वेदान्त पारिजात सौरभ (भगवद् निम्बार्काचार्य - द्वैताद्वैत वेदान्त ब्रह्मसूत्र भाष्य सटीक)

[sū. 1. 3. 34 ADH. 9 ] VEDĀNTA-KAUSTUBHA 195 that a Śūdra ¹ is entitled to the knowledge of Brahman. Because of "his", ² i.e. of Jānaśruti's, desire for salvation, on hearing the dis- respectful words used by the swan, and because of his hastening towards, for that reason, to the preceptor at that very moment,— 'it is indicated' that his grief had arisen and that was what was meant by the address 'Śūdra'. Vedānta-kaustubha Now the following question is being considered: Just as it has been said that the gods are entitled to the knowledge of Brahman, as the term 'God' is mentioned in the text: 'Then, whosoever among the gods is awakened' (Bṛh. 1.4.10), so whether or not a Śūdra too is entitled to the knowledge of Brahman, seeing that in the Chān- dogya, the word 'śūdra' is mentioned in reference to Jānaśruti who desired for salvation. If it be suggested: The word 'śūdra' being mentioned in the Chāndogya under the Saṁvarga-vidyā in the passages: '"Oh! the necklace and the carriage be yours, O Śūdra, together with the cows"' (Chānd. 4.2.3), '"You have brought these, O Śūdra"!' (Chānd. 4.2.3); a Śūdra too must be entitled to the knowledge of Brahman, it being possible for him also to be a seeker.³ And, he may gain the know- ledge of the nature, etc. of Brahman through the hearing of tradition and the rest, in accordance with the statement of the ancient ones: 'He should make the four castes hear, beginning with the Brāhmaṇa' (Mahā. 12.12360a ⁴), and, the statement of Hari-Vaṁśa: 'One who is Śūdra by birth should attain a good end through hearing', which lays down an injunction with regard to the hearing of Brahman by him also. The prohibition contained in the passage: 'Hence, a Śūdra is not to be initiated to a sacrifice' (Tait. Saṁ. 7.1.1 ⁵), is concerned simply with his disqualification with regard to acts like sacrifices to be performed by means of fire, but is not a cause of his ¹ The fourth and the lowest caste ² Here the genitive case implies an agent (kartṛ) in accordance with Pāṇ. 2.3.65, SD. K. 623. ³ That is, just as it has been shown that gods are entitled to the knowledge of Brahman, since they desire (arthins) for salvation, so the Śūdras too desire for salvation and are as such entitled to the same knowledge. ⁴ P. 81, line 4, vol. 3. ⁵ P. 241, line 21, vol. 2