Brahma Sutras (Shankara Bhashya)

by Swami Vireshwarananda | 1936 | 124,571 words | ISBN-10: 8175050063

This is the English translation of the Brahma-sutras including the commentary (Bhashya) of Shankara. The Brahma-sutra (or, Vedanta-sutra) is one of the three canonical texts of the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy and represents an early exposition the Vedantic interpretation of the Upanishads. This edition has the original Sanskrit text, the r...

Chapter II, Section I, Adhikarana II

Adhikarana summary: Refutation of the Yoga philosophy

Brahma-Sutra 2.1.3: Sanskrit text and English translation.

एतेन योगः प्रत्युक्तः ॥ ३ ॥

etena yogaḥ pratyuktaḥ || 3 ||

etena—By this; yogaḥ—the Yoga philosophy; pratyuktaḥ—is (also) refuted.

3. By this the Yoga philosophy is (also) refuted.

After the refutation of the Sankhyas, who recognize an independent entity called the Pradhana as the cause of the world, this Sutra refutes the Yoga Smriti, which also recognizes a separate entity called the Pradhana as the First Cause, though unlike the Sankhyas they recognize an Iswara who directs this inert Pradhana in its creative evolution. The Yoga system is spoken of in Upanishads like the Svetasvatara. It helps concentration of the mind, which is necessary for the full comprehension of Brahman, and as such it is a means to Knowledge. So this Smriti, being based on the Siutis is authoritative. But it also recognizes the Pradhana, which therefore is the First Cause—so says the opponent. This Sutra says that the arguments given in the last Sutra refute also the Yoga Smriti, for it also speaks of a Pradhana and its products which are not to be found in the Srutis. Though the Smriti is partly authoritative, yet it cannot be so with respect to that part which contradicts the Srutis. There is room only for those portions ol the Smriti as do not contradict the Srutis.

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