of $hankaracharya

Translated bySWAMI GAMBHIRANANDA

ffi#

r. iii.3+l IIRAH\IA - S0TRA - BI{ASYA 22e

at gradual emancipation' Il)entioned in the Vedas' llecome logi-

cal from this smnclgrint'

'f'oPtc 9: Psrtrrx>Sunnr

{rRq a-{il(?*tgTl(qwrun( ffq* ft tttvtt

qw -fo hirn occurred 1p' grief 66-qqeK-srEullq on helring

his disparagement oq-errrioiq as is evident frorn his approach-

ing hinr f6 for q"sqfr this is hinted at'

31. 7'o ltiru (i.c. J,1nafi;tqti),--o9-glyrett grief on hearing bis

(;.c. sw*n's) ai:pqySlf"'rlrr?,1,11#] '.' is eddent froru his

(!rindtrttti's) appr hrrn (Rlikta), f or tbis is hinted t(by Raikva by ztsinq the t;ord Sndra)'

It rnr.v bc argrred that, cven xs anY hard and fast rule about

the cornpreten.J nf men alone is clenied and the corr:iretence of

ifr. goA; as rvell {or cliflerent hinds of knowledge is upheld'

sirnillrty i-ry den.ving anY rriolloool.r' of qualificdtion by the three

classes irf if",. ,rvi..-lro.n nkrne, thc Sfldras also mav be acccpted

:rs <1treli6ec1. In or.cler to remove such an asslllnption is bcgun

thc present toPic.O'pp,ortent: Nolv then, thc appare nt conclusion is tlut a

srlrlra also is qr]rrlified, for he can have ther aspiratjon and allilit.v.

And unlike the prohihirion, "T'herefore the sudre is unfit for

ilcrfoffiirrg sacrifices" ('I'ai' S, \rII. i' I '6), no prohibition

,re,riust irii' acquisiti.u .f illuminatir:n is rnct with' E'err the

rlisr}rrlification for sacrificcs thill arises for the Shdra from the

f,,ci of l.ris nrir heirrq q*rlificd f.r 1igirting a sacrificiai fire, is-no

rirlrr of his heing iicliarrecl from knowleclge. Iior it is nottl fxct

rlirt a rtln u'ho lrts no fire-:AhavanTya and the rest--cnnnot

,tt.rirrire linor,vlerlge. fuforcover, thcre is an indicarort- sign con-

tirririnq the Sflctrti's colnpctence. In the scction dealing r''r'ith the

lirrrrr'l-cclg,c of stnn,atrga l,n.rg.r of all thilgs), Jlnr6ruti, grand-

.ort of Prrtr',r alrd ln aspirant of krrorvledge, is referred to by

rlrt;.lvtird sridra: ,,Fie,0 sqdra, keep to yoursclf tlre'ciurriot.rrrrl thc necklacc. together u'ith the cov's" (Ch' IV' ii' 3)' And

irr rlre sil:ftis arfl rnclltiol]ecl vidura and others as born in the

xa BRAHMA-S0Tn*q.-BHA$YA

Sftdra caste trut endowed with special knowledge. Hence S[drashave compctence for different kinds of knowledge.

Yedtutin: Faced with this, we say: The Sudra has no

competence, since he cannot study the Vedas; for one becomes

competenr for things spoken of in the Vertras, after one has

scudied the Vedas and known these things from tl'rem. Butthere can be no reading of the Vedas by a Sudra, for Vedicstudy presupposes the investiture with the sacred thread, whichceremony is confined ro the three castes. As for aspiration, itcannot quaiify anyone uniess one has the abiliry. [{ere ability inthe ordinary sense also cannot qualify anyone; for scripturalability is needed in a scriptural matter. But riris scriptural abilityis denied by the prohibition of the right to study. As for the

text, "The Srldra is unfit for performing a sacrifice" (Tai' S-

VII. i. f3)l since it is based on a logic having conrmon applica-

tion, it suggests thet the Sfrdra has no right to knowledge as

well, for the logic applies both ways' And what yol take foran indicatory mark occurring in the section dealing with the

