Brahma-Sūtra 2.1.29 (correct conclusion continued)

English of translation of Brahmasutra 2.1.29 by Roma Bose:

“And that (divinity) is endowed with all (powers), because it is seen.”^[1]

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

In accordance with the scriptural text: ‘Supreme is His power, declared to be manifold; natural is the operation of His knowledge and power’ (Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad 6.8^[2]), “that” divinity is “endowed with all powers”, i.e. is able to do everything.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

The author is demonstrating the omnipotence of the Highest Person.

The cause of the world, as. admitted by the Sāṃkhyas and others, viz.: pradhāna and the rest, devoid of a multitude of powers, suitable for the production of the diverse and multiform world, does not stand to reason. But in the case in hand, the Divinity, worshipped by His own devotees who resort to none else, is “endowed with all”, i.e. endowed with all powers; “and”, i.e. hence, He alone is capable of being the cause, and not pradhāna and the rest. Why? “Because it is seen,—”, i.e. (because) Scripture (“darśana”) demonstrates it (“tad”),^[3] viz. the divinity who is endowed with all powers:—i.e. because of the scriptural texts like: ‘The own power of the divinity, hidden by his own qualities’ (Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad 1.3), ‘Supreme is His power, declared to be manifold; natural is the operation of His knowledge and action’ (Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad 6.8), ‘Possessed of true desires, possessed of true resolves’ (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 8.1.5; 8.7.1, 3) and so on; and because of the Smṛti passage: ‘Hundreds of positive powers like creation and the rest, which are inconceivable to the comprehension of all beings, may belong to Brahman, O best among the ascetics, as heat to fire’ (Viṣṇu-purāṇa 1.3.2^[4]).

Comparative views:

All others read: “Sarvopetā ca tad-darśanāt”, omitting “sā”. Śaṅkara and Bhāskara begin a new adhikaraṇa here, (ending with the next sūtra).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

[Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series] ed. leaves out the “ca”, p. 29.

[2]:

Quoted by Rāmānuja, Śrīkaṇṭha and Baladeva.

[3]:

This explains the compound “tad-darśanāt”.

 

[4]:

P. 22.