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

844 VEDĀNTA-KAUSTUBHA [SŪ. 4. 3. 5. ADH. 4.] Varuṇa, Indra and Prajāpati, who are above lightning, are not conductors,—the author replies. After the knower has reached lightning, as mentioned in the text: "From the moon to lightning" (Chānd. 4.15 5) he is led on, in order that he may attain Brahman, "only by one who belongs to lightning", i.e. by the non-human Person alone who has come up to lightning. The Person who has come to the world of lightning as the conductor of the knower is said to be "one belonging to lightning". Why? "That being declared by Scripture," i.e. because in the Chān- dogya-text: "He leads them to Brahman" (Chānd. 4.15.5), and in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka-text: "A Person, consisting of mind, comes and leads them who have reached lightning" (Bṛh. 6 2 15), that non- human person is declared to be leading the souls. The nine, beginning with light and ending with lightning, are conductors primarily; while the three, Varuṇa, Indra and Prajāpati, are so conjointly—this is the distinction. Thus, having come out of this gross body by means of the vein that passes out of the crown of the head, having, then, mounted the rays of the sun, the knower wishes to go to the highest region. He is then highly honoured by the presiding deity of light, the conductor, and is led by him to the presiding deity of the day. In the very same manner, he is led by the latter to the presiding deity of the fortnight, by the latter to the presiding deity of the six months, by the latter to the presiding deity of the year, by the latter to the air, by the latter, who makes a hole in itself for him, to the sun, similarly, by the latter to the moon, by the latter to the presiding deity of lightning. After that, having reached the three conductors, Varuṇa, Indra and Prajāpati, who are dependent on the Person of lightning, and having pierced through sphere of the material world, he reaches the river Virajā. Having then discarded his subtle body in the Highest, having crossed the river, and having entered the world of the Highest Brahman, he attains similarity with Brahman. Hence it is established that light and the rest are conductors. Here ends the section entitled "The conductors" (4). 24B