Brahma-Sūtra 2.3.46

English of translation of Brahmasutra 2.3.46 by Roma Bose:

“And Smṛtis declare.”

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

“And Smṛtis declare”: ‘Of these, He who is the Supreme Soul is declared to be eternal and free from the properties of matter, and He is not touched by the fruits too, just as a lotus-leaf is not touched by water.^[1] The active self, on the other hand, is something different, who is subject to bondage and release’ (Mahābhārata (Asiatic Society edition) 12.13754-3755^[2]).

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

The sages also declare that the part alone is subject to the fruits of action done by itself, but not the whole, thus: ‘Of these, He who is the Supreme Soul is declared to be eternal and free from the properties of matter, and He is not touched by the fruits too, just as a lotus-leaf is not touched by water.—The active self, on the other hand, is something different, who is subject to bondage and release. He is subject to seventeen rāśis (Mahābhārata (Asiatic Society edition) 12.13754-56a). It has been declared by Scripture, too, thus ‘Of the two, one eats the sweet berry, the other, without eating looks on’ (Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad 4.6; Muṇḍaka-upaniṣad 3.1.1).

Comparative views of Rāmānuja and Śrīkaṇṭha:

They quote from Smṛti to show that the soul is the attribute of the Lord.^[3]

Comparative views of Baladeva:

He quotes from Smṛti to show that the incarnations are not parts of the Lord in the same sense the individual souls are.^[4]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

One line omitted.

[2]:

P. 852, lines 9-10, vol. 3.

[3]:

Śrī-bhāṣya (Madras edition) 2.3.40, p. 162, Part 2; Brahma-sūtras (Śrīkaṇṭha’s commentary) 2.3.46, p. 160, Parts 7 and 8.

[4]:

Govinda-bhāṣya 2.3.45.