Brahma-Sūtra 2.1.32 (correct conclusion, 32-35)

English of translation of Brahmasutra 2.1.32 by Roma Bose:

“But, as in ordinary life, (creation is) a mere sport (to Brahman).”

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

With regard to it, we reply: Such creation and the rest of the Supreme Being are like the mere sport of kings and so on, well-known in ordinary life.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

The author is stating the correct conclusion.

The particle “but” is for disposing of the prima facie view. Just as, in ordinary life, the play of a universal monarch, who has attained lordship, with various kinds of dice, wooden balls and the rest, is a mere sport, without any desire indeed for fruit,—so this is a mere sport on the part of Brahman as well, i.e. a mere play with the creation of the universe and so on.

Comparative views of Baladeva:

This is sūtra 33 in his commentary. Interpretation same, but the phrase: “lokavat” explained a little differently, thus: As in ordinary life a man, full of cheerfulness or on awakening from a sound sleep, dances about without any motive or need, but simply from the fulness of spirit, so is the case here.^[1] Here Baladeva criticizes the Viśiṣṭādvaita illustration of a prince engaged in a game of balls (which is the illustration given us by Nimbārka as well as we have seen) by pointing out that such a game is not altogether motiveless, since the prince gets some pleasure from it.^[2]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Govinda-bhāṣya 2.1.33, p. 71, Chap. 2.

[2]:

Op. cit., p. 72