Brahma-Sūtra 2.2.16

English of translation of Brahmasutra 2.2.16 by Roma Bose:

“And on account of fault in both ways.”

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

If the atoms be possessed of more numerous qualities,^[1] then the earth, water, fire and air will become similar. If they be possessed of less numerous qualities,^[2] then, too, all the different kinds of atoms being connected with one quality each, the earth and the rest too, having qualities corresponding to their causes, must be connected with one quality each,—this “on account of fault in both ways”, there is indeed the absence of that (viz. creation).

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

For this reason also, the procedure admitted by the atomists is not possible. Why? Because whether the atoms he admitted to be possessed of more numerous qualities, or to be possessed of less numerous qualities, “in both ways”, too, there is fault. Since the qualities of the effect are due to the qualities of the cause, all the qualities of the cause, such as colour, taste and the rest, must attach to all the effects. As a result, there must be smell and taste in fire; colour, taste and smell in air; and the grossness on the part of the atoms, since the earth, which has the most numerous qualities, is observed to be gross. If they be possessed of less numerous qualities, then all must have one quality each. If this be so, then there must be touch in fire; colour and touch in water; colour, touch and taste in earth, because, those particular qualities are absent from those particular atoms. Otherwise, there will result everything everywhere.

If it be argued: that the earth is observed to be possessed of colour, taste, smell and touch; water to be endowed with the attributes of colour, taste and touch; the fire to be possessed of colour and touch; and the air is to be possessed of touch. Corresponding to these qualities, some atoms are supposed to be possessed of more numerous qualities, others less numerous. Hence the above objection cannot be raised,—

(We reply:) No; for in that case, too, those that have more numerous qualities will be deprived of their atomicity.^[3] In the case in hand, on the other hand, there is no fault whatsoever, since the world has the omniscient and omnipotent Lord of all as its material cause.

Comparative views of Rāmānuja, Śrīkaṇṭha and Baladeva:

This is sūtra 15 in the commentaries of the first two.

Interpretation different—viz. an elucidation of the previous sūtra, viz. “Because there is fault in both ways”, i.e. either if the atoms be possessed of colour, etc., or if they be not. On the first, they cannot be eternal; on the second, their effects cannot be possessed of colour and the rest.^[4]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

I.e. every kind of atoms are possessed of the five qualities of colour and the rest.

[2]:

I.e. each be possessed of its peculiar qualities.

[3]:

Since increase in qualities cannot take place unless there is a simultaneous increase in size.

[4]:

Śrī-bhāṣya (Madras edition) 2.2.15, pp. 86-87, Part 2; Brahma-sūtras (Śrīkaṇṭha’s commentary) 2 2.15, p. 77, Parts 7 and 8; Govinda-bhāṣya 2.2.16, p. 107, Chap. 2.