Pancadasi is a book of categories dealing with the different aspects of Vedantic philosophy. The major emphasis of this book is to help the sincere seekers in getting the perfect vision of the Truth without any doubt whatsoever, in the philosophical aspects of the Truth. The author indicates very distinctly in the beginning of his composition, that this text is composed for the sincere seekers of Truth who have pure minds with single-pointed devotion for knowing the Truth. Any student of Vedantic philosophy is incomplete in his studies without a thorough study of Pancadasi.
There are many commentaries in different languages on this text. However, the commentary of Sri“ Ramakrishna is considered to be the most authentic and to the point. Sri Ramakrishna was a direct disciple of the two authors of Pancadasi namely Sri Vidyaraaya Svami and His Guru Sri Bharati Tirtha.
The scheme of the thought presentation is divided under three categories namely:
1. Chapters dealing with discrimination.
2. Chapters dealing with illumination.
3. Chapters dealing with bliss.
The first five chapters mainly deal with the discrimination, predominantly on ‘Sat’ aspect of the Truth. The second five chapters deal with the ‘Cit’ aspect of the Truth while the remaining five chapters deal with the 'Ananda' aspect of the Truth.
