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XXVI] Important topics of the Brahma-sūtras 149 16, states the view that the senses are instruments of Brahman, though in a remote way they may also be regarded as instruments of the jīva. The eleventh topic, consisting of the 17th to the 19th sūtras, states the view that all the other twelve prānas, excepting the thirteenth or the principal (mukhya) prāna, are so many senses. The difference between these and the principal prāņa consists in this, that the work of these other prānas, though depending principally on Brahman, also depends on the effort of jīva (iśvara-paravašā hi indriyāņām pravṛttir jīva-prayatnāpekṣaiva), but the functioning of the mukhya prāņa does not in any way depend on the individual souls (mukhyaprāṇasya pravíttir na puruşa-prayatnāpekṣayā). The twelfth topic (20th sūtra) shows that all our bodies also are derived from Brahman. The last topic (21st sūtra) instils the view that our bodies are made up not of one element, but of five elements.
According to Sankara, however, the chapter is to be divided into nine topics, of which the first has already been described. The second topic (sūtras 5-6) holds the view that there are eleven senses, and not seven only as some hold, after the analogy of seven prānas. The third topic (7th sūtra) states that the senses are not allpervasive, as the adherents of Sāṁkhya hold, but are atomic by nature. The fourth topic (8th sūtra) states that the mukhya prāņa is a modification of Brahman, like any other prāna. The fifth topic (sūtras 9-12) states that prāna is not simply vāyu, but a subjective modification of it in the fivefold form, and its general function cannot be properly explained by reference to the individual actions of the separate prānas, like the movement of a cage by a concerted effort of each one of the birds encaged therein; for the actions of the prānas do not seem to be in any way concerted. As there are five states of mind, desire, imagination, etc., so the five prāņas are but modifications of the principal prāņa. The sixth topic (13th sūtra) states that this principal prāna is atomic by nature. The seventh topic (sūtras 14-16) states that the prāṇas in their functioning are presided over by certain deities for their movement and yet these can only be for the enjoyment of the jīvas. The eighth topic (sūtras 17-19) states that the senses (conative and cognitive) are different categories (tattvāntara) from the principal prāņa. The ninth topic (sūtras 20–22) states that the jīva is not the creator, who is Isvara,