knowledge about merger, that is no mark at all, for there is no

logic behind it. An indicatory mark becomes suggestive when

stated logically; but that logic is lacking here' Granted even

that tl'ris mark qualifies the Sudra for the smrrumga-uidya (medi-

tation on rnerger) alone, because it occurs there, still it cannot

qualify him for all kinds of knowledge. The fact, however, is

that this word Sfldra cannof guarantgc*o[rjs tpmpetence.an]-r+'here, because it occurs in a cgyglg31ive st)tement (4rtlt.-vfrda). On the contrary, this u'ord Sadia c"n be construed with

some one already having the competence.

HowiThe answer is: On hearing this utterance of the swan, "Hullo'

who is this one, insignificant as he is, of whom you speak as

though he were like Railrva of the chariot?" (Ch' IV' i' 3)'

whici was a personal disparagemeot for him, Jina6ruti, grandson

of Putra, *"s *tr,rck u'ith grief (iilk). Raikva hinted at this

grief by using the word Stdra, thereby revealing his own P-olerof television. This is what we can understand. tgr*a--hq!-Sg4la

IL iii. 34

has no right to knowledge'

I. iii. r5l BRAHMA - SOTRA . BT{A$YA 2]I

llorv, attairr, is it suggestetl hy t]re r'vord Sudra th:rt he ur;ts

strrck $.ith grief?

J'he ansrarer is: "Tat'ddratw?'"71"' Bscause the lrrord Sirdrn

crrn tre split up ti-,o, io mean' tl-rat he (Raikva) approached

;;;,;.;Jr '{ubltiindrava) thrt (tsr) grtef (''xrcarru); ot . he n'ts

",-,rrrorclred (abhidtr.dnn's) by'that (rat) s()rro\'r"' (tuca); or he

;ilffi"i;; iiiir*,) to it''oi (rar) Rrikve' because 'f sorrnrv'i,;;;;;.

ana ti,;, deiivative mcaning h.s to he accepted bectuse

rhe conventionai meaning is inarlmissiirle. Nloreover, t]ris mian-

ing is cltrvic,us from tlre storf itself'

elM'afrfrqe ffiq ffrfl{ ttlr'tt

q Ancl gTkS-Tra: owing to his Kgatrivahood being knorvn

gnla later on fu{K from the indicatory mark izq'}{ of men-

rion along rvith a descendant of Citrarathr'

jl. Artd becail'se bis K5atriyahood is kno'urt later ott from tl"e

indicatorv wrtrk of -his'

meition aktng -*^ith a descend'rnt of

{)itraratba.

For this firrther retson Jina6ruti is .not a Sttclra by birth'' for

from a considerario"n" ;f ?" toiric it trunspires, Il"t" h:-::,-.*

iitrit,r-, - *iti.il fact becomes obvious from his suggestrve

mr:ntion later on ,1;;g';;;-t the Ksatrivt. Abhiprateri"::':"line of Cimaratha' L'I"' on in the cornplernentary portion of

tlrcsectitrnontheknorvledgeaboutthemerger(Smnro.orgl..,,ayij Afnipratirin oi tf'" Hie of Citrsrrrtha is mentioned as a

Ksrtriy'.r in, "Now tftt"l t Bralrrnrcirin hcgged of Sauuak'r of

tirc line of Kapi, *a e"Uniptatarin'- son of Krksrsena' rvlien

rhe-r. rvere t.ing ,t*ta t'y it"t" cook" (Ch' IV' iii' 5)' I'hat

,\trhiprr,rtirin U.fo"gtd "' i1''" lint of Citraretha is to be urrder-

stood from nt *"o"i"ion with a descendlnt of the line of

K-rpi; for ,t-,. ,,'utl'ii'ur'- of tn" descendenr of Ciraratha u'ith

tlrlt r:f Kapi is knou,,tt from tlre text, ...I.he KSpeyas, rnlde

( li t rr rrrthe perf orm'rltis 1D"- A' atrrr - sacrifi ce ) " (T atl d y a B r al:n nry it'

