Brahma Sutras: Chapter 4 Pāda 1 Topic 1 - The meditation on the Ātman enjoined by the scriptures is to be repeated till Knowledge is attained Topic 2 - In the meditations on the Supreme Brahman the meditator is to comprehend It as identical with himself Topics 3-5 Topic 3 - Where symbols of Brahman are used for contemplation, the

FOURTH ADHYĀYA FIRST PĀDA. Topic 1 - The meditation on the Ātman enjoined by the scriptures is to be repeated till Knowledge is attained Sutra 4,1.1 आवृत्तिः, असकृदुपदेशात् ॥ १ ॥ āvṛttiḥ, asakṛdupadeśāt || 1 || āvṛttiḥ —Repetition (is necessary); asakṛt —repeatedly; upadeśāt —on account of instruction by the scriptures. 1. The repetition (of hearing, reflection, and meditation on the

Topic 2 - In the meditations on the Supreme Brahman the meditator is to comprehend It as identical with himself Sutra 4,1.3 आत्मेति तूपगच्छन्ति ग्राहयन्ति च ॥ ३ ॥ ātmeti tūpagacchanti grāhayanti ca || 3 || ātmeti —As the self; tu —but; upagacchanti —acknowledge; grāhayanti —teach; ca —also. 3. But (the Śruti texts) acknowledge (Brahman) as the self (of the

Topic 3 - Where symbols of Brahman are used for contemplation, the meditator is not to comprehend them as identical with him Sutra 4,1.4 न प्रतीके न हि सः ॥ ४ ॥ na pratīke na hi saḥ || 4 || na —Not; pratīke —in the symbol; na —is not; hi —because; saḥ —he. 4. (The meditator is) not (to see

Topic 6 - One is to meditate sitting Sutra 4,1.7 आसीनः, संभवात् ॥ ७ ॥ āsīnaḥ, saṃbhavāt || 7 || āsīnaḥ —Sitting; saṃbhavāt —because of the possibility. 7. (One has to practise Upāsanā) sitting, because (in that way alone) it is possible. It has been shown that that special form of cognitional activity which the Vedānta-texts set forth as the

Topic 9 - Knowledge of Brahman frees one from the effects of all past and future evil deeds Sutra 4,1.13 तदधिगम उत्तरपूर्वाघयोरश्लेषविनाशौ तद्व्यपदेशात् ॥ १३ ॥ tadadhigama uttarapūrvāghayoraśleṣavināśau tadvyapadeśāt || 13 || tat-adhigame —When that is realized; uttara-pūrva-aghayoḥ —of the subsequent and previous sins; aśleṣa-vināśau —non-clinging and destruction; tat-vyapadeśāt —because it is declared (by the scriptures). 13. When that (Brahman)

Topic 10 - Good deeds likewise cease to affect the knower of Brahman Sutra 4,1.14 इतरस्याप्येवमसंश्लेषः, पाते तु ॥ १४ ॥ itarasyāpyevamasaṃśleṣaḥ, pāte tu || 14 || itarasya —Of the other; api —also; evam —thus; asaṃśleṣaḥ —non-clinging; pāte —at death; tu —but. 14. Thus there is non-clinging of the other ( i.e. virtue) also; but at death (Liberation i.e. Videhamukti

Topic 12 - Obligatory works are however excepted from the rule mentioned in topic 10 Sutra 4,1.16 अग्निहोत्रादि तु तत्कार्यायैव, तद्दर्शनात् ॥ १६ ॥ agnihotrādi tu tatkāryāyaiva, taddarśanāt || 16 || agnihotrādi —(Daily) Agnihotra etc.; tu —but; tat-kāryāya —contribute to the same result as that (Knowledge); eva —only; tat-darśanāt —that being seen (from the scriptures). 16. But (the results of

Topic 14 - On the exhaustion of Prārabdha work through enjoyment the knower of Brahman attains oneness with It Sutra 4,1.19 भोगेन त्वितरे क्षपयित्वा संपद्यते ॥ १९ ॥ bhogena tvitare kṣapayitvā saṃpadyate || 19 || bhogena —By enjoyment; tu —but; itare —of the other two works; kṣapayitvā —having exhausted; saṃpadyate —becomes one (with Brahman). 19. But having exhausted by enjoyment