Brahma-Sūtra 3.3.54

English of translation of Brahmasutra 3.3.54 by Roma Bose:

“Or, as in the case of the sacred formulae and the like, (there is) no contradiction.”

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

“As in the case of the sacred formulae” like: “Thou art a cock” (Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā 1.1.6^[1]), or as in the case of preliminary offerings, there is “no contradiction” in applying meditations mentioned in one place to other places.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

There is “no contradiction” in connecting meditations, set forth in one place, with the udgītha and the rest, set forth elsewhere, “as in the case of the sacred formulae and the like.” The word “or” means ‘and,’ i.e. and just as the sacred formula which accompanies the taking of the stone for grinding the rice, viz. “Thou art a cock” (Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā 1.1.6), mentioned in one place, is applicable in other places as well, so is the case here. By the words “and the like”, it is meant that just as the preliminary offerings, mentioned in one place, are applicable in other places also (so is the case here). Hence, it is established that the meditations founded on the subordinate members (of sacrifices) like the udgītha and the rest, mentioned in one place, are connected with the udgītha and the rest, mentioned elsewhere.

Here ends the section entitled “Connected with the subsidiary parts” (22).

Comparative views of Baladeva:

This is sūtra 58 in his commentary. Here he concludes the topic, viz. the different modes of worshipping the Lord, by giving a second illustration, thus: “Or, as in the case of the sacred formulae and the rest, (there is) no contradiction”, that is, just as some formulae are employed in many ceremonies,—some in two, some in one only,—so some men worship the Lord in several ways, i.e. with mixed sentiments or devotion, some only in one.^[2]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

P. 6, line 14. Quoted by Śaṅkara and Bhāskara.

[2]:

Govinda-bhāṣya 32.3.58, pp. 222-223, Chap. 3.