Brahma-Sūtra 2.3.13 (correct conclusion)

English of translation of Brahmasutra 2.3.13 by Roma Bose:

“But on account of his desire, on account of his mark, he (is the creator).”

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

The author states the correct conclusion. “On account of His desire,” viz. ‘“May I be many”’ (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 6.2,3), as well as on account of the scriptural text teaching Him,—the Supreme Person, their inner soul, is the creator of their effects.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

The author states the correct conclusion.

The prima facie view is rejected by the term “but”. “He” alone, i.e. Lord Vāsudeva, the supreme cause and the Lord of all and the inner soul of the air and the rest, is the creator of the effects like light and the rest. Why? “On account of His desire,” i.e. on account of the desire, or resolve, of Him, or of the Highest Person, viz.: ‘“May I be many”’ (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 6.2.3); (and) “On account of His mark”, i.e. on account of the group of texts teaching Him, viz.: ‘Abiding within the earth’ (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 3.7.3), ‘He who abiding within water’ (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 3.7.4), ‘He who abiding within the light’ (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 3.7.14), ‘He who abiding within the air’ (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 3.7.7) ‘He who abiding within the ether’ (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 3.7.12), ‘That itself created itself’ (Taittirīya-upaniṣad 2.7) and so on. Hereby it should be known that in the passages: ‘That light thought’ (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 6.2.3), ‘Those waters perceived’ (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 6.2.4) and so on too, the thinking of the Supreme Being alone (is mentioned). Hence, it is established that no independent creatorship belongs to anything else,—it is the Supreme Soul alone who is the primary creator everywhere.

Here ends the section entitled “The light” (4).

Comparative views:

All others read “Tad-abhidhyānād eva tu”, adding an “eva”.

Comparative views of Śaṅkara, Bhāskara and Śrīkaṇṭha:

Interpretation same, though they do not take this sūtra as answering to a prima facie view. This sūtra, according to them, removes the suspicion, that might have arisen from the above designation of the successive production of elements, viz. that the elements give rise to other elements by themselves. The fact is that it is the Lord himself abiding within those elements that gives rise to the next effect.^[1]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ś.B. 2.3.13, pp. 598ff.; Brahma-sūtras (Bhāskara’s Commentary) 2.3.13, p. 133; Govinda-bhāṣya 2.3.12.