What follows here is a transliteration and translation from the original Sanskrit of Narayana Guru's Darsana-Mala. It is followed by a short commentary by his disciple Swami Vidyananda who took instruction each day from Narayana Guru so that he could strictly adhere to his own commentary. Each day the Guru had the commentary read back to him for correction. and approval. Those phrases which happened to be extraneous were dejected while the rest of the commentary received his approval.

The present writer has been an eye witness to this cooperative effort between Narayana Guru and his disciple. The feature of teacher-disciple collaboration undoubtedly enhances the value of the commentary, however brief it might seem to anyone trying to understand the Darsana-Mala. Narayana Guru also tacitly indicates the double-sidedness of the responsibility for his work by a verse he wrote as envoi for the commentary which reads:

"Let this commentary called didhiti Coming from my disciple Vidyananda be looked upon graciously by the wise As belonging to one of tender years."

The Guru's own hand is clearly visible in just those phrases where subtle epistemological or methodological aspects have to be initially glossed over, at least tentatively, in view of further clarifications such as what we are attempting in this book. The rest of the commentary has only an incidental value for us, and is not so important. We have taken some liberty with it, taking care, however, to put whatever additions we make within brackets. We have on the other hand tried to keep as close to the original when we suspected Narayana Guru's own handiwork , so as not to spoil the perennial value of the interpretations and intentions coming directly from him.

I hereby recognise my deepest gratitude to Narayana Guru as also my indebtedness to my fellow disciple, the late Swami Vidyananda, whose permission for following the broad lines of this commentary can only now be sought by way of courtesy. Wherever further clarifications have been felt to be necessary, the present writer has taken care to throw some light on them, either in the Prologue of each. chapter or in the Epilogue.