Clear Words (Prasannapada)

Introduction

The Prasannapada (“Clear Words”) is a Sanskrit commentary on Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika that goes through its 27 chapters verse by verse. Its first chapter contains the methodological debate on which later Tibetan classifications of Madhyamaka rest: defending the earlier commentator Buddhapalita against Bhaviveka, Chandrakirti argues that a Madhyamika should not argue with independent syllogisms, which presuppose things with their own nature, but should show that the opponent’s own premises lead to absurd consequences. He also rejects Dignaga’s theory of the means of knowledge as a foundation. Unlike most of Chandrakirti’s works, the Prasannapada survives in Sanskrit; it is the only complete Indian commentary on Nagarjuna’s verses preserved in the original language and therefore also the main source for the Sanskrit text of the verses.

Connections

Builds on

• Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way (Mulamadhyamakakarika)c. 200 · Nagarjuna

More works by Chandrakirti

• c. 620Introduction to the Middle Way (Madhyamakavatara)