IV-1 Śrī Bhāshya | Rāmānuja

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

Topic 3 - Where symbols of Brahman are used for contemplation, the meditator is not to comprehend them as identical with him

Topic 4 - In meditations on symbols the latter are to be viewed as Brahman and not in the reverse way

Topic 5 - In meditations on the members of sacrificial acts the idea of the divinity is to be superimposed on the members and not vice versa

Topic 6 - One is to meditate sitting

Topic 7 - With respect to meditation there is no restriction of place

Topic 8 - Meditations are to be observed till death

Topic 9 - Knowledge of Brahman frees one from the effects of all past and future evil deeds

Topic 10 - Good deeds likewise cease to affect the knower of Brahman

Topic 11 - Works which have not begun to yield results are alone destroyed by Knowledge and not those which have already begun to yield results

Topic 12 - Obligatory works are however excepted from the rule mentioned in topic 10

Topic 13 - Sacrificial works not combined with knowledge or meditations also help in the origination of Knowledge

Topic 14 - On the exhaustion of Prārabdha work through enjoyment the knower of Brahman attains