Penn in Hand: Selected Manuscripts

Śaṅkarācārya.

Kāṭhavallībhāṣya, circa 1700-1850.

1 item (54 leaves) : paper ; 13 x 29 cm.

Manuscript is used for contemplation and study and is a Hindu philosophical treatise and commentary (bhāṣya) on the late Vedic work the Kāṭhopaniṣad, which addresses early concepts of the Self (ātman), as well as addressing and offering interpretation of early social and ritual action. The commentary by Śaṅkarācārya runs parallel above and below the root text; however, the commentary itself contains a long introduction and conclusion before and after the root text.

Title from title page (f. 1r); alternate title Kāṭhakabhāṣyeṣaṣṭīvallī from colophon (f. 54r); second alternative title, Kāṭhopaniṣadbhāṣya, supplied by cataloger; title of root text Kaṭhopaniṣad supplied by cataloger.

Written in 8-10 lines per leaf.

54 leaves foliated 1-54, upper left and lower right verso.

Colophon: iti śrīgoviṃdabhagavat pūjyapādaśiṣyasya paramahaṃsaparibrājakasya śrīśaṃkarabhagavataḥ kṛtau kāṭhakabhāṣyeṣaṣṭīvallīsamāptaḥ // śrī rastu // kalpāṇamastu // (f. 54r).

Mistakes covered over in yellow or blacked out; some corrections and additions in margins; significant syllables, words, or phrases highlighted in red through more than half the manuscript; vertical margins marked with triple red line through part of the manuscript (f. 1-2, 40-54).

UPenn Ms. Coll. 390, Item 841

Collection of Indic Manuscripts. Item 841

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts University of Pennsylvania Ms. Coll. 390

काठवल्लीभाष्य, १७००-१८५०.