II-1 Śrī Bhāshya | Rāmānuja | 10

Topic 10 - Brahman’s power of Māyā established

Sutra 2,1.30

सर्वोपेता च तद्दर्शनात् ॥ ३० ॥

sarvopetā ca taddarśanāt || 30 ||

sarvopetā—Endowed with all; ca—and; tat-darśanāt—because it is seen.

30. And (Brahman is) endowed with all (powers), because it is seen (from the scriptures).

The highest divinity which is different in nature from all other things is endowed with all powers; for scriptural texts show it to be such, 'His high power is revealed as manifold, as essential, and so his knowledge, force, and action' (Svet. Up. VI, 8). In the same way another text first declares the highest divinity to differ in nature from everything else, 'Free from sin, from old age, from death and grief, from hunger and thirst', and then goes on to represent it as endowed with all powers, 'realising all its wishes, realising all its intentions', etc.(Kh. Up. VIII, 1, 5). Compare also 'He, consisting of mind, having prana for his body, whose form is light, who realises his wishes,' etc. (Kh. Up. III, 14, 2).

Sutra 2,1.31

विकरणत्वान्नेति चेत्, तदुक्तम् ॥ ३१ ॥

vikaraṇatvānneti cet, taduktam || 31 ||

vikaraṇatvāt—Because devoid of organs; na—not; iti cet—if it be said; tat—that; uktam—has been explained.

31. If it be said that because (Brahman) is devoid of organs (it is) not (able to create, though endowed with powers), (we say) this has (already) been explained.

Although the one Brahman is different from all other beings and endowed with all powers, we yet infer from the text 'Of him there is known no effect and no instrument,' that as it is destitute of instruments it cannot produce any effect.--To this objection an answer has already been given in II, 1, 27; 28, 'on account of its being founded on the word,' and 'for there are manifold (powers).' That for which the sacred word is the only means of knowledge, and which is different from all other things, is capable of producing those effects also of the instrumental means of which it is destitute. It is in this spirit that Scripture says 'He sees without eyes, he hears without ears, without hands and feet he hastens and grasps' (Svet. Up. III, 19).--Here terminates the Adhikaraṇa of the consequence of the entire (Brahman).'