# Ancient Scriptures: We Should Understand the Bigger Picture, Not Get Lost in Literal Translations

Our ancient scriptures were composed in Sanskrit, a rich and complex language in which words can have different meanings depending on context, usage and the surrounding passage. Translating such texts into another language is not simply a matter of replacing each Sanskrit word with an English or Telugu word. The translator must interpret the context, understand the narrative and convey what they believe the author intended.

That is where differences in interpretation arise.

We should not assume that every translated word perfectly captures the original meaning. Nor should we force every word to fit one particular interpretation when the larger passage suggests that the author may have been conveying something different.

Sometimes, understanding the overall message is more important than arguing over the meaning of every individual word.

Take the Story of Hiraṇyākṣa and Lord Varāha, for Example

In the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the battle between Hiraṇyākṣa and Lord Varāha is described through extraordinary events involving fierce winds, darkness, falling stones, unusual phenomena in the sky and supernatural disturbances.

When we read certain translations literally, some descriptions can sound impossible or unbelievable.

But instead of immediately rejecting the entire account because every detail does not fit our present understanding, why can't we step back and consider the bigger picture?

For example, we could interpret the overall description as depicting a period of extreme environmental disturbances during the battle. We could explore whether the imagery reflects a natural catastrophe, a symbolic description, an ancient understanding of cosmic forces, or something whose original meaning we can no longer confidently determine.

This does not mean we have proved that a real climate catastrophe occurred during the battle. It means we are willing to investigate possible meanings without prematurely closing the discussion.

Perhaps the original author intended something different from what a modern translator understood. Perhaps the description combines several layers of meaning. Perhaps we will never know the exact intention.

If something does not fit our present understanding, we can leave the question open instead of rushing to accept or reject it.

Why Shouldn't We Look at the Bigger Picture Instead of Every Word?

Imagine someone trying to explain a complicated event that happened thousands of years ago. The author has a particular understanding of the event, but we are separated from that author by centuries of language evolution, cultural changes and differences in knowledge.

Today, we read the account through a translator's understanding. We then interpret that translation through our own knowledge and imagination.

How can we confidently claim that this entire process has preserved the original meaning perfectly?

Sanskrit words can carry multiple meanings, but those meanings are not interchangeable in every sentence. Context matters. The surrounding verses, the story as a whole and the author's broader message must also be considered.

Sometimes, a literal translation may be appropriate. Sometimes, the meaning may be symbolic or contextual. Sometimes, the translator may have made the best possible interpretation with the knowledge available to them, yet still missed the original intention.

We must therefore distinguish between what the text explicitly says, what a translator believes it means, and what we ourselves infer from it.

No translation should automatically become the final authority on the original author's thoughts.

Ancient Authors and Modern Interpreters Were Also Human Beings

Many authors and translators have worked hard to make ancient knowledge accessible to ordinary people. We should recognize that effort.

However, making knowledge accessible does not mean that every interpretation is necessarily correct. Different authors may understand the same passage differently. One may interpret an account literally, another symbolically, and another through a philosophical or cosmological perspective.

Their interpretations may help us understand the text, but they should not prevent us from thinking independently.

We should be able to say:

• This interpretation makes sense to me.
• This interpretation is possible, but I am not certain.
• This explanation does not fit my present understanding.
• I do not know what the original author intended.
• I will keep this question open until I find stronger reasons to reach a conclusion.

There is nothing wrong with admitting that we do not know.

Uncertainty is not a weakness. Pretending to know the original meaning of every ancient verse is.

We Should Not Confuse an Unbelievable Interpretation With a Worthless Scripture

Suppose a translated passage describes extraordinary events that appear supernatural. Does that automatically mean the entire scripture is worthless?

Certainly not.

We must first ask whether the translation is accurate, whether the passage is intended literally, whether it uses symbolic language, and whether we are interpreting it in the context of the complete narrative.

Even if we cannot establish the literal truth of a particular description, the text may still contain philosophical ideas, ethical principles, cultural memories or observations worth examining.

At the same time, we should not make the opposite mistake of declaring every extraordinary description to be a hidden scientific discovery. That would also be an assumption.

The sensible approach is to examine the text honestly, explore possible meanings and distinguish evidence from imagination.

We do not have to accept everything literally. We do not have to reject everything that appears supernatural. And we do not have to manufacture a scientific explanation for every verse.

Sometimes, the most honest interpretation is to say: “This is what the text describes, but we do not yet know exactly what it means.”

Why Are We So Ready to Criticize Our Own Ancient Heritage?

What concerns me even more is how some people use questionable or overly literal interpretations of ancient Indian scriptures to criticize our own civilization.

In India, we sometimes encounter people who highlight the most unbelievable translations of our scriptures, present those translations as the only possible meanings, and then use them to portray our ancient traditions as backward or inferior.

Some people who favour Christianity or other religious traditions may use such arguments to criticize Hindu scriptures and elevate their own religious beliefs. When that happens, we should be willing to examine the claims critically rather than accepting the criticism simply because it is presented confidently.

If a translation is questionable, challenge the translation. If an interpretation ignores context, examine the context. If a claim is unsupported, ask for evidence.

But do not confuse one disputed interpretation with the entire body of ancient Indian knowledge.

Being born in India should not make us ashamed of Indian civilization. Being Indian should not require us to look down on our own heritage to glorify another religion or culture.

We should not accept a criticism merely because it comes from someone who speaks confidently about our scriptures. We should apply the same standards of reasoning to every tradition, including our own and those of other religions.

If we demand evidence and context when someone criticizes another religion, we must demand the same when someone criticizes ours. Equally, if we question the claims of another tradition, we should be prepared to examine the claims made in our own tradition.

Our aim should be to understand, not to blindly defend or blindly condemn.

We Must Not Become Inferior in Our Own Thinking

India has a vast heritage of philosophy, literature, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, linguistics and spiritual inquiry. That heritage deserves serious study, not blind worship and not careless dismissal.

We do not need to prove that every ancient statement was scientifically correct to recognize the value of our civilization. Nor should we pretend that every ancient claim has already been verified by modern science.

Our heritage can be valuable even when some passages remain mysterious, some interpretations are disputed and some claims cannot be established.

We should study our scriptures with confidence, question translations with intelligence, and acknowledge uncertainty without feeling inferior.

If an interpretation appears impossible, investigate it. If the evidence is insufficient, leave it open. If a passage offers a useful philosophical lesson, understand that lesson without pretending that every detail has been historically proven.

The same intellectual honesty must apply when we study the scriptures of other religions.

My Final Thought

Ancient scriptures are not always easy to understand. Their language, historical context, symbolism and philosophical depth may be difficult for modern readers to reconstruct completely.

We should therefore stop treating every translation as the unquestionable final meaning of the original text.

Read the words. Understand the context. Examine the story as a whole. Explore possible interpretations. Question what seems doubtful. Accept what has sufficient support, and leave unresolved questions open.

Neither blind acceptance nor blind rejection helps us discover the truth.

And above all, we should never allow one questionable translation or one unbelievable interpretation to make us ashamed of our own ancient heritage.

We can respect our traditions without blindly accepting every claim. We can question our scriptures without insulting our civilization. And we can appreciate other religions without diminishing our own.

Our responsibility is not to prove that every ancient verse means exactly what we want it to mean. Our responsibility is to understand it as honestly as we can—and to have the confidence to admit when we do not know.