Brahma-Sūtra 4.1.15

English of translation of Brahmasutra 4.1.15 by Roma Bose:

“But only those former (works) the effects of which have not yet begun, because till that.”

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

On the attainment of knowledge, “the former” good and evil deeds, the effects of which have not yet begun, alone perish. Why? Because in the scriptural text: “For him there is delay so long I am (=he is) free; then I shall^[1] (=he will) attain Brahman” (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 6.14.2^[2]), it is declared that salvation does not arise till there is the fall of the body.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

It has been established that both good and evil deeds are destroyed through knowledge. Now, to the objection, viz. Let there be the destruction of those good and evil deeds, too, the effects of which have already begun,—the author replies here:

On the doubt, viz. whether through knowledge there is the destruction of all good and evil deeds, i.e. equally of those the effects of which have already begun and those the effects of which have not yet begun, or of those alone the effects of which have not begun,—if it be suggested: since no specification is mentioned in scriptural texts like: “And his works perish when he who is high and low is seen” (Muṇḍaka-upaniṣad 2.2.8), “All sins are burnt up” (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 5.24.3), there is the destruction of all without distinction,—

The author states the correct conclusion: “Only those the effects of which have not begun yet”. The “former” good and bad deeds the effects of which have not begun yet alone perish through knowledge, but not those the effects of which have already begun. Why? “Because till that,” i.e. because in the scriptural text: “For him there is delay only so long I am (=he is) not free; then I shall (=he will) attain (Brahman)” (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 6.14.2), it is declared that there is delay for the knower till the fall of the body. This being so, the non-specific texts are to be interpreted in the light of the specific text. Hence it is established that through knowledge there is no destruction of those good and evil deeds the effects of which have already begun.

Here ends the section entitled “The works the effects of which have not yet begun” (9).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See Vedānta-kaustubha 1.1.7.

[2]:

Quoted by Śaṅkara, Rāmānuja, Bhāskara, Śrīkaṇṭha and Baladeva.