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

[SŪ. 3. 1. 22. ADH. 4 ] VEDĀNTA-KAUSTUBHA 499 Vedānta-kaustubha It has been pointed out above that those who perform sacrifices and the rest attain the world of the moon, being closely embraced by the subtle elements, and after having undergone the fruits of their works there re-descend with the remnants of the results of their works, just as they had come and not thus. Now, the process of that descent is being considered. On the doubt whether the scriptural text about descent, viz.. “Then, by the very path they came they return again, just as they came, to the ether, from the ether to the air. After having become the air he becomes smoke, after having become smoke he becomes mist, after having become mist he becomes cloud, after having become cloud he rains down” (Chānd. 5.10.5-6), implies that the descending souls, possessed of the remnants of the results of their works, become the ether and the rest, just as they become gods, men and so on; or that they only become similar to the ether and the rest,—the prima facie view is. It is implied that they become the ether and the rest, just as they become the moon, there being no distinction between the two cases. With regard to it, we reply: There is “attaining the nature of that”, i e. the above text means that the descending souls, possessed of the remnants of their works, become similar to the ether and the rest. Why? “On account of fitting in,” i e because the only reason- able conclusion is that they become similar to the ether and the rest, due to their contact with them. Thus, in ordinary life, milk can become curd, since when there is milk, there is no curd But the descending soul, possessed of the remnants of its works, cannot properly become the ether and the rest which are already existent, it being impossible for one thing to become another. The fact that it becomes a body, viz. the moon, for enjoying the fruits of its own meritorious works, stands to reason; but its becoming the ether and so on does not fit in, there being no question of enjoyment at that time. Hence the above scriptural text refers to its similarity with the ether and so on. Thus it is established that the soul becomes similar to them. Here ends the section entitled “Attaining the nature of that” (4).