Author Two - Buddha's Contemporary

Part III: The Three Authors | The Second Layer (~5th Century BCE)

Writing in the Shadow of the Buddha

The second author wrote approximately 119 verses during the 5th century BCE, a period when Buddhism was emerging as a powerful challenge to Brahmanical religion. This author engaged with Buddhist ideas, sometimes absorbing them, sometimes countering them, always seeking to maintain the relevance of Vedic tradition in a changing religious landscape.

~5th Century BCE | Buddhist Era

Profile of Author Two

  • Verse Contribution: 119 verses (~17% of the Gita)
  • Primary Focus: Karma theory, sattvika qualities, ethical conduct
  • Audience: Philosophical elite engaging with Buddhist ideas
  • Historical Context: Rise of Buddhism as a rival tradition
  • Central Problem: Responding to Buddhist challenge while preserving Brahmanical authority

The Buddhist Challenge

The Buddha (c. 563-483 BCE) presented a radical critique of Brahmanical religion:

Buddhism’s Critique

  • Rejected Vedic Authority: The Buddha denied that the Vedas were revealed truth
  • Rejected Caste: Spiritual attainment was open to all, not hereditary
  • Rejected Ritual: Elaborate sacrifices were useless for liberation
  • Rejected Atman: There is no eternal self; belief in self causes suffering
  • Offered Nirvana: A state of liberation accessible through ethical conduct and meditation

This was an existential threat to the Brahmanical establishment. Buddhism attracted followers across all castes, including wealthy merchants and even kings. The old order had to respond or become irrelevant.

The Strategy of Incorporation

Author Two’s strategy was subtle: rather than directly attacking Buddhism, incorporate its attractive elements while maintaining essential Brahmanical doctrines. Borrow Buddhist ethical emphasis; keep the atman. Use Buddhist terminology; preserve Vedic authority.

Buddhist Terms in Author Two’s Verses

Desai notes several Buddhist concepts that appear in Author Two’s sections:

Borrowed Terminology
  • Nirvana: The term appears in the Gita, though redefined to mean union with Brahman rather than extinction
  • Ethical Emphasis: Greater focus on moral conduct than in Author One’s sections
  • Sattvika Qualities: Purity, truthfulness, self-control, emphasized as Buddhist ethics were
  • Karma Refinement: More developed theory of karma and rebirth, influenced by Buddhist articulation

The Three Gunas

Author Two elaborates the theory of the three gunas (qualities) that comprise all of manifest reality:

Sattva

Purity, light, knowledge, goodness. The quality to cultivate.

Rajas

Passion, activity, desire. Creates attachment and suffering.

Tamas

Darkness, inertia, ignorance. The lowest quality, to be overcome.

This framework allowed Author Two to provide ethical guidance without abandoning Brahmanical metaphysics. One should cultivate sattvika qualities (truthfulness, non-violence, self-discipline) while recognizing that ultimate liberation transcends all three gunas.

Competing with Buddhist Ethics

Buddhism had attracted followers partly through its clear ethical teachings: the Five Precepts, the Eightfold Path, the emphasis on compassion. Author Two responded by articulating equally compelling ethical principles within a Brahmanical framework.

The message: you don’t need to become Buddhist to be ethical. Hinduism offers the same moral guidance while preserving your connection to Vedic tradition.

Characteristics of Author Two’s Verses

Desai identifies distinctive features of this author’s contributions:

Stylistic Markers

  • Ethical Focus: More concern with right conduct than pure metaphysics
  • Guna Theory: Extensive use of sattva-rajas-tamas framework
  • Buddhist Vocabulary: Terms like nirvana, used in non-Buddhist sense
  • Systematic Classification: Tendency to categorize (three types of food, faith, etc.)
  • Practical Guidance: More emphasis on how to live than on abstract philosophy

The Battle for Hearts and Minds

Author Two was not merely philosophizing but competing. The 5th century BCE saw a religious marketplace where different traditions vied for followers. Buddhism offered a compelling package: ethical clarity, meditation practice, egalitarian community. Brahmanism had to match these offerings while maintaining its distinctive features.

“Author Two faced a challenge that Author One never knew: the Buddha’s revolution. His verses are not purely philosophical but polemical, an attempt to keep thoughtful Hindus from defecting to the new religion.” Meghnad Desai

Key Insights about Author Two

  • Time Period: ~5th century BCE, contemporary with early Buddhism
  • Contribution: 119 verses focusing on ethics, karma, and the gunas
  • Strategy: Incorporate Buddhist appeal while preserving Brahmanical framework
  • Key Concepts: Three gunas, sattvika qualities, refined karma theory
  • Borrowed Terms: Nirvana and other Buddhist vocabulary, reinterpreted
  • Purpose: Compete with Buddhism for educated Hindu followers

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