Brahma-Sūtra 2.1.33 (correct conclusion continued)

English of translation of Brahmasutra 2.1.33 by Roma Bose:

“(There are) no inequality and cruelty (on the part of Brahman), because of (his) having regard (for the works of souls), for so (scripture) shows.”

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

Inequality and cruelty, due to unequal creation, destruction and the rest, depend on the works of the individual souls themselves, and so they do not pertain to the creator of the origin and the rest of the world, as in the case of the cloud. “So” exactly the scriptural text: “One becomes good by good action, bad by bad action” (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 3.2.13^[1]) “shows”.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

It may be objected: If Brahman creates the universe in mere sport, He must be open to the charges of inequality and cruelty. He must be open to the charge of “inequality”, i.e. of creating an unequal world, creating as He does different grades of beings like gods, men, animals and so on. And, He must be open to the charge of “cruelty”, i.e. of heartlessness, creating as He does the universe which is an abode of three kinds of sufferings; making the individual souls, not attached to matter, enter into connection with it at the time of dissolution, and thereby causing them sufferings like old age, death,, and the rest.

(We reply:) No. There cannot be any inequality and cruelty on the part of Brahman. Why? “On account of (His) having regard”, i.e. because in producing different beings like gods and the rest at the beginning of the creation of the universe, Brahman has regard for, i.e. takes into account, their respective works or karmas, just as the cloud in producing different kinds of shoots depends on their respective seeds.

If it be asked: Whence is this known? The author replies: “shows”, i.e. the holy Scripture shows this thus: ‘For he alone makes one, whom he wishes to raise up from these worlds, do good deed; he alone makes one, whom he wishes to lead down, do bad deed’ (Kauṣītaki-upaniṣad 3.8), ‘One becomes good by good deeds, bad by bad deeds’ (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 3.2.13), ‘The doer of good deeds becomes good, the doer of bad deeds becomes bad’ (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 4.4.5).

Comparative views of Śaṃkara, Śrīkaṇṭha and Baladeva:

Śaṅkara, Śrīkaṇṭha and Baladeva begin a new adhikaraṇa here.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Quoted by Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja.