An analysis of ‘Pratītyasamutpāda’ in the ‘Dedicatory Verses’ in Nāgarjuna’s ‘Mūlamadhyamakakārikā’

Abstract

‘Pratītyasamutpāda’ is the most complicated and controversial word in the 2 verses of the ‘Dedicatory Verses’ of Nāgārjuna’s ‘Mūlamadhyamakakārikā’, since there is no the affirmative explanation, but only 8 negative words are there. It is evident that in all his philosophical works Nāgārjuna regularly used the ‘Dialectic’ and the ‘reductio ad  absurdum’ to reduce the reliability of his opponents. Later Bhāviveka tried to add some affirmative method with the help of Logical explanation, but he was attacked by Candrakīrti who composed his magnum opus entitled ‘Prasannapadā’ to retain Nāgārjuna’s method of ‘reduction ad absurdum’.