Brahma-Sūtra 4.4.22

English of translation of Brahmasutra 4.4.22 by Roma Bose:

“Non-return, on account of text.”

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

There is no return for the soul which has attained the form of the highest light and has become free from transmigratory existence. Why? “On account of the texts”: “Those who proceed by this do not return to this human whirlpool, return not” (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 4.15.6^[1]), ‘“But on attaining me, O son of Kuntī, there is no re-birth”’ (Gītā 8.16^[2]).

Here ends the fourth quarter of the fourth chapter in the Vedānta-pārijāta-saurabha, an interpretation of the Śārīraka-mīmāṃsā texts by the reverend Nimbārka.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

By demonstrating that the freed soul has similarity with the Lord in point of enjoyment alone, it has been shown there is no similarity of nature between the two. It is to be known that the freed soul, different from Brahman, has no return, “on account of texts”, i.e. in accordance with following scriptural and Smṛti texts: “Those who proceed by this, do not return to this human whirlpool, return not” (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 4.15.6), “They attain the world of Brahman, and do not return” (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 4.15.1), “This is immortal, fearless, this is the highest abode. From this, one does not return” (Praśna 1.10), ‘“On attaining me, the great-sou led ones who have attained supreme perfection, are not subject to re-birth, the abode of miseries and non-eternal”’ (Gītā 8.15), ‘“But on attaining me, O son of Kuntī, there is no rebirth”’ (Gītā 8.16), ‘“Resorting to this knowledge, they have come to attain similarity with me. They are not born at the time of creation, nor suffer at the time of dissolution”’ (Gītā 14.2) and so on. The repetition of the aphorism indicates the completion of the treatise. It is established that the lordship of the freed soul consists in a direct intuition of the Highest Brahman, the Highest Self, the soul of all.

Here ends the section entitled “Exclusive of the activities in connection with the universe” (6).

I bow down to the author of the aphorisms and to him who explained them, through whose grace the Vedānta-kaustubha has been churned out of the ocean of Scripture for the well-being of knowers.

Here ends the fourth quarter of the fourth chapter in the holy Vedānta-kaustubha, a commentary on the Śārīraka-mīmāṃsā texts and composed by the reverend teacher Śrīnivāsa, dwelling under the lotus-feet of the venerable Nimbārka, the founder and teacher of the sect of the holy Sanatkumāra.

This fourth chapter entitled “The fruit” is completed.

Résumé:

According to Nimbārka and others, the fourth quarter of the fourth chapter contains 22 sūtras. The number of adhikaraṇas is 6 according to Nimbārka and Rāmānuja, 7 according to Śaṅkara and Bhāskara, 8 according to Śrīkaṇṭha and 10 according to Baladeva.

The End.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Quoted by Śaṃkara, Bhāskara and Baladeva.

[2]:

Quoted by Rāmānuja and Baladeva.