Brahma-Sūtra 1.3.37

English of translation of Brahmasutra 1.3.37 by Roma Bose:

“And because of (Gautama’s) proceeding (to initiate Jābāla) on the ascertainment of the absence op that (viz. his Śūdra-hood), (a śūdra is not entitled to the knowledge of Brahman).”

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

Moreover, “because of” Gautama’s “proceeding” to invest Jābāla with the holy thread and to teach him, only “on the ascertainment of the absence” of his Śūdrahood,—here, too, a Śūdra is not indeed entitled to the knowledge of Brahman.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

Bor this reason too, says the author, a Śūdra is not entitled to the knowledge of Brahman.

Fatherless Jābāla, desirous of salvation, and about to approach a preceptor, asked his mother with a view to learning his lineage. ‘Of what lineage am I?’ She too, unaware of his lineage, replied: ‘I do not know’. Jābāla too, having approached Gautama, said: ‘Reverend Sir! I wish to stay in your place as a student of sacred knowledge’. Then, being asked by him: ‘Of what lineage are you?’ Jābāla said: ‘Sir, I do not know of what lineage I am,’ and so on. Thus, when Jābāla had spoken the truth, and when, thereby, the absence of Jābāla’s Śūdrahood had been ascertained thus: ‘“A non-Brāhmaṇa cannot speak thus”’ (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 4.4.5^[1]), then only Gautama proceeded to invest Jābāla with the holy thread and teach him with the words: ‘“Fetch the fuel, my child. I shall invest you with the holy thread. You have not deviated from truth”’ (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 4.4.5^[2]). Hence, a Śūdra is not entitled to knowledge.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Correct quotation: ‘.....vivaktum arhati’. Vide Chāndogya-upaniṣad 4.4.5, p. 196.

[2]:

Vide Chāndogya-upaniṣad 4.4 for the whole story.