Verse 2.17

Sanskrit text and transliteration:

विजिज्ञासस्व तदिति ब्रह्मज्ञाने प्रवर्तकम् ।
जिज्ञास्यलक्षणोक्तिः स्याद्यतो वा इति च श्रुतिः ॥ १७ ॥

vijijñāsasva taditi brahmajñāne pravartakam |
jijñāsyalakṣaṇoktiḥ syādyato vā iti ca śrutiḥ || 17 ||

English translation of verse 2.17:

The declaration “Crave to know that (Brahman) well” prompts (a person) towards Brahman-knowledge. And, the śruti text “That from which...” states the definition of Brahman which we desire to know.

Notes:

If there is no scope for injunction both in the ritual and knowledge sections of the Veda, what is it that prompts a person to perform a certain action or to pursue knowledge? It is desire that provides the motivatory force in both the cases. A person who has the desire to know Brahman pursues Brahman-knowledge in the same way as one who has a desire for heaven performs the appropriate sacrifice. That is why the text which occurs in the sequel says: "Crave to know that (Brahman) well.” (Bhṛguvallī, first anuvāka)

Brahman which is sought to be known may be defined by means of its accidental attributes (taṭastha-lakṣaṇa) and its essential nature (svarūpa-lakṣaṇa). The śruti text (Bhṛguvallī, first anuvāka) “That from which all beings are born.........” (yato vā imāni bhūtāni jāyante) contains the twofold definition of Brahman. Creation, maintenance, and dissolution of world are the accidental attributes of Brahman, while existence, consciousness, and bliss constitute its essential nature. The word yataḥ in the text mentioned above is interpreted as containing the svarūpa-lakṣaṇa of Brahman.