Brahma-Sūtra 2.4.16

English of translation of Brahmasutra 2.4.16 by Roma Bose:

“On account of the eternity of that.”

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

“On account of the eternity” of the above relationship with the individual soul alone, but not with the presiding deities.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

For this reason, too, the enjoyer of the fruits, accomplishable by the sense-organs, is their master, the possessor of the vital-breath alone; but their presiding deities are not such enjoyers, “on account of the eternity of that”, i.e. because there is an eternal relation between the sense-organs and the possessor of the vital-breath alone, as proved by the scriptural text: ‘He going out the vital-breath goes out after him. The vital-breath going out all the sense-organs go out after it’ (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 4.4.2). The gods, on the other hand, abide in highest lordship, and not in what is wretched (viz. the body), in accordance with the scriptural text: ‘Evil, verily, does not approach the gods’ (Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 1.5.20^[1]).

Comparative views:

All others add a “ca” in the middle thus: “Tasya ca nityatvāt”.

Comparative views of Śaṅkara:

The interpretation of the word “tasya” different, viz.: “Because of the eternity of that (viz. of the individual soul)”. That is, the individual soul alone abides permanently in the body as the enjoyer, but the deities cannot do so.^[2]

Comparative views of Rāmānuja and Śrīkaṇṭha:

This is sūtra 14 in their commentaries. Interpretation different: On account of the eternity of that (viz. of the attribute of being ruled by the Lord). That is, all objects are eternally ruled by the Lord alone. Hence it follows that the rule of the sense-organs by the deities and the individual soul really depends upon the will of the Lord.^[3]

Comparative views of Baladeva:

Interpretation different, viz. And on account of the eternity of that, (i.e. of the relationship between the Lord and the gods). That is, there being an eternal relation between the gods and the Lord, the real ruler, the gods rule the sense-organs and so on, through the mere will of the Lord.^[4]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Reading: “pāpam” and not “anagham”. Vide Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad 1.5.20, p. 70.

[2]:

Brahma-sūtras (Śaṅkara’s commentary) 2.4.16, pp. 667-68.

[3]:

Śrī-bhāṣya (Madras edition) 2.4.14, p. 182, Part 2; Brahma-sūtras (Śrīkaṇṭha’s commentary) 2.4.14, pp. 178-79, Parts 7 and 8.

[4]:

Govinda-bhāṣya 2.4.16, p. 250, Chap. 2.