Brahma-Sūtra 2.1.18

English of translation of Brahmasutra 2.1.18 by Roma Bose:

“And like a piece of cloth.”

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

Just as a piece of cloth is at first rolled up, and afterwards spread out, so is the universe.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

The sense is: Just as a piece of rolled up cloth, although not known to be a piece of cloth, does not, for that reason, become non-existent, but is indeed existent, existing in a different form, and when spread out once more, is known to be a piece of cloth,—so, indeed, prior to creation, the universe remains existent indeed, though not known to be a universe, having its name and form unmanifest; and is clearly known as the universe at the time of creation, having its name and form manifest. Just as the drawn forth limbs of a tortoise are not perceived, even though existent, but do not become non-existent thereby and are known when stretched out again; and just as the banyan tree, existent in the seed at all times indeed in a subtle form, is manifested in a gross form, so it is the pre-existent universe alone which originates, in accordance with the Mahā-bhārata passage: “Just as a tortoise, having stretched out its limbs, draws them in again, so the soul of beings, having created beings, destroys them again” (Mahābhārata (Asiatic Society edition) 12.70726-7073a^[1]) and the Viṣṇu-purāṇa passage: “Just as a gigantic banyan tree is contained in a small seed, so is the entire universe in you, the seed, during (the state of) contraction (viz. dissolution)”. (Viṣṇu-purāṇa 1.12.666-67a^[2].)

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

P. 615, lines 24-25, vol. 3. Reading: “sṛṣṭāni harate”. Vaṅgavāsī ed. also, p. 1571.

[2]:

P. 108.