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How to go about a ‘book’ to evaluate it as a book of Great Wisdom is perhaps the second favourite choice:
If we want to understand, appreciate, and critically evaluate a book, we should first be qualified to read it. This is called, in Sanskrit, having adhikāra, competency.
Secondly, we should know with what subject the book is dealing. In other words, we should know the epistemology of the book. In Sanskrit the subject is called viṣaya.
Thirdly, we should know the method employed in the book to arrive at its conclusive teaching. The methodology adopted in a book is called its sanbandha.
Fourthly, we should know the purpose of the book, and how we are going to be benefited by its study. In Sanskrit this is called prayojana of the book, its axiology.
Thus, if we are competent to read a book with reference to its epistemology, methodology, and axiology, we could make a correct evaluation of it. Only in that case can we claim to have the right kind of appreciation.
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