Questions of King Milinda Part 02

SR No.: 007682
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1894
Total Pages: 2240
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 38 MB

Page 1087

74
VEDÂNTA-SOTRAS.
FOURTH PÅDA.
REVERENCE TO THE HIGHEST Self!
1. Thus the vital airs. In the third pada it has been shown that a conflict of Vedic passages as to ether, &c., does not exist. The same is now done in this fourth pada with regard to the vital airs. On the one hand the chapters treating of the origin of things do not record an origin of the vital airs; so e.g. (Kh. Up. VI, 2, 3) . It sent forth fire,' &c.; and (Taitt. Up. II, I) 'From that Self sprang ether,' &c. On the other hand it is said expressly in some places that the vital airs were not produced. The following passage, e.g. 'Nonbeing indeed was this in the beginning; they say : what was that non-being? those rishis indeed were the non-being in the beginning; they say: who are those rishis? the vital airs indeed are the rishis' (Sat. Br. VI, 1, 1, 1), states that the vital airs existed before the origin of things.-In other passages again we read of the origin of the vital airs also, so e.g. As small sparks come forth from fire, thus do all vital airs come forth from that Self' (Bri. Up. II, 1, 20); 'From that is born the vital air, mind, and all organs of sense' (Mu. Up. II, 1, 3); 'The seven vital airs also spring from him' (Mu. Up. II, 1, 8); "He sent forth the vital air; from the vital air sraddha, ether, air, light, water, earth, sense, mind, food' (Pr. Up. VI, 4). Hence as there is a conflict of scriptural passages, and as no reason can be made out for deciding in favour of either alternative, the pūrvapakshin thinks that either no opinion can be formed, or that the passages relative to the origin of the vital airs must be taken in a metaphorical sense, since scripture expressly states the pränas to have existed before the creation.
In reply to this the author of the Satras says, 'thus the
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