Vedic Concept of Dharma: A Philosophical Analysis

This book is an English translation of original Odia work, titled Vaidika Dharma-Cetana, Eka Darsanika Vicara by Professor Misra was a Senior Fellow of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research. It resulted from Professor Misra’s reading of the Vedas in original. This English translation brings to us one of the rare treatments of the Vedas, where it is presented purely as a discourse of knowledge (as the word ‘Veda’ ought to imply). The translator hopes to open this discourse to a global audience of students and scholars of the Vedas, beginning with the first question that the Vedic sages tried to tackle, that is the question about the distinctive nature and methods of knowledge. This book draws upon the universal ideas of the Vedic sages, applicable in any part of the universe, and for the whole of the human society. As their truths are independent of any individual’s perception, but are in accordance with the nature of perception itself, Vedic mantras are called person-neutral. The Vedas do not recognize any individual’s primacy. No one, neither God, nor Creator, nor a great person deputed by Him, has pronounced the Vedas.