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

728 VEDĀNTA-PĀRIJĀTA-SAURABHA [SŪ 3. 4. 17 ADH. 1 ] CORRECT CONCLUSION (continued) SŪTRA 17 "AND (KNOWLEDGE ARISES) IN ONE WHO IS CHASTE FOR (SUCH A STAGE OF LIFE IS DECLARED) IN SCRIPTURAL TEXT." Vedānta-pārijāta-saurabha "And" because knowledge is found to arise in those stages of life which are given to chastity, its independence is definitely ascertained. These (stages) are found in the scriptural text "There are three branches of religious duty" (Chānd 2.23.1 ¹). Vedānta-kaustubha Scripture declares that knowledge of Brahman arises even in those stages of life which are given to chastity, i.e. in which the duties of a house-holder are absent; and Scripture does not mention works, like Agni-hotra and the rest in them. This also proves that knowledge is something independent. To the objection, viz. The text: "As long as he lives" contains a reference to works like Agni-hotra and the rest. Like these, those stages of life are not mentioned in the Veda,—we reply: "Because in scriptural text". Those stages of life are mentioned "in scriptural text", i.e. in the Veda, in passages like: "There are three branches of religious duty" (Chānd. 2.23.1), "And those who meditate on faith and austerity in the forest" (Chānd. 5.10.1), "Wishing for the world alone the mendicants wander forth" (Bṛh 4.4.22). Hence there are indeed such stages of life. The scriptural text: "He performs the Agni-hotra sacrifice as long as he lives", on the other hand, refers to those who are attached to wordly life. 1 Ś, R, Bh, Śk