Brahma Sutras (Nimbarka commentary)

by Roma Bose | 1940 | 290,526 words

English translation of the Brahma-sutra 3.2.36 (correct conclusion, continued), 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 3.2.36 (correct conclusion, continued)

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English of translation of Brahmasutra 3.2.36 by Roma Bose:

“Likewise, on account of the denial of another.”

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

“Likewise,” it is not to be said that on account of the designation of difference, viz. “That which is beyond that” (Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad 3.10^[1]), there is a reality other than Brahman,—“on account of the denial”, viz. “Than whom there is nothing else whatsoever higher” (Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad 3.9; Mahānārāyaṇa-upaniṣad 10.4^[2]).

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

It has been said that on account of the designation of difference, viz. “By him, by the Person, all this is filled. That which is beyond that is without form, without disease” (Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad 3.9-3.10), there is something ‘higher than this’. To this the author replies:

On account of. the stated reasons Brahman is without an equal and a superior; “likewise on account of the denial of another”, i.e. of an equal or a superior, as well, it is established that He has no equal or a superior; In accordance with the scriptural text: “Than whom there is nothing else whatsoever higher” (Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad 3.9; Mahānārāyaṇa-upaniṣad 10.4) and so on,—the word ‘higher’ meaning something better, the word ‘something else’ meaning something equal^[3],—as well as in accordance with the Smṛti passage: ‘“There is nothing else higher than me, O Dhanañjaya!”’ (Gītā 7.7) and so on, the section is concerned with the supremacy of the Person, the topic of discussion; and hence by the text: “That which is beyond that” (Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad 3.10) another reality is not established. On the contrary, in accordance with the text: “Than whom there is nothing else whatsoever higher, than whom there is nothing else smaller, nothing else greater,—the One stands motionless like a tree in heaven, by him, the Person, all this is filled” (Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad 3.9; Mahānārāyaṇa-upaniṣad 10.4), Brahman, the Highest Person, is without an equal and a superior, and all-pervading; and for this reason, Brahman, called ‘Person’, is said to be beyond that.

Comparative views of Śaṅkara and Bhāskara:

They understand this sūtra to mean that in Scripture there is the denial of anything else besides Brahman, and hence Brahman is the sole reality.^[4]

Comparative views of Śrīkaṇṭha:

This is sūtra 35 in his commentary.

He begins a new adhikaraṇa here (two sūtras), concerned with the question whether there is anything equal to the Lord, the doubt that there may be something superior to Him being disposed of in the previous adhikaraṇa. Hence the sūtra: “Likewise (i.e. just as there is nothing superior to the Lord, so there is nothing equal to Him), on account of the denial of another (creator), (i.e. because Scripture denies that there is any other creator besides Him)”.^[5]

Comparative views of Baladeva:

This is sūtra 37 in his commentary. He takes it as constituting an adhikaraṇa by itself, concerned with proving that the Lord is the highest, for unless the Lord be the Highest, there can be no love and devotion for Him.