Brahma Sutras (Shankara Bhashya)

by Swami Vireshwarananda | 1936 | 124,571 words | ISBN-10: 8175050063

This is the English translation of the Brahma-sutras including the commentary (Bhashya) of Shankara. The Brahma-sutra (or, Vedanta-sutra) is one of the three canonical texts of the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy and represents an early exposition the Vedantic interpretation of the Upanishads. This edition has the original Sanskrit text, the r...

Chapter III, Section III, Adhikarana XXVII

Adhikarana summary: Upasanas in connection with certain sacrifices

Adhikarana XXVII - Upasanas mentioned in connection with certain sacrifices are not parts of them and hence are not inseparably connected with them.

 

Brahma-Sutra 3.3.42: Sanskrit text and English translation.

तन्निर्धारणानियमः, तद्दृष्टेः, पृथग्ध्यप्रतिबन्धः फलम् ॥ ४२ ॥

tannirdhāraṇāniyamaḥ, taddṛṣṭeḥ, pṛthagdhyapratibandhaḥ phalam || 42 ||

tat-nirdhāraṇa-aniyamaḥ—No rule about the inviolability of that; tat-dṛṣṭeḥ—that being seen (from the Sruti); pṛthak—separate; hi—for; apratibandhaḥ—non-obstruction; phalam—result.

42. There is no rule about the inviolability of that (i.e. Upasanas connected with certain sacrifices); that is seen (from the Sruti itself); for a separate effect (belongs to the Upasanas), viz. non-obstruction (of the results of the sacrifice).

The question whether certain Upasanas mention-ed with some sacrifices are part of those sacrifices and therefore inseparably connected with them, is taken up for discussion. This Sutra says that such Upasanas do not form a part of the sacrifice, for there is no rule as to their inseparability. On the other hand the scripture clearly says that the sacrifice can be performed with or without them. “Therefore both he who knows this, and he who does not, perform the sacrifice” (Chh. 1. 1. 10). See also Chh. 1. 10. 9. The Sruti, moreover, mentions a separate effect of the Upasanas apart from that of the sacrifice, viz . the non-obstruction (i.e. enhancement) of the results of the sacrifice. “The sacrifice which a man performs with knowledge etc. is more powerful” (Chh. 1. 1. 10). It means that the original sacrifice would have got its own results, but the Upasana enhances those results. So the results of the sacrifice with or without the Upasana are different. Therefore the Upasana does not form part of the sacrifice, and hence may or may not be performed according to the pleasure of the sacrificer. Non-obstruction may be explained thus: The sacrifice without the Upasana would have had the prescribed results, but the Upasana prevents any obstruction to those results. This, however, does not make it a part of the sacrifice. Sometimes the results of the sacrifice are delayed owing to the intervention of any bad Karma of the sacrificer, but the Upasana destroys the effect of that, and the results are attained earlier. Here, however, the sacrifice does not depend upon the Upasana for its results, though they might have been delayed. Hence the Upasana is not a part of the sacrifice, and is therefore optional.

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