Brahma Sutras (Nimbarka commentary)
by Roma Bose | 1940 | 290,526 words
English translation of the Brahma-sutra 2.4.5, including the commentary of Nimbarka and sub-commentary of Srinivasa known as Vedanta-parijata-saurabha and Vedanta-kaustubha resepctively. Also included are the comparative views of important philosophies, viz., from Shankara, Ramanuja, Shrikantha, Bhaskara and Baladeva.
Brahma-Sūtra 2.4.5
English of translation of Brahmasutra 2.4.5 by Roma Bose:
“On account of the going of the seven, and on account of being specified.”
Nimbārka’s commentary (Vedānta-pārijāta-saurabha):
On the doubt, viz. whether they are seven or eleven, the prima facie view is as follows: Because of the going (of the sense-organs), mentioned in the passage: ‘The vital-breath going out all the sense-organs go out’ (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 4.4.2[1]), and because of their being specified as seven only in that very passage: ‘He does not see,—does not smell,—does not taste,—does not speak,—does not hear,—does not think,—does not touch’ (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 4.4.2[2]), the sense-organs are seven only.
Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)
Now, desirous of determining the number of the sense-organs, the author is stating the prima facie view with a view to removing the contradictions among the texts about it.
On the doubt, viz. whether these sense-organs are seven or eleven, (the prima facie objector replies:) “Because of the going of seven”, mentioned in the passage: ‘The vital-breath going out, all the sense-organs go out’ (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 4.4.2), they are seven only. How is it known that seven alone go out? “Because of (their) being specified,” i.e. because in the passage: “When the person in the sun moves about back, then he becomes non-knowing of forms, he becomes one, he does not see, does not smell, does not taste, does not speak, does not hear, does not think, does not touch’ (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 4.4.1-2), only seven, like the eye, etc., are specified.
Comparative views of Śaṅkara:
According to him “gateḥ” = avagateḥ, i.e. because of understanding.[3]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Quoted by Baladeva.
[2]:
Not quoted by others. The phrase: “iti āhuḥ ekī-bhavati” is to be supplied in each dotted portion.
[3]:
Brahma-sūtras (Śaṅkara’s commentary) 2.4.5, p. 653.