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

704 VEDĀNTA-PĀRIJĀTA-SAURABHA [SŪ. 3. 3. 58. ADH. 25.] are optional, since any one of them leads to release. Hence, the devotee should choose one form and stick to it.¹ SŪTRA 58 “BUT (THE MEDITATIONS BRINGING ABOUT) OBJECTS OF DESIRE MAY BE COMBINED TOGETHER OR NOT AT WILL, ON ACCOUNT OF THE ABSENCE OF THE FORMER REASON.” Vedānta-pārijāta-saurabha There is no restriction with regard to the performance of (medita- tions) having results other than the attainment of Brahman, “on account of the absence of the former reason”, which involves such a restriction. Vedānta-kaustubha This aphorism supplies a counter-instance with a view to confirm- ing the stated view. “But the (meditations leading to) objects of desire,” i.e. the symbolic meditations having results other than the attainment of Brahman, set forth in the texts: “Verily, he who meditates on Name as Brahman comes to have freedom of movement as far as Name goes” (Chānd. 7.1.5), “He who knows this wind thus as the child of the quar- ters, mourns not for a son” (Chānd. 3.15.2) and so on, “may be com- bined together or not at will”, like the sacrificial acts which bring about heaven and the rest as results. Why ? “On account of the absence of the former reason,” i.e. on account of their not having the same result. Hence it is established that just as (the meditations) which have results other than the attainment of Brahman are to be undertaken at one’s will, without any restriction, by those who aim at those results, so, contrarily to them, (the meditations) which have the attainment of Brahman as their result are to be undertaken optionally by one who desires for salvation, as all these meditations produce the very same result. Here ends the section entitled “Option” (25). ¹ G.B. 3.3.61, p. 226, Chap. 3.