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408
VEDÂNTA-SÛTRAS.
that is seen from scripture.] For passages such as 'Thou art that’ (Kh. Up. VI, 8, 7); 'I am Brahman' (Bri. Up. I, 4, 10); 'Where he sees nothing else' (Kh. Up. VII, 24, 1);
But there is then nothing second, nothing else different that he could see' (Bri. Up. IV, 3, 23), show that the highest Self abides in the state of non-division. And the fruit must be assumed to correspond to the cognition, according to what was explained under IV, 3, 15. And also such passages as Just as pure water poured into pure water remains the same, thus, O Gautama, is the Self of a thinker who knows' (Ka. Up. II, 4, 15), whose object it is to describe the nature of the released soul, declare that there is nonseparation only. The same follows from the comparisons (of the soul entering Brahman) to rivers falling into the sea. Passages where separation (of abode and abiding thing, &c.) is expressed, may be explained as, in a secondary sense, expressing non-separation; so e.g. Kh. Up. VII, 24, 1, 'In what does the Infinite rest ?—In its own greatness ;' and Kh. Up. VII, 25, 2, 'Loving the Self, playing with the Self.
5. By (a nature) like that of Brahman (the soul manifests itself); (thus) Gaimini (opines); on account of reference and the rest.
It has been concluded that the clause, 'by its own nature,' means that the soul manifests itself by its own Self only, not by some other adventitious character. What has now to be inquired into is the specific qualities of that nature. Here the Sūtra at first states the opinion of the teacher Gaimini. According to him the soul's own nature is like that of Brahman,' i.e. it comprises all the qualities beginning with freeness from sin and concluding with truthfulness of conception (i. e. the qualities enumerated in Kh. Up. VIII, 7, 1), and also omniscience and omnipotence; and in this nature the soul manifests itself.—Why so ?—Because this is known from referencel and the rest. For the reference
The commentators say that the "and the rest of the Sätra comprises vidhi and vya padesa, and give the following definitions.
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