Brahma Sutras (Shankaracharya)

by George Thibaut | 1890 | 203,611 words

English translation of the Brahma sutras (aka. Vedanta Sutras) with commentary by Shankaracharya (Shankara Bhashya): One of the three canonical texts of the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy. The Brahma sutra is the exposition of the philosophy of the Upanishads. It is an attempt to systematise the various strands of the Upanishads which form the ...

38. And the promotion (of knowledge is bestowed on them) through special acts.

Also for widowers, &c., the favour of knowledge is possible through special acts of duty, such as praying, fasting, propitiation of divinities, &c., which are not opposed to their āśrama-less condition and may be performed by any man as such. Thus Smṛti says, 'By mere prayer no doubt the Brāhmaṇa perfects himself. May he perform other works or not, the kindhearted one is called Brāhmaṇa (Manu Saṃh. II, 87), which passage shows that where the works of the āśramas are not possible prayer qualifies for knowledge. Moreover knowledge may be promoted by āśrama works performed in previous births. Thus Smṛti also declares, 'Perfected by many births he finally goes the highest way' (Bha. Gītā VI, 45); which passage shows that the aggregate of the different purificatory ceremonies performed in former births promotes knowledge.--Moreover knowledge--as having a seen result (viz. the removal of ignorance)--qualifies any one who is desirous of it for learning and so on, through the mere absence of obstacles[1]. Hence there is no contradiction in admitting qualification for knowledge on the part of widowers and the like.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

I.e. any one who wishes to learn may do so, if only there is no obstacle in the way. No special injunction is wanted.

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