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

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416
VEDÂNTA-SOTRAS.
perfect Lord only. Why so ?—Because there (where the origination and so on of the world are referred to the Lord forms the general topic, and because the other (souls) do not stand near (to the world-business). The highest Lord only is appointed to do all work referring to the entire world; for the world's origination and so on are taught only where he constitutes the general subject-matter, and moreover he (only) is eternal, and described in scripture (as the creator, &c. of the world)? The lordly power of the other souls, on the contrary, scripture shows to have a beginning, because it depends on their searching for and striving to know the Lord. They are therefore remote from all world-business. And just because they have minds, they might be of different minds, and one might have the intention of preserving the world while another might wish to destroy it. Such conflicts can only be avoided by assuming that the wishes of one should conform to those of another, and from this it follows that all other souls (but the Lord) depend on the highest Lord.
18. (Should it be said that the souls must possess unlimited power) on account of manifest teaching ; we reply No, because scripture states him who, entrusted with office, abides in the spheres (of the sun and so on), (to be that one on whom the soul's obtaining lordly power depends).
It remains to refute the remark, made by the pūrvapakshin, that absolute power on the part of those who know must be inferred from texts directly asserting such power, as e. g. 'He obtains self-lordship.'- This refutation the above Satra undertakes. Scripture declares that the obtainment of rulership on the soul's part, depends on the
· Kim ka paraisyaiva nityatvena svahetvanapekshanasya kliptasaktitvậg gagatsarganam prati kalpyasamarthyâk ka vidushâm îsvaravishayaiva gagatsrishtir eshtavyâ, kim ka paurvâparyâlokanâyâm îsvarasyaiva gagatsargah sabdâd gamyate ganmadisātram árabhya kaitad upapaditam. Ân. Gi.
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