Brahma-Sūtra 4.1.14

English of translation of Brahmasutra 4.1.14 by Roma Bose:

“Of the other too, (there is) non-clinging thus, but on the fall.”

Nimbārka’s commentary (Vedānta-pārijāta-saurabha):

Since the good deeds also, aiming at selfish ends, are incompatible with salvation, just as the sins are, there result the non-clinging of the subsequent and the destruction of the prior (in their case too). Immediately after the non-clinging and destruction of the subsequent and prior (merits and sins), salvation arises at once “on the fall” of the body.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

In the immediately adjoining sūtra, it has been said that there is the cessation of the knower’s evil deeds, sprung up from thoughtlessness. Now the author points out that there is the cessation of his good deeds no less.

If it be suggested: subsequent and prior sins being harmful, let there be the non-clinging and destruction, respectively, of subsequent and prior sins, through knowledge- But such non-clinging and destruction of good deeds through knowledge are not justifiable, since they being enjoined in Scripture are not incompatible with knowledge,—the author extends the above reasoning here too thus: “Of the other too”. That is, as in the case of sins, there must be nonclinging and destruction, through knowledge, of what is other than sins, i.e. of the good deeds too which aim at selfish ends. Why? On account of the designation of that, i.e. just as the evil deeds are designated as rejectible by one desirous of salvation, since they are incompatible with salvation, so the good deeds, too, are likewise designated,—on account of that. And there is the designation of both good and evil deeds as equally rejectible, both being equally incompatible with salvation. The following texts refer both to good and evil deeds: “All sins return therefrom” (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 8.4.1). “He shakes off good and evil deeds” (Kauṣītaki-upaniṣad 1.4). “Verily, he crosses both these” (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 4.4.22). Thus, when there are no more good and evil deeds, which are incompatible with salvation, salvation arises at once “on the fall”, i.e. on the fall of the body. The word “but” (in the sūtra) implies emphasis. Hence it is established that the nonclinging and destruction of the good deeds, too, are justifiable.

Here ends the section entitled “The other” (8).

Comparative views of Rāmānuja and Śrīkaṇṭha:

Interpretation of the phrase: “pāte tu” is different, viz. ‘There is the destruction of the good deeds, which facilitate knowledge, on the fall of the body and not here and now.^[1]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Śrī-bhāṣya (Madras edition) 4,1.14, p. 410, Part 2; Brahma-sūtras (Śrīkaṇṭha’s commentary) 4.1.14, pp. 441-442, Parts 10 and 11.