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VEDÂNTA-SOTRAS.
pranas is to be taken in its literal sense just as the statements about the ether, &c., appears from that circumstance also that the one word which (in the passage from the Mu. Up.) indicates origination, viz. 'is born' (gåyate), is in the first place connected with the pränas and has afterwards to be joined with ether, &c., also ('from him is born breath, mind, and all organs of sense, ether, air,' &c.). Now as it is a settled matter that the phrase 'is born' must be taken in its primary sense with reference to ether and so on, it follows that the origin of the prânas also to which the same word is applied must be understood as a real origin. For it would be impossible to decide that a word enunciated once only in one chapter and one sentence, and connected with many other words, has in some cases to be taken in its primary sense, and in others in a secondary sense; for such a decision would imply want of uniformity.So likewise in the passage,' He sent forth präna, from präna sraddha,' &c. (Pr. Up. VI, 4), the phrase 'he sent forth' which the text exhibits in conjunction with the pranas has to be carried on to sraddha and the other things which have an origin.The same reasoning holds good in those cases where the word expressing origination occurs at the end and has to be connected with the preceding words; as e.g. in the passage ending all beings come forth from the Self,' where the word 'come forth ' must be connected with the pranas, &c., mentioned in the earlier part of the sentence.
4. Because speech is preceded by that (viz. fire and the other elements).
Although in the chapter, ‘That sent forth fire,' &c., the origin of the pränas is not mentioned, the origin of the three elements, fire, water, and earth only being stated, nevertheless, the fact of the text declaring that speech, prâna, and mind presuppose fire, water, and earth-which in their turn have Brahman for their causal substance-proves that they-and, by parity of reasoning, all prânas have sprung from Brahman. That speech, prâna, and mind presuppose fire, water, and earth is told in the same chapter, * For truly, my child, mind consists of earth, breath of water,
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| SR No. | 007681 |
| Book Title | Questions of King Milinda Part 01 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | T W Rhys Davids |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1890 |
| Total Pages | 2695 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 47 MB |