I-3 Śrī Bhāshya | Rāmānuja | 11

Topic 11 - The ‘light’ is Brahman

 Sutra 1,3.40

ज्योतिर्दर्शनात् ॥ ४०॥

jyotirdarśanāt || 40 ||

jyotiḥ—Light; darśanāt—on account of (Brahman) being seen.

40. Light (is Brahman) on account of (Brahman) being seen (as the subject of the texts).

Between the two texts referring to the Person of the size of a thumb, there is a text declaring that to that Person there belongs light that obscures all other light, and is the cause and assistance of all other light; and such light is characteristic of Brahman only. 'The sun does not shine there, nor the moon and the stars, nor these lightnings, and much less this fire. After him, the shining one, everything shines; by his light all this is lighted' (Ka. Up. II, 5, 15)--This very same śloka is read in the Atharvana (i.e. Muṇḍaka) with reference to Brahman. Everywhere, in fact, the texts attribute supreme luminousness to Brahman only. Compare: 'Having approached the highest light he manifests himself in his own shape' (Kh. Up. VIII, 12, 3); 'Him the gods meditate on as the light of lights, as immortal time' (Bri. Up. IV, 4,16); 'Now that light which shines above this heaven' (Kh. Up. III, 13, 7).--It is thus a settled conclusion that the Person measured by a thumb is the highest Brahman.--Here terminates the Adhikaraṇa of 'him who is measured' (by a thumb).