Brahma-Sūtra 4.1.18

English of translation of Brahmasutra 4.1.18 by Roma Bose:

“Because ‘What alone with knowledge’—so (Scripture declares).”

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

For, with a view to indicating the strength and weakness of works, it is said, “What alone one does with knowledge” (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 1.1.10^[1]).

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

The author here refers again to the greater potency of some works and the lesser potency of others, mentioned under the aphorism “For (there is) a separate fruit, (viz.) non-obstruction” (Brahma-sūtra 3.3.41).

The text: “What alone one does with knowledge that alone is more potent” (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 1.1.10) designates the greater potency of some works and the lesser potency of others. Among these, works of greater strength first begin to produce their own fruits. Hence, when such works of greater strength are about to produce their fruits, certain other good and bad deeds of lesser strength, performed with a view to attaining certain ends, remain without producing those results, like a weak cow kept off from water, grass and so on by a stronger one. When the knower becomes free immediately after the decay of those works the effects of which have already begun, those above works go to his friends and foes respectively,—this is the sense. Hence it is established that with a view to the rise of knowledge, the duties incumbent on his own stage of life, such as, Agni-hotra and the rest, are to be performed by a house-holder; and works like austerity, muttering of prayers and so on by one who is bound by chastity.

Here ends the section entitled “Agni-hotra” (10).

Comparative views of Śaṅkara:

He takes this sūtra as forming an adhikaraṇa by itself, concerned with the question of the two kinds of Agni-hotra, with or without knowledge, and points out that the former, of course, has a greater capability of producing knowledge, yet the latter too is not absolutely ineffective, but helps the rise of knowledge.^[2]

Comparative views of Bhāskara:

He omits this sūtra, pointing out that it is merely superfluous.^[3]

Comparative views of Baladeva:

He continues here the topic of the immediate destruction of the prārabdha-karmas of some nirapekṣa devotees, and points out that since the celebrated Chāndogya text (Ghānd. 1.1.10) shows the great potency of vidyā, it is possible that through the grace of vidyā even the prārabdha-karmas may be destroyed at once.^[4]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Quoted by Śaṅkara, Rāmānuja, Śrīkaṇṭha and Baladeva.

[2]:

Brahma-sūtras (Śaṃkara’s commentary) 4.1.18, pp. 925-926.

[3]:

Brahma-sūtras (Bhāskara’s Commentary) 4.1.17, p. 226.

[4]:

Govinda-bhāṣya 4.1.18, p. 29, Chap. 4.