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VEDÂNTA-SOTRAS..
intelligent beings only, we arrive at the conclusion that what constitutes the cause of the world is the non-intelligent Pradhana guided by the intelligent soul.
This primâ facie view the Satra disposes of, by saying because the work) denotes the world. It is not the insignificant individual soul-which is under the influence of its good and evil works, and by erroneously imputing to itself the attributes of Prakriti becomes the cause of the effects of the latter--that is the topic of our text; but rather the Supreme Person who is free from all shadow of imperfection such as Nescience and the like, who is a treasure of all possible auspicious qualities in their highest degree of perfection, who is the sole cause of this entire world. This is proved by the circumstance that the term
work connected with this' (in of whom this (is) the work') denotes the Universe which is an effect of the Supreme Person. For the word 'this' must, on account of its sense, the general topic of the section and so on, be taken in a non-limited meaning, and hence denotes the entire world, as presented by Perception and the other means of knowledge, with all its sentient and non-sentient beings. That the term 'work' does not here denote good and evil actions, appears from the following consideration of the context. Bålaki at first offers to teach Brahman (Shall I tell you Brahman ?') and thereupon holds forth on various persons abiding in the sun, and so on, as being Brahman. Agatasatru however refuses to accept this instruction as not setting forth Brahman, and finally, in order to enlighten Balaki, addresses him He, O Bålåki, who is the maker of those persons,' &c. Now as the different personal souls abiding in the sun, &c., and connected with karman in the form of good and evil actions, are known already by Balaki, the term 'karman'met with in the next clause-is clearly meant to throw light on some Person so far not known to Balaki, and therefore must be taken to mean not good and evil deeds or action in general, but rather the entire Universe in so far as being the outcome of activity. On this interpretation only the passage gives instruction about something not
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