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Root texts, translations, commentaries and university guides — each labelled for what it is. We prefer public institutional repositories, and we mark every limit we know of.
- Original textSanskrit; English and Indian languages
Bhagavad Gita — Sanskrit with selectable translations and commentaries (opens in a new tab)
IIT Kanpur · public institute, India
How to read itChoose the Gita reader, then select the translator and commentator. Their interpretations differ. A commentary is not the root verse.
- Original textSanskrit, multiple scripts
Brahma Sutra and Śaṅkara’s commentary (opens in a new tab)
IIT Kanpur · public institute, India
How to read itRoot sūtras and a distinct Advaita commentary. Begin with 1.1.1–4; compare other Vedānta readings rather than treating this commentary as neutral.
- Original textSanskrit; available translations vary
Upanishads — IIT Kanpur heritage texts (opens in a new tab)
IIT Kanpur · public institute, India
How to read itFollow Upanishads from the institutional portal. Useful passages: Chāndogya 6.8–16, Bṛhadāraṇyaka 2.4 and 3.8, Katha 1.3. This is a collection entry, not a single manuscript.
- Original textSanskrit
Pātañjala Yoga Sūtra with Bhāṣya and Vṛtti (opens in a new tab)
IIT Kanpur · public institute, India
How to read itThe reader separates Sūtra, Bhāṣya and Vṛtti. Start with 1.2–4, 1.23–26, 2.3–9, 2.28–32 and 4.34.
- Original textSanskrit transliteration
Īśvarakṛṣṇa: Sāṃkhyakārikā (opens in a new tab)
GRETIL · Göttingen State and University Library
How to read itElectronic scholarly text collated by Ferenc Ruzsa. Consult the edition notes and variants. Key verses: 1–4, 9, 17–21 and 59–68.
- Original textSanskrit transliteration
Gautama: Nyāyasūtra (opens in a new tab)
GRETIL · Göttingen State and University Library
How to read itSansknet transcription; the repository warns it is not proofread. Start at 1.1.1–10 and 1.1.32–39; check disputed readings against a print edition.
- Original textSanskrit transliteration
Kaṇāda: Vaiśeṣikasūtra (opens in a new tab)
GRETIL · Göttingen State and University Library
How to read itNozawa Masanobu’s electronic text. Sūtra numbering varies by recension. Read the opening discussion of dharma and categories with this caveat.
- Original textSanskrit transliteration
Jaimini: Mīmāṃsāsūtra (opens in a new tab)
GRETIL · Göttingen State and University Library
How to read itSansknet input. Begin at 1.1.1–5 on inquiry, dharma, perception, and the word–meaning relationship. Later schools substantially develop these aphorisms.
- Original textSanskrit transliteration
Rāmānuja: Vedārthasaṃgraha (opens in a new tab)
GRETIL · Göttingen State and University Library
How to read itRāmānuja’s own philosophical interpretation of the Upanishads. This is primary evidence for his argument, not an Upanishad itself.
- Original textSanskrit transliteration
Śivasūtra with Vārttika (opens in a new tab)
GRETIL · Göttingen State and University Library
How to read itRoot aphorisms carry SivS markers; commentary carries SivSV markers. Read 1.1–5 and 3.1–3 while keeping the two layers distinct.
- Original textPali, multiple scripts
Pāḷi Tipiṭaka — Chaṭṭha Saṅgāyana edition (opens in a new tab)
Vipassana Research Institute · independent research institute
How to read itCanonical texts, commentaries and subcommentaries are separate collections. This represents a Theravāda textual tradition, not every Buddhist canon.
- Archive scanSanskrit and English
The Sāṅkhya Kārikā — 1837 edition (opens in a new tab)
Digital Library of India / Ministry collection · Internet Archive mirror
How to read itColebrooke’s translation with Wilson’s presentation of commentary, 1837. A historical printed edition, not an original manuscript. Older translations require comparison with modern scholarship.
