Reviews
By U. N. Ghoshal, Kaccayana, Arthur Berriedale Keith, Bimala Charan Law
Summary
This section of the journal offers reviews of recent books in Indology. Louis de la Vallée Poussin’s ‘Nirvāṇa’ synthesises previous scholarship on the Buddhist notion of liberation and, for the first time, systematically relates the Mahāyāna concept to its early Buddhist roots. The reviewer praises Poussin’s clarity but notes that the book does not fully trace the intermediary stages between the Pāli canon and later philosophy. Other reviews cover Indian M. C. A. B. L. Hon. D.’s ‘The Buddha and Hell in Buddhist Perspective’, which places the doctrine of hell in the context of compassion and karma, and J. Takakusu’s ‘A Concise Dictionary of Buddhist Terms’, commended for its philological rigour. There are critical notices of a French translation of the Bhagavad Gītā and of an edition of the Somadeva’s Kathāsaritsāgara. Each review summarises the work’s aims, evaluates its methodology, and situates it within current research. Together they illustrate the growing international exchange of ideas on Buddhism and Sanskrit literature. The section reflects the journal’s commitment to informing readers about new resources while maintaining scholarly standards.
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Conclusion
The review section demonstrates that critical engagement with both Indian and Western scholarship is essential for advancing understanding. By highlighting strengths and weaknesses, the reviewer guides readers toward reliable resources and fosters rigorous debate.