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752
VEDÂNTA-SOTRAS.
mouth of Råhu; having shaken off the body may I obtain -the uncreated Brahman-world' declares that the Brahman-world, which is the thing to be reached, is something non-created, and explicitly states that reaching that world implies freedom from all bondage whatsoever.-It is for these reasons that Gaimini holds that the deities speeding the soul on its way lead on him only who has the highest Brahman for the object of his meditation.
Now the Reverend Bådarayana declares his own view, which constitutes the final conclusion in this matter.
14. Those not depending on symbols he leads, thus Bådarayana thinks; there being a defect in both cases; and he whose thought is that.
Bådara yana is of opinion that the deities lead those not depending on symbols, i.e. all meditating devotees other than those depending on symbols. That is to say, the view that those are led who meditate on the effected Brahman cannot be upheld; nor is there an exclusive rule that those only should be led on who meditate on the highest Brahman. The truth is that those are led who meditate on the highest Brahman, and also those who meditate on the Self (soul) as different from matter (Prakriti) and having Brahman for its true Self. Souls of both these kinds are led on to Brahman. Those on the other hand whose object of meditation is such things as name and so on, which fall within what is a mere effect of Brahmansuch things being viewed either under the aspect of Brahman, just as some valiant man may be viewed under the aspect of a lion (which view expresses itself in the judgment • Devadatta is a lion'); or by themselves (without reference to Brahman)-all those are not led on to Brahman. Why So ? 'Because there is a defect in both cases,' i.e. in both the views rejected by Bådarayana. The view that those are led who meditate on the effected Brahman is in conflict with texts such as having risen from this body and reached the highest light' (Kh. Up. VIII, 12, 3)—for the nature of the fruit depends on the nature of the meditation; and
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