III-4 Śrī Bhāshya | Rāmānuja
Brahma Sutras: Chapter 3 Pāda 4
Topic 1 - Knowledge of Brahman is not subordinate to sacrificial acts
Topic 2 - Sannyāsa is prescribed by the scriptures
Topic 3 - Scriptural statements as in Chh. 1.1.3 which refer to Vidyās are not merely glorification, but enjoin the meditations
Topic 4 - The stories recorded in the Upanishads do not serve the purpose of Pāriplavas and so do not form part of the ritualistic acts. They are meant to glorify the Vidyā taught in them
Topic 5 - Sannyāsins need not observe ritualistic acts, as Knowledge serves their purpose
Topic 6 - Nevertheless works prescribed by the scriptures are useful as they are an indirect means to Knowledge
Topic 7 - Restrictions as regards food may be waived only when life is at stake
Topic 8 - The duties of the Āśrama are to be performed by even one who is not desirous of Knowledge
Topic 9 - Those who stand midway between two Āśramas are also entitled to Knowledge
Topic 10 - One who has taken the vow of lifelong celibacy (Sannyāsa) cannot revert back to his former stages of life
Topic 11 - Expiation for one who transgresses the vow of lifelong celibacy
Topic 12 - The lifelong celibate who lapses in his vows to be shunned by society
Topic 13 - The meditations connected with the subordinate members of sacrificial acts are to be gone through by the priest and not by the sacrificer
Topic 14 - In Brih. 3.5.1 meditativeness is enjoined besides scholarship and the childlike state
Topic 15 - Childlike state means the state of innocence, being free from anger, passion, etc.
Topic 16 - The time of the origination of Knowledge when the Vidyā is practised
Topic 17 - There Is No Difference In Liberation, I.e. In The Cognition Of Brahman—it Is Of One Kind In All Cases