Brahma Sutras (Nimbarka commentary)
by Roma Bose | 1940 | 290,526 words
English translation of the Brahma-sutra 2.2.39, including the commentary of Nimbarka and sub-commentary of Srinivasa known as Vedanta-parijata-saurabha and Vedanta-kaustubha resepctively. Also included are the comparative views of important philosophies, viz., from Shankara, Ramanuja, Shrikantha, Bhaskara and Baladeva.
Brahma-Sūtra 2.2.39
English of translation of Brahmasutra 2.2.39 by Roma Bose:
“And on account of the impossibility of a substratum (i.e. a body) (on the part op the lord).”
Nimbārka’s commentary (Vedānta-pārijāta-saurabha):
“On account of the impossibility” of an eternal body—since it is opposed to what is observed,—as well as of a non-eternal one—since it arises later—Paśupati is not the cause of the world.
Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)
If it be argued: Let him then have a body, and hence the above objection cannot be raised—(the author) replies:—
“The substratum” of all practical transactions is the body—on account of the impossibility of that, their view is not justifiable. Thus, the body of Paśupati cannot be eternal, because that is opposed to what is observed. Otherwise the bodies of potters and the rest, too, must become eternal. Again, his body cannot be non-eternal, because a non-eternal body is not possible on the part of the cause of the world, because all the non-eternal objects arise later as effects, and because Paśupati, the cause, is prior to everything.[1]
Comparative views of Śaṅkara:
Interpretation different, viz. “Because rulership (of pradhāna) and the rest is impossible (on the part of the Lord)”. That is, pradhāna which is non-perceived and devoid of colour and the rest, cannot be ruled by the Lord, since it is found that clay and the rest alone, which are possessed of colour and so on, are ruled by potters, etc.[2]
Comparative views of Rāmānuja, Bhāskara, Śrīkaṇṭha and Baladeva:
Interpretation different, viz. “Because rulership (of pradhāna) is not possible (on the part of the Lord)”. That is, Paśupati, who is bodiless cannot be the ruler of the pradhāna, for only embodied beings like potters and the rest can be rulers.[3]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
I.e. non-eternal objects arise after creation. Hence Paśupati who is present before creation cannot possess a non-eternal body.
[2]:
Ś.B. 2.2.39, p. 570. See p. 656 under Śaṃkara.
[3]:
Śrī-bhāṣya (Madras edition) 2.2.36, p. 113, Part 1; Brahma-sūtras (Bhāskara’s Commentary) 2.2.35 (written as 2.2.38), pp. 127-128; Brahma-sūtras (Śrīkaṇṭha’s commentary) 2.2.36. p. 107, Parts 7 and 8; Govinda-bhāṣya 2.2.39.