Page 717 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

CRITICISM AND SUGGESTIONS 69

were originally expressed in any but the simplest language and
in the simple manner, consistent with the nature of the subject.
True that the Vedanga has long been a conundrum to us. But this
was due partly to its present fragmentary character, partly to
the corrupt state of the text and its technical natureand partly
to our ignorance of the ancient astronomical methods. Thanks to
the labours of Thibaut, Dikshit, Barhaspatya and others, these
difficulties have been almost overcome. But, still if a verse in the
Vedanga fails to yield any intelligible meaning, except by violating
the natural construction and meaning of the words used, we may
be sure to have missed its true import· and the safest course to
follow in such case is simply to record our suggestions, if any,
and to leave the verse to be finally deciphered by future worker
in the field, rather than try to give, by hook or crook, to our
work a semblance of completeness it has not really attained. For,
nspite of the great progres already made, the last word on the
Vedanga is, in my opinion, yet to be uttered.