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VEDÂNTA-SOTRAS.
long as life lasts he reaches the world of Brahman.'-Here terminates the adhikarana of up to death.'
13. On the attainment of this, there result the non-clinging and the destruction of later and earlier sins; this being declared.
Having, so far, elucidated the nature of meditation, the Sutras now begin to consider the result of meditation. Scripture declares that on the knowledge of Brahman being attained a man's later and earlier sins do not cling to him but pass away, 'As water does not cling to a lotus leaf, so no evil deed clings to him who knows this' (Kh. Up. IV, 14, 3); 'Having known that he is not sullied by any evii deed' (Bri. Up. IV, 4, 23); 'As the fibres of the Ishikå reed when thrown into the fire are burnt, thus all his sins are burnt' (Kh. Up. V, 24, 3); 'All his works perish when He has been beheld who is high and low' (Mu. Up. II, 2, 8).- The doubt here arises whether this non-clinging and destruction of all sins is possible as the result of mere meditation, or not. It is not possible, the Parvapakshin maintains ; for Scripture declares, no work the fruits of which have not been completely enjoyed perishes even in millions of aeons.' What the texts, quoted above, say as to the nor
on-clinging and destruction of works occurs in sections complementary to passages inculcating knowledge as the means of final Release, and may therefore be understood as somehow meant to eulogize knowledge. Nor can it be said that knowledge is enjoined as an expiation of sins, so that the destruction of sins could be conceived as resulting from such expiation : for knowledge-as we see from texts such as "He who knows Brahman reaches the Highest," He knows Brahman and he becomes Brahman'-is enjoined as a means to reach Brahman. The texts as to the nonclinging and destruction of sins therefore can only be viewed as arthavada passages supplementary to the texts enjoining knowledge of Brahman.—This view the Satra sets aside. When a man reaches knowledge, the nonclinging and destruction of all sins may be effected through the power of knowledge. For Scripture declares the power
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