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In the First Pada or Section Brahman has been shown to be
the cause of the origin, sustenance and dissolution of the
whole universe. It has been taught that the Supreme Brahman
should be enquired into. Certain attributes such as Eternity,
Omniscience, All-pervadingness, the Self of all and so on
have been declared of the Brahman.
In the latter part of Section I certain terms in the Sruti
such as Anandamaya, Jyoti, Prana, Akasa, etc., used in a
different sense have been shown through reasoning to refer
to Brahman. Certain passages of the scriptures about whose
sense doubts are entertained and which contain clear characteristics
of Brahman (Spashta-Brahmalinga) have been shown to refer
to Brahman.
Now in this and the next Section some more passages of doubtful
import wherein the characteristic marks of Brahman are not
so apparent (Aspashta-Brahmalinga) are taken up for discussion.
Doubts may arise as to the exact meaning of certain expressions
of Sruti, whether they indicate Brahman or something else.
Those expressions are taken up for discussion in this and
the next Sections.
In the Second and Third Padas will be shown that certain
other words and sentences in which there is only obscure
or indistinct indication of Brahman apply also to Brahman
as in those of the First Pada.
SYNOPSIS
Doubts may arise as to the exact meaning of certain
expressions of Sruti, whether they indicate Brahman
or something else. These expressions are taken up for
discussion in this and the next sections. It
is proved in this section that the different expressions
used in different Srutis for Divine contemplation indicate
the same Infinite Brahman. In the Sandilya Vidya of the Chhandogya Upanishad it is
said that as the form and the character of a person in his
next life are determined by his desires and thoughts of
the present one, he should constantly desire for and meditate
upon Brahman who is perfect, who is Sat-Chit-Ananda, who
is immortal, who is Self-luminous, who is eternal, pure,
birthless, deathless, Infinite etc., so that he may become
identical with Him.
Adhikarana I: (Sutras 1 to 8) shows that the being which
consists of mind, whose body is breath etc., mentioned in
Chhandogya Upanishad III-14 is not the individual soul,
but Brahman.
Adhikarana II: (Sutras 9 and 10) decides that he to whom
the Brahmanas and Kshatriyas are but food (Katha Up. I-2-25)
is the Supreme Self or Brahman.
Adhikarana III: (Sutras 11 and 12) shows that the
two which entered into the cave (Katha Up. I-3-1) are Brahman
and the individual soul.
Adhikarana IV: (Sutras 13 to 17) states that the
person within the eye mentioned in Chh. Up. IV-15-1 indicates
neither a reflected image nor any individual soul, but Brahman.
Adhikarana V: (Sutras 18 to 20) shows that the Inner
Ruler within (Antaryamin) described in the Brihadaranyaka
Upanishad III-7-3 as pervading and guiding the five elements
(earth, water, fire, air, ether) and also heaven, sun, moon,
stars etc., is no other than Brahman.
Adhikarana VI: (Sutras 21 to 23) proves that which
cannot be seen, etc., mentioned in Mundaka Upanishad I-1-6
is Brahman.
Adhikarana VII: (Sutras 24 to 32) shows that the
Atman, the Vaisvanara of Chhandogya Upanishad V-11-6 is
Brahman.
The opinions of different sages namely Jaimini, Asmarathya
and Badari have also been given here to show that the Infinite
Brahman is sometimes conceived as finite and as possessing
head, trunk, feet and other limbs and organs in order to
facilitate divine contemplation according to the capacity
of the meditator.
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