Chapter IV, Section II, Adhikarana V

Adhikarana summary: The merging of fire etc. at death in the Supreme Deity is not absolute merging

Brahma-Sutra 4.2.8: Sanskrit text and English translation.

तदापीतेः, संसारव्यपदेशात् ॥ ८ ॥

tadāpīteḥ, saṃsāravyapadeśāt || 8 ||

tat—That; ā apīteḥ—up to the attainment of Brahman (through Knowledge); saṃsāra-vyapadeśāt—because (scriptures) declare the state of relative existence.

8. That (fine body lasts) up to the attainment of Brahman (through Knowledge), because (the scriptures) declare the state of relative existence (till then).

In the text cited in Sutra 1 we have, “And fire (is merged) in the Supreme Deity”. The opponent argues that as fire and the other elements are merged in the Supreme Deity, whieh is the cause of these elements, this is only the final dissolution, and so everyone at death attains Liberation. This Sutra says that this merging is not absolute merging, but the one we experience in deep sleep. Only the functions of these elements are merged, and not the elements themselves. The final dissolution does not take place till Knowledge is attained; for the scriptures declare that till then the individual soul is subject to relative existence: “Some souls enter the womb to have a body” etc. (Kath. 2. 5. 7). If the merging at death were absolute, then there could be no rebirth.

 

Brahma-Sutra 4.2.9: Sanskrit text and English translation.

सूक्ष्मं प्रमाणतश्च, तथोपलब्धेः ॥ ९ ॥

sūkṣmaṃ pramāṇataśca, tathopalabdheḥ || 9 ||

sūkṣmaṃ—Subtle; pramāṇataḥ—as regards size; ca—and; tathā—so; upalabdheḥ—because it is experienced.

9. (This fine body) is subtle (by nature) and size, because it is so experienced.

The body formed from the essence of the gross elements in which the soul abides at the time of death is subtle by nature and size. This is understood from scriptural statements which declare that it goes out along the Nadis (nerves). So it is necessarily subtle or small in size. Its transparency explains why it is not obstructed by gross bodies, or is not seen when it passes out at death.

 

Brahma-Sutra 4.2.10: Sanskrit text and English translation.

नोपमर्देनातः ॥ १० ॥

nopamardenātaḥ || 10 ||

na—Not; upamardena—by the destruction; ataḥ—therefore.

10. Therefore (this subtle body is) not (destroyed) by the destruction (of the gross body).

 

Brahma-Sutra 4.2.11: Sanskrit text and English translation.

अस्यैव च-उपपत्तेः-एष ऊष्मा ॥ ११ ॥

asyaiva ca-upapatteḥ-eṣa ūṣmā || 11 ||

asya eva—To this (fine body) alone; ca—and; upapatteḥ—because of possibility; eṣaḥ—this; ūṣmā—(bodily) heat.

11. And to this (fine body) alone does this (bodily) heat belong, because this (only) is possible.

The bodily beat observed in living animals belongs to this subtle body and not to the gross body, for the heat is felt so long as there is life and not after that.