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I ADHYAYA, I PÂDA, 24.
Some (commentators) quote under the present Satra the following passages, the prâna of prâna' (Bri. Up. IV, 4, 18), and 'for to prâna mind is fastened' (Kh. Up. VI, 8, 2). But that is wrong since these two passages offer no opportunity for any discussion, the former on account of the separation of the words, the latter on account of the general topic. When we meet with a phrase such as 'the father of the father' we understand at once that the genitive denotes a father different from the father denoted by the nominative. Analogously we infer from the separation of words contained in the phrase, 'the breath of breath,' that the 'breath of breath' is different from the ordinary breath (denoted by the genitive of breath'). For one and the same thing cannot, by means of a genitive, be predicated of—and thus distinguished from itself. Concerning the second passage we remark that, if the matter constituting the general topic of some chapter is referred to in that chapter under a different name, we yet conclude, from the general topic, that that special matter is meant. For instance, when we meet in the section which treats of the gyotishtoma sacrifice with the passage, 'in every spring he is to offer the gyotis sacrifice,' we at once understand that the word gyotis denotes the gyotishtoma. If we therefore meet with the clause 'to prâna mind is fastened' in a section of which the highest Brahman is the topic, we do not for a moment suppose that the word prâna should there denote the ordinary breath which is a mere modification of air. The two passages thus do not offer any matter for discussion, and hence do not furnish appropriate instances for the Sútra. We have shown, on the other hand, that the passage about the prâna, which is the deity of the prastâva, allows room for doubt, pārvapaksha and final decision.
24. The 'light' (is Brahman), on account of the mention of feet (in a passage which is connected with the passage about the light).
Scripture says (Kl. Up. III, 13, 7), ‘Now that light which shines above this heaven, higher than all, higher than every
1 The vrittikâra, the commentators say.
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