Brahmin is indeed born   through
>austerities and Brahminhood is not the result of physical  birth.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Regards,
>S.  Palaniappan
>
>
>