Brahma-Sūtra 4.4.13

English of translation of Brahmasutra 4.4.13 by Roma Bose:

“In the absence of a body, as in the case of the intermediate stage (viz. dream), on account of possibility.”

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

As “in the absence of a body” created by itself, enjoyment is possible on the part of the freed soul by means of the body and the rest created by the Lord during dreams,—so there is no fixed rule that the body and the rest are to be created by the freed soul itself.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

As “in the absence of a body”, i.e. in the absence of a body created by itself, the enjoyment of sportive pleasures is possible on the part of the freed soul by means of the group of instruments created by the Lord, so there is no fixed rule that the freed soul creates its body and the rest through mere wish. That is, the freed soul, having true desires, is able to create the world of fathers and the rest, as well as its own body and the like, yet it enjoys sportive pleasures by means of the instruments created by the Highest Person in sport. It has been demonstrated above^[1] that during the state of dream, the soul in bondage enjoys chariots and the rest created by the Lord alone.

Comparative views of Śaṅkara:

He interprets the sūtra thus: “In the absence of a body, (the freed soul’s objects of desire, such as, fathers and so on are mere perceptions and not actual objects), as during dreams, on account of possibility”.^[2]

Comparative views of Bhāskara:

According to him, the sūtra means that in the absence of a body, the freed soul enjoys pleasure and so on by the mind, as does the soul in bondage during its state of dream.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Vide V.K. 3.2.1.

[2]:

Brahma-sūtras (Śrīkaṇṭha’s commentary) 4.4.13.