Vāda

na hi para-mata-khaṇḍanāya vādair

na hi para-mata-khaṇḍanāya vādair
na ca nija-mata-saṅgrahāya loke |
api tu nija-mano’valambanārthaṁ
param iha kila naḥ prayatna eṣaḥ ||
(Svātma-pramodinī-ṭīkā on Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi: 15.260)

“Neither for the sake of refuting the views of others with disputation, nor for the sake of consolidation of our own view in the world, this effort here of ours [i.e., this Svātma-pramodinī-ṭīkā, meaning, this commentary entitled ‘Delighting (pramodinī) one’s own (sva) self (ātma)’ on Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi] is only for the sake of support for our own mind [i.e., it has been written only for the purpose of supporting our own personal practice of absorbing the mind in worship of Śrī Kṛṣṇa].”

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śāstraṁ hy abuddhvā tattvena kecid vāda-balāj janāḥ

śāstraṁ hy abuddhvā tattvena kecid vāda-balāj janāḥ |
kāma-dveṣābhibhūtatvād ahaṅkāra-vaśaṁ gatāḥ ||
yāthātathyam avijñāya śāstrāṇāṁ śāstra-dasyavaḥ |
brahma-stenā nirārambhā dambha-moha-vaśānugāḥ ||
(Mahābhārata: Śānti-parva, 269.53)

“Not understanding śāstra accurately, some persons become captivated by arrogance (ahaṅkāra) on account of being overcome by desire or enmity on the strength of argument. Without knowing the truth of the śāstras, the robbers of the śāstras—thieves of Brahman—controlled by deceit and delusion, remain without undertaking [i.e., they do not take up the practices taught in the śāstras beginning with equanimity and so on].”

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vādo jalpo vitaṇḍeti trividhā viduṣāṁ kathā

vādo jalpo vitaṇḍeti trividhā viduṣāṁ kathā |
tattva-nirṇayam uddiśya kevalaṁ guru-śiṣyayoḥ ||
kathānyeṣām api satāṁ vādo vā samiteḥ śubhā |
khyāty-ādy-arthaṁ spardhayā vā satāṁ jalpa itīryate ||
vitaṇḍā tu satām anyais tattvam eṣu nigūhitam |
(Madhvācārya’s Kathā-lakṣaṇam: 2–3)

“The kathā (discussion) of the wise is of three types: vāda, jalpa, and vitaṇḍā. The kathā between a guru and disciple, or, in an assembly of other sādhus as well, that is learned [alt., auspicious] and purely for the purpose of ascertaining tattva is [called] vāda. The kathā of sādhus, on the contrary, for the purpose of [attaining] renown and so forth is called jalpa. The kathā of sādhus, on the contrary, with others [i.e., those whose objective is not ascertaining tattva] wherein tattva is concealed is [called] vitaṇḍā.”

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vādo nāvalambyaḥ

vādo nāvalambyaḥ |
bāhulyāvakāśatvād aniyatatvāc ca |
(Nārada-bhakti-sūtra: 74–75)

“Vāda is not to be taken support of because of [vāda] having scope for prolixity and being unrestrained [i.e., because vāda can go on unlimitedly and never reach a definitive end].”

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vādas tattva-bubhutsu-kathā

vādas tattva-bubhutsu-kathā |
(Kṛṣṇa Sandarbha: 115; Gītā-bhūṣaṇa-ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 10.32)

“Discussion among those who are desirous of understanding tattva [is] called vāda.”

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tīrthe tīrthe nirmalaṁ sādhu-vṛndaṁ

tīrthe tīrthe nirmalaṁ sādhu-vṛndaṁ
vṛnde vṛnde tattva-cintānuvāda |
vāde vāde jāyate tattva-bodhaḥ
bodhe bodhe bhāsate candra-cūḍaḥ ||
(Śuka-rambhā-samvāda: 3)

“In tīrtha after tīrtha, there are assemblies of faultless sādhus. In assembly after assembly, there is deliberation on and explanation of tattva. In vāda after vāda, there arises realization of tattva, and in realization after realization, the moon-crowned one [i.e., Śiva] shines.”

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