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

[SŪ. 3 4. 49. 774 VEDĀNTA-KAUSTUBHA ADH. 13.] The doubt is whether the action of a child, i.e. nothing but wilful behaviour, is meant by the phrase 'childlike state', and that is to be practised by one desirous of salvation; or whether freedom from arrogance, pride, self-consciousness and so on are denoted by the phrase 'childlike state' here, and these are to be practised by one desirous of salvation. If it be suggested that 'childlike state' means the state of a child, i e. nothing but wilful behaviour, that is to be practised by one desirous of salvation, there being no reason for the restriction that only freedom from arrogance and the rest are to be practised and not simply wilful behaviour,— We reply: "Without manifesting" one's wisdom, generated through hearing and so on, one should desire to stay in the childlike state, i.e. be free from arrogance and the rest. Why? "On account of connection," i.e. because the state of freedom from arrogance and so on alone can have any "connection" with the topic of discussion, while wilful behaviour can have no connection whatsoever with it, in accordance with the scriptural text: "Not one who has not refrained from bad conduct, not one who is not tranquil, not one who is not composed, not one who is not of peaceful mind, can obtain Him even through intelligence" (Katha 2.24). Hence it is established that one desirous of salvation should have 'childlike state', i.e freedom from arrogance and the like. Here ends the section entitled "Non-manifestation" (13). COMPARISON Śrīkaṇṭha Here he concludes the topic, viz. whether those who practise the vow called Pāśupata are entitled to salvation or not. The prima facie view is that since such people do not belong to any stage of life, they are not so entitled. The answer is: "(Although the Pāśupata- āśrama) does not manifest itself, (i.e. is not, a particular āśrama, yet) owing to (its) connection (with all the requisites of the stage of asceticism, such as, chastity and so on, it is called an 'atyāśrama' or super-āśrama, and is the cause of salvation)"'.¹ ¹ Śk. B. 3.4.49, pp. 415-416, Parts 10 and 11.