________________
150
VEDANTA-SOTRAS.
as abiding within man,' just as we say of a branch that it abides within the tree1-Or else we may adopt another interpretation and say that after the highest Self has been represented as having the likeness to man as a limiting condition, with regard to nature as well as to man, the passage last quoted (He knows him as abiding within man') speaks of the same highest Self as the mere witness (sâkshin; i. e. as the pure Self, non-related to the limiting conditions). The consideration of the context having thus shown that the highest Self has to be resorted to for the interpretation of the passage, the term 'Vaisvânara' must denote the highest Self in some way or other. The word 'Visvânara' is to be explained either as he who is all and man (i. e. the individual soul),' or 'he to whom souls belong' (in so far as he is their maker or ruler), and thus denotes the highest Self which is the Self of all. And the form' Vaisvânara ' has the same meaning as 'Visvânara,' the taddhita-suffix, by which the former word is derived from the latter, not changing the meaning; just as in the case of rakshasa (derived from rakshas), and vâyasa (derived from vayas). The word 'Agni' also may denote the highest Self if we adopt the etymology agni=agranî, i. e. he who leads in front.-As the Gârhapatya-fire finally, and as the abode of the oblation to breath the highest Self may be represented because it is the Self of all.
But, if it is assumed that Vaisvânara denotes the highest Self, how can Scripture declare that he is measured by a span? On the explanation of this difficulty we now enter.
29. On account of the manifestation, so Âsmarathya opines.
The circumstance of the highest Lord who transcends all measure being spoken of as measured by a span has for its reason' manifestation.' The highest Lord manifests
1 Whereby we mean not that it is inside the tree, but that it forms a part of the tree.-The Vaisvânara Self is identified with the different members of the body, and these members abide within, i. e. form parts of the body.
Digitized by Google
