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Foreword
Veda Bhashya by Prof. Tulsiram – A step to make
Vedas available to the English World
I have had the privilege of going through some of the
chapters of Yajurveda Bhashya written by Prof. Tulsiram, a
well known Vedic scholar and author of English language
and literature. I congratulate him because he has done this
translation for an average English reader who is keen to know
the Vedas. Knowledge of the Vedas is like the knowledge of
science. Vedic language is a scientific language and nobody
can understand that without the profound knowledge of
Vedangas, especially Nirukta of Maharshi Yaska and the
grammar of Panini and Patanjali. Nobody can interpret the
Veda mantras without these two. This translation proves that
Prof. Tulsiram has done this insightful translation after doing
hard work in both Vedangas.
In translating the Vedas, only literal meaning is just
not sufficient, sometimes it may create confusion and
contradiction. Prof. Tulsiram deeply merges himself into
Vedic Mantras, thinking deeply about words, derivatives and
analyzes the hidden nuances of meaning in their context. For
example, ‘Sumitriya na aapa oshadhayah santu…..Yajur. 36,
23’: If we take literal meaning in the ordinary sense, “may
the waters, vital forces of life, and herbs be friendly to us
and may they be enemies to those who hate us and whomwe
hate”, it will not make acceptable sense. After raising some
questions, he says, “How can we accept this?” So, after going
deeply into the words and context he gives this meaning of
the said mantra:
May waters, tonics, pranic energies and
medicinal herbs be good friends of our health system and
immunity and let the same waters, tonics, pranic energies
herbal medicines act against those ailments, diseases and
( xiv )
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