Brahma-Sūtra 4.3.3

English of translation of Brahmasutra 4.3.3 by Roma Bose:

“Above lightning, Varuṇa, on account of connection.”

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

“Varuṇa,” mentioned in the Kauṣītaki-text: “Having reached this path of gods he comes to the world of fire, to the world of air, to the world of Varuṇa, to the world of the sun, to the world of Indra, to the world of Prajāpati, for the world of Brahman” (Kauṣītaki-upaniṣad 1.3^[1]), is to be placed above lightning, mentioned in the Chāndogya-text: “From the moon to lightning” (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 4.15.5^[2]), “on account of the connection” between lightning and Varuṇa. And, Indra and Prajāpati are to be placed above him.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

The place of air, mentioned in the Kauṣītaki-text, in the path beginning with light has been stated. Now, the author points out the place of Varuṇa, mentioned immediately after it.

The question is whether Varuṇa, mentioned in the Kauṣītaki-text: “To the world of air, to the world of Varuṇa, to the world of the sun” (Kauṣītaki-upaniṣad 1.3), is to be placed above the air, on the ground of the order of textual sequence; or elsewhere, on the ground of the sun being mentioned prior to the air in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka-text.^[3] If it be suggested: on the ground of the textual order of sequence, he should properly be placed above the air alone, it being improper to suppose what is not mentioned in Scripture,—

We reply: “Above lightning, Varuṇa”. That is, Varuṇa is to be inserted “above lightning”, mentioned in the Chāndogya-text: “From the moon to lightning” (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 4.15.5). Why? “On account of connection,” i.e. on account of the connection between lightning and Varuṇa. Indra and Prajāpati are to be inserted above Varuṇa, the stated stage. Hence it is established that the order of logical sequence being of a greater force than that of textual sequence^[4], Varuṇa is to be placed above lightning.^[5]

Here ends the section entitled “Varuṇa” (3).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Quoted by Rāmānuja, Bhāskara and Śrīkaṇṭha.

[2]:

Quoted by Śaṅkara.

[3]:

Viz. Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 5.10.1.

[4]:

Vide Pūrva-mīmāṃsā-sūtra 5.1.4-7.

[5]:

Thus, finally, we get the following order: light, day, bright fortnight, the six months of the northern progress of the sun, year, air, sun, moon, lightning, the world of Varuṇa, the world of Indra, the world of Prajāpati. Vide Vedānta-pārijata-saurabha 4.3.5.