Brahma-Sūtra 1.1.9

English of translation of Brahmasutra 1.1.9 by Roma Bose:

“(Pradhāna cannot be the cause of the world), on account of the contradiction of the initial proposition.”

Nimbārka’s commentary (Vedānta-pārijāta-saurabha):

Moreover, “on account of the contradiction of the initial proposition” as well, viz. through the knowledge of one, there is the knowledge of all^[1],—the doctrine of the causality of the non-sentient is not right.

Śrīnivāsa’s commentary (Vedānta-kaustubha)

Pradhāna is not the cause of the world. Why? “On account of the contradiction of the initial proposition”, viz. that through the knowledge of one, there is the knowledge of all. Thus, the scriptural text ‘“Did you ask for that instruction whereby the unheard becomes heard, the unthought becomes thought, the unknown becomes known?” “What is that instruction, my reverend Sir?”’ (Chāndogya-upaniṣad 6.1.2-3), introduces the doctrine that through the knowledge of one, there is the knowledge of all, and this will be contradicted. Although, through the knowledge of pradhāna, there may be knowledge of its effects, yet the proposition that there is knowledge of all the effects, consisting of the sentient and the non-sentient, is not established, since the sentient not being the effect of pradhāna, its knowledge is not possible (through the knowledge of pradhāna).

Śaṅkara and Bhāskara:

This sūtra is not found in their commentaries. The argument contained herein is included by them, as we have seen, in the previous sūtra.

Comparative views of Baladeva:

This sūtra is not found in his commentary as well.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Vide Chāndogya-upaniṣad 6.1.