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

[SŪ. 2. 1 33. ADH. 10.] VEDĀNTA-KAUSTUBHA 319 Viśiṣṭādvaita illustration of a prince engaged in a game of balls (which is the illustration given us by Nimbārka as well as we have seen) by pointing out that such a game is not altogether motiveless, since the prince gets some pleasure from it.¹ CORRECT CONCLUSION (continued) SŪTRA 33 "(THERE ARE) NO INEQUALITY AND CRUELTY (ON THE PART OF BRAHMAN), BECAUSE OF (HIS) HAVING REGARD (FOR THE WORKS OF SOULS), FOR SO (SCRIPTURE) SHOWS." Vedānta-pārijāta-saurabha Inequality and cruelty, due to unequal creation, destruction and the rest, depend on the works of the individual souls themselves, and so they do not pertain to the creator of the origin and the rest of the world, as in the case of the cloud. "So" exactly the scriptural text. "One becomes good by good action, bad by bad action" (Bṛh. 3.2.13 ²) "shows". Vedānta-kaustubha It may be objected: If Brahman creates the universe in mere sport, He must be open to the charges of inequality and cruelty. He must be open to the charge of "inequality", i.e. of creating an unequal world, creating as He does different grades of beings like gods, men, animals and so on And, He must be open to the charge of "cruelty", i.e. of heartlessness, creating as He does the universe which is an abode of three kinds of sufferings, making the individual souls, not attached to matter, enter into connection with it at the time of dissolution, and thereby causing them sufferings like old age, death, and the rest. (We reply.) No There cannot be any inequality and cruelty on the part of Brahman. Why? "On account of (His) having regard", i.e. because in producing different beings like gods and the rest at the beginning of the creation of the universe, Brahman has regard for, i.e takes into account, their respective works or karmas, ¹ Op. cit., p. 72. ² Ś, R.