The Literary Life of Yājñavalkya (Suny Hindu Studies)

A literary and historical investigation into an ancient Indian religious thinker, tracing his rise in importance in the Hindu tradition. Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction: Narrative and Method Literary Background “Literary Lives” Chapter 1: The Origins of a Sage The Name Yājñavalkya Literary and Historical Background White and Black Yajurveda Place and Time of the White YV/ŚB Dating the ŚB Tracing the Early Yājñavalkya Yājñavalkya in ŚBM 1–5 ≈ ŚBK 1–7 ŚBM Book 1 ≈ ŚBK Book 2 ŚBM Book 2 ≈ ŚBK Book 1 ŚBM Book 3 ≈ ŚBK Book 4 ŚBM Book 4 ≈ ŚBK Book 5 ŚBM Book 5 ≈ ŚBK Book 7 Authority and Sarcasm, Part I Yājñavalkya in ŚBM Books 11–13 Authority and Sarcasm, Part II Chapter 2: The Mature Yājñavalkya and the Br̥hadāraṇyaka Yājñavalkya outside the Yājñavalkyakāṇḍa Yājñavalkya inside the Yājnavalkyakāṇḍa Br̥hadāraṇyaka 3 Structure of BĀU 3 Yājñavalkya’s Riddle (BĀUK 3.9.28) jāta eva na jāyate Reinterpreting 5cd(K) = 6ab(M) The Development of the Riddle An Answer to the Riddle? Br̥hadaraāyaka 4 The Teaching Narrative: BĀU 3–4 Authority and Sarcasm, Part III Gender as Argument Gārgī’s Right to Speak Gārgī at Court Ati √praś Yājñavalkya’s Threat Gārgī Fights Back “As a Warrior-Son ...” Maitreyī the brahmavādinī Other Women? Conclusion Chapter 3: An Ancient Sage and the Paradox of the New MBh Book 12 (Śāntiparvan) Characterizing Yājñavalkya MBh Book 2 (Sabhāparvan) Mbh Books 5, 13, 14 Conclusion Chapter 4: Yājñavalkya beyond the Veda Retellings Brahmodya Maitreyī and Kātyāyanī Yājñavalkya and Gārgī Names and Origins Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa Bhāgavata Purāṇa Viṣṇu Purāṇa Yājñavalkya and Yoga Kings and Brahmins Yājñavalkya and Dharmaśāstra Conclusion Conclusion: Yājñavalkya and Ancient Indian Literary Memory Appendix: Text and Translation of Br̥hadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad (Kāṇva) Chapters 3 and 4 Chapter 3 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Chapter 4 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Notes References Index