Brahma-Sūtra 2.3.37

English of translation of Brahmasutra 2.3.37 by Roma Bose:

“On account of the reversal of power.”

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

If buddhi be the agent, then its instrumental power will cease, and it must come to have the power of an agent. Hence the individual soul is the agent.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

To the objection, viz. in the text ‘Understanding performs a sacrifice’ (Taittirīya-upaniṣad 2.5), by the word ‘understanding’ buddhi alone is to be understood, and it is the agent. Hence there instrumental case has not been used^[1]—(the author) replies:

The individual soul alone is the agent. If buddhi be admitted to be the agent, then “on account of the reversal of power”, its instrumental power will cease, and it must come to have the power of an agent. Moreover, if buddhi be the agent, then the power of enjoyment, too, must pertain to it alone. This being so, bondage and release must result on the part of buddhi alone.

Comparative views of Rāmānuja, Śrīkaṇṭha and Baladeva:

This is sūtra 37 in the commentaries of the first two, but sūtra 36 in the commentary of the last. Their interpretation is similar to the last portion of Śrīnivāsa’s interpretation, viz. that if buddhi or prakṛti be the agent, the power of enjoyment too must belong to it.^[2]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Vide Vedānta-pārijata-saurabha 2.3.35 above.

[2]:

Śrī-bhāṣya (Madras edition) 2.3.37, p. 153, Part 2; Brahma-sūtras (Śrīkaṇṭha’s commentary) 2.3.37, p. 154, Parts 7 and 8; Govinda-bhāṣya 2,3,36, pp. 208-9, Chap. 2.