The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Sankaracarya / Sacred Books of the East, Volume 1

by Unknown

Footnote 220:[(return)]

The commentaries explain 'therefore' by 'on account of his being devoid of the three sacred fires.' This explanation does not, however, agree with the context of the Taitt. Samh.

Footnote 221:[(return)]

The Sûdra not having acquired a knowledge of Vedic matters in the legitimate way, i.e. through the study of the Veda under the guidance of a guru, is unfit for sacrifices as well as for vidyâ.

Footnote 222:[(return)]

The li@nga contained in the word 'Sûdra' has no proving power as it occurs in an arthavâda-passage which has no authority if not connected with a corresponding injunctive passage. In our case the li@nga in the arthavâda-passage is even directly contradicted by those injunctions which militate against the Sûdras' qualification for Vedic matters.

Footnote 223:[(return)]

Hamsavâkyâd âtmanoznâdaram srutvâ jânasruteh sug utpannety etad eva katham gamyate yenâsau sûdrasabdena sâkyate tatrâha sprisyate keti. Ânanda Giri.

Footnote 224:[(return)]

I translate this passage as I find it in all MSS. of Sa@nkara consulted by me (noting, however, that some MSS. read kaitrarathinâmaikah). Ânanda Giri expressly explains tasmâd by kaitrarathad ity arthah.—The text of the Tândya Br. runs: tasmâk kaitrarathînâm ekah kshatrapatir gâyate, and the commentary explains: tasmât kâranâd adyâpi kitravamsotpannânâm madhye eka eva râjâ kshatrapatir balâdhipatir bhavati.—Grammar does not authorise the form kahraratha used in the Sûtra.

Footnote 225:[(return)]

The king Asvapati receives some brâhmanas as his pupils without insisting on the upanayana. This express statement of the upanayana having been omitted in a certain case shows it to be the general rule.

Footnote 226:[(return)]

As the words stand in the original they might be translated as follows (and are so translated by the pûrvapakshin), 'Whatever there is, the whole world trembles in the prâna, there goes forth (from it) a great terror, viz. the raised thunderbolt.'

Footnote 227:[(return)]

The stress lies here on the 'as if.' which intimate that the Self does not really think or move.