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

826 VEDĀNTA-KAUSTUBHA [SŪ. 4. 2. 15. ADH. 7.] Vedānta-kaustubha Now, the question, ‘Of what kind is that merging’, is being considered. On the doubt, viz. whether the merging of the subtlo elements, united with the vital-breath which is accompanied by the sense-organs discarded by a knower, is of the form of conjunction, like that of speech and the rest with the mind and so on, or of the form of essential identity, like the merging of rivers in the sea,—if it be suggested: Of the form of conjunction alone, since the word ‘merges’ in the first clause. “Speech merges in the mind” (Chānd. 6.8.6) is used every- where as denoting ‘conjunction’ — We reply: Since speech and the rest have not the mind and the rest as their material causes, in their cases, ‘merging’ means con- junction only. But they have ‘non-division’ with Brahman, the universal cause, i.e. in this case, merging means essential identity. Why? “On account of declaration,” i e. because Scripture, having designated the merging of the parts in the Highest Brahman thus: “So exactly, this seer's sixteen parts, going towards the Person, disappear on reaching Him” (Praśna 6.5), goes on· “And their name and form are destroyed; it is called simply ‘a person’” (Praśna 6.5). Although there are seventeen parts in the subtle body, viz the sense- organs like speech and the rest, the internal-organ, viz. the mind; five subtle essences and the vital-breath, yet in the above text, only sixteen are mentioned for designating the identity between the vital- breath and the subtle essence of touch. Hence, it is established that their morging in the Highest Self, the cause of the world, is of the form of essential identity. Here ends the section entitled “Non-division” (7) COMPARISON Śaṁkara As before, he takes this sūtra too as referring to the higher knower only. This is sūtra 16 in his commentary. Thus we find that accord- ing to him, only sūtras 12–16 ¹ refer to the higher knower, while the rest of the sūtras to the lower knower. ¹ Sūtras 12–15 according to Nimbārka's numbering.