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 IV, Section II, Adhikarana III
Adhikarana summary: The function of the vital force gets merged in the individual soul
Sutra 4,2.4
सोऽध्यक्षे, तदुपगमादिभ्यः ॥ ४ ॥
so’dhyakṣe, tadupagamādibhyaḥ || 4 ||
saḥ—That (Prana); adhyakṣe—in the ruler (Jiva); tat-upagamādibhyaḥ—on account of (statements expressing) approach to that etc.
4. That (Prana) is merged in the ruler (Jiva) on account of (statements expressing) approach to that etc.
In the text cited in Sutra 1 we have, “Prana (is merged) in fire.” How then can it be said that the function of Prana is merged in the individual soul, asks the opponent. The Sutra justifies its view on the ground that statements about Pranas coming to the Jiva etc. are found in scriptural texts. “All the Pranas approach the departing man at the time of death” (Brih. 4. 3. 38). Also, “When it departs, the vital force follows” (Brih. 4. 4. 2). The text cited in Sutra 1 does not, however, contradict this view, as the following Sutra shows.
Sutra 4,2.5
भूतेषु, तच्छ्रुतेः ॥ ५ ॥
bhūteṣu, tacchruteḥ || 5 ||
bhūteṣu—In the elements; tat-śruteḥ—from the Sruti texts to that effect.
5. In the elements (is merged) (the Jiva with the Pranas), as it is seen from the Sruti.
If we understand, “Prana (is merged) in fire” as meaning that the Jiva with Prana is merged in fire, there is no contradiction between this Sruti text and what is said in the last Sutra. So Prana is first merged in the individual soul and then the soul with Prana takes its abode in the fine essence of the gross elements, fire etc., the seed of the future body.
Sutra 4,2.6
नैकस्मिन्, दर्शयतो हि ॥ ६ ॥
naikasmin, darśayato hi || 6 ||
na—Not; ekasmin—in one; darśayataḥ—(both) declare so; hi—for.
6. (The soul with Prana is merged) not in one (element only), for both (the Sruti and Smriti) declare so.
At the time of death, when the soul leaves one body and goes in for another, it together with the subtle body, abides in the fine essence of all the gross elements and not in fire only, for all the elements are required for a future body. Vide 8. 1. 2.