- CommentarySanskrit transliteration
Mīmāṃsāsūtra with Śabara’s Bhāṣya, chapters 1–7 (opens in a new tab)
GRETIL · Göttingen State and University Library
How to read itRoot text and commentary are presented together. This is a partial electronic edition, not the entire twelve-chapter work.
- CommentarySanskrit transliteration
Brahmasūtra with Madhva’s Bhāṣya and Jagannātha Tīrtha’s Dīpikā (opens in a new tab)
GRETIL · Göttingen State and University Library
How to read itChapter 1, section 1. Root sūtras, commentary and later subcommentary are marked separately; based on the 1900 Madras edition.
- TranslationEnglish with parallel Pali available
SN 22.59 — The characteristic of not-self (opens in a new tab)
SuttaCentral · nonprofit textual repository
How to read itTranslation by Bhikkhu Sujato. Select the root-text view to read Pali. A foundational early Buddhist argument about the five aggregates.
- TranslationEnglish with parallel Pali available
SN 56.11 — Setting the wheel of Dhamma in motion (opens in a new tab)
SuttaCentral · nonprofit textual repository
How to read itTranslation by Bhikkhu Bodhi. Presents the four truths and middle path. Translation copyright and reuse terms remain those of the repository.
- TranslationSanskrit, Hindi and English
Tattvārthasūtra with explanation from Sarvārthasiddhi (opens in a new tab)
Jain Quantum · Jain Education International (independent library)
How to read itVijay K. Jain’s 2018 edition includes the Sanskrit root text and English explanation drawn from Pūjyapāda’s commentary. Read 1.1, 5.21, chapter 7 and chapter 10. This is a Digambara commentarial presentation; distinguish it from Śvetāmbara readings. The previously identified university repository was not reachable at review.
- TranslationEnglish
Jaina Sūtras, Part II — Jacobi’s translation (opens in a new tab)
Jainworld · community repository
How to read itHistorical translation of Uttarādhyayana and Sūtrakṛtāṅga. Publicly readable scan; distinguish archaic English terminology from Prakrit concepts.
- CatalogueEnglish translation
Jaina Sūtras, translated by Hermann Jacobi (opens in a new tab)
IGNCA · Ministry of Culture, India
How to read itGovernment library catalogue for Ācārāṅga and Kalpa Sūtra. This record identifies the edition; it does not promise an online full-text scan. Śvetāmbara canon; Digambara views of canonical transmission differ.
- University guideEnglish
Śaṃkara — IGNOU unit 12 (opens in a new tab)
IGNOU · public university, India
How to read itTeaching resource by S. Bhuvneswari on epistemology, metaphysics and liberation. A secondary introduction, not a primary scripture.
- University guideEnglish
Rāmānuja — IGNOU unit 14 (opens in a new tab)
IGNOU · public university, India
How to read itA teaching introduction to Rāmānuja’s realist account of knowledge and metaphysics. Read critically alongside his own work.
- University guideEnglish
Indian Metaphysics — IGNOU unit 2 (opens in a new tab)
IGNOU · public university, India
How to read itComparative teaching material spanning materialism, realism and Vedānta. Broad classifications simplify historical diversity.
- University guideEnglish
Nyāya–Vaiśeṣika — IGNOU teaching unit (opens in a new tab)
IGNOU · public university, India
How to read itAn introductory teaching unit on knowledge, causation, categories and liberation. Read its historical attributions alongside the more cautious dates in the biographies.
- University guideEnglish
Kāśmir Śaivism — Indian religion and philosophy (opens in a new tab)
INFLIBNET · UGC Inter-University Centre, India
How to read itGovernment-supported academic learning module. Supplements the root texts; the umbrella label Kashmir Shaivism covers distinct lineages.
- University guideEnglish
Mīmāṃsā Darśana — IGNOU unit 4 (opens in a new tab)
IGNOU · public university, India
How to read itInterpretation, language and duty; a modern teaching resource.
- University guideEnglish
Indian philosophical views on the human person (opens in a new tab)
IGNOU · public university, India
How to read itComparative discussion including Charvaka and critiques of substantial selfhood. Accounts reported by opponents require caution.