________________
744
VEDÂNTA-SOTRAS.
THIRD PÅDA.
1. On the path beginning with light, that being
known.
The Satras now go on to determine the road which the soul of the wise man follows, after having-assisted by the Person within the heart-passed out of the body by way of one particular artery. Now of that road various accounts are given in Scripture. There is a detailed account in the Khandogya (IV, 15), 'now whether people perform obsequies for him or not,' &c. Another account is given in the eighth book of the same Upanishad, then he moves upwards by those very rays ' (VIII, 6, 5).
The Kaushitakins again give a different account: 'He having reached the path of the Gods comes to the world of Agni' &c. (Kau. Up. I, 3). Different again in the Brihad-aranyaka: 'Those who thus know this and those who in the forest meditate on faith and the True,' &c (Bri. Up. VI, 2, 15). The same Upanishad, in another place (V, 10), gives a different account: When the person goes away from this world he comes to the wind,' &c.A doubt here arises whether all these texts mean to give instruction as to one and the same road-the first stage of which is light-having to be followed by the soul of the wise man; or whether they describe different roads on any of which the soul may proceed.—The Pârvapakshin holds the latter view ; for he says the roads described differ in nature and are independent one of the other.This view the Satra disposes of. All texts mean one and the same road only, viz. the one beginning with light, and the souls proceed on that road only. For that road is known, i.e. is recognised in all the various descriptions, although it is, in different texts, described with more or less fulness. We therefore have to proceed here as in the case of the details (guna) which are mentioned in different meditations referring to one and the same object, i.e. we
Digitized by Google
Digitized by
