Madhu Kanda. Adhyaya 2, Brahmana 6. The line of teachers
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Each mantra is given four ways: the Sanskrit in its Devanagari script, the same sounds in Roman letters, an English translation set in our own voice, and then the line once more in plain words, for a first and unhurried reading.
Not every passage is opened to the same depth. A few central mantras carry the full cross-school commentary, where the schools are set side by side. The rest are kept here whole and faithful, set in their place but not expounded, so the book stays entire and nothing is dropped for being thought minor.
Where the schools read a line differently, the difference is kept open. None is crowned and none is corrected. Each is met on its own terms, and where they contradict, the contradiction is left standing for you to sit with.
The line of teachers begins
Now the line of teachers. Pautimashya received this from Gaupavana. Gaupavana received it from another Pautimashya. This Pautimashya from another Gaupavana. This Gaupavana from Kaushika. Kaushika from Kaundinya. Kaundinya from Shandilya. Shandilya from Kaushika and Gautama. Gautama.
Here begins the succession of teachers. Pautimashya learned it from Gaupavana, Gaupavana from a Pautimashya before him, that Pautimashya from a Gaupavana before him, that Gaupavana from Kaushika, Kaushika from Kaundinya, Kaundinya from Shandilya, and Shandilya from both Kaushika and Gautama. (Then comes Gautama, whose own teacher opens the next mantra.)