Brahma Sutras (Nimbarka commentary)
by Roma Bose | 1940 | 290,526 words
English translation of the Brahma-sutra 4.4.17, 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 4.4.17
English of translation of Brahmasutra 4.4.17 by Roma Bose:
“Exclusive of the activities in connection with the universe, on account of the subject-matter, and on account of non-proximity.”
Nimbārka’s commentary (Vedānta-pārijāta-saurabha):
The lordship of the freed soul consists in something other than the activities in connection with the creation and the rest of the universe. Why? Because in the text: “From whom, verily, these beings arise” (Taittirīya-upaniṣad 3.1[1]), the Highest Brahman is referred to as the subject-matter; and because the individual soul has no place therein.
Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)
Now the question is being considered, viz. of what nature is the lordship of the freed soul, which has thus come to attain the highest identity.
The doubt is, viz. Whether the lordship of the freed soul consists in the activities in connection with universe or is exclusive of it. The prima facie view is that like the Highest Person, the lordship of the freed soul too consists in the activities in connection with the creation, maintenance and so on of the entire universe.
With regard to this, we reply; “Exclusive of the activities in connection with the universe”. That is, the lordship of the freed soul does not consist in the activities in connection with the controlling of the universe, such as its creation and so on. But the activities in connection with the creation of the universe belong to the Highest Brahman alone. Why? “On account of subject-matter,” i.e. because in the texts designating creation and so on, viz. “From whom, verily, these beings arise” (Taittirīya-upaniṣad 3.1) and so on, He alone is the subject-matter; “also on account of non-proximity”, i.e. because in the texts designating creation and so on, the freed soul is never mentioned as the creator and the rest of the universe.
Comparative views of Śaṅkara:
As pointed out above, he refers all these sūtras to the lower knowers only.
Comparative views of Bhāskara:
He too refers this and the following sūtras to those who attain the effected Brahman only.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Quoted by Rāmānuja, Śrīkaṇṭha and Baladeva.