XX. xii.5). F'or the people of the.stmc lineage generally have

tlrc priests nf * to*'ilun at"t"'' Besiclcs' it is known that he

u',ts rl Kglt'iy'o f'o* the text' "Fronl him issued one named

212 BRATII{A . SCTRA . BHASYA tI. iii. ltCitrarathi who rvas a Kqatriya king", rvhere u'e find him tobe a Kqatriya king. Accordinglv, thc mcntion of Jana5ruti alongu.ith the Kgatriya Abhipratiriir, in tl're contcxt of the sarne kintlof iinowledge, suggests that rhe former is a Kgatriva; for equals

are generllly found to be rrrentioned toqether. l\{oreover, Jina-fuuti is knorvn ro be a Kgatriya from thc fact of his dcspatcl'ringa l{gatg;;o and his posscssion of riches. I':Ience a born Stdra hrrs

no right to knowlcrlgc. - -T.-; ;,

"

q(firir(tq{ttfiaflElftr$iq1:l I I 1 q t I

sffirt-q<tmrt( On account of the mention of purifictltor}'rites q an I q-srxr*-arftrorq1-tr Lleclaration of the absence of

these.

i6. Because 'purificotory rites rrre ??tentiott€Ll (for others) aridtbsenctt rrf these is declmed (for tl:e S'ndru).

lior the rrdditiona] reason that, in the c()nte xts u,here knoq. l-edge is spohen of, such actions for acquiring thc right toknor.vledge rre declared as inr.cstiture with thc sacred threadetc.,51 fr:r instance, "FIim he vested r.r,itir the sacred thrcaci"(S. B. XI. v.3.13), "Uttcring the sacred formula,'Teach mevenerable sir', he aporoached" (Ch. \''lI. i. 1), "'I'her., l'lrorvere adeDts in the tv'edas, adhr:recl to rhe qualified Srahman,but rverc intent on an inqr,rry about tire supreme l3r'llrman,lvent to thc venerable Pippalad:: *,ith -qircrificial flegor in hand,under the belicf, 'This one rvill certainli' rell us lhortr lt' "(Pr. I. l). And thc text, "Even rvithout initirting therr" (Cl'r.

\'r. xi. 7), only sholr.,s that those (rvho u.erc escrnrptetl fr<;nrinitiation) had it rlre'ldv. 'I'hc rrhsence rif purificrrtorl, ritcs forthe Sudra is menrionecl in thc Sn.rrri rhus: "-I'he Sudra beiong:;to the fourrh caste and hrs trur a single birth" (.![anu. X. -t),as also in such texts as, "'I'lrc Sr.rdr;r h'ls no sins, nor is he fit fr.ir'any purilicatorv rite" (l{anu, X. 126).

t{}ne born of a rrixed parent'rgc-frorr r Sirrlra frrthe:: aucl Ks:ttrii,amot$rr or of a slave wrxnan-rvhrxe durl'\\'as to tlrive chariots, r,r'aiton princes, and so on.

"'Etc,-study, service of the teacher, and so on.

L iii. 38 1 BRAHI,IA. SCTRA. BHASYA ?1]

\il{r{rEI{qRq q ,r{fl: lli\ell

q Moreovet s1f,t: on account r-rf inclirtation having arisen

tr{-stqlq-ftqfpi when the absence of that hatl becn ascertaincd'

37. A'nd ltecayse (Gazttttna's) ittclination a'rosr: (to ittitistt: ttttdinstruct Satyirkauta) rr;l:ett tbe ablcttcc rt'f that (Stulrahood) had

been sscertsittetl.

Here is an tdditionll t:eason rvh"v a Sodr',r hrrs no rigtrt. Wirenolving to tl're utterlncc of trurh (b1' S:t1'rrltanra Jabila), the

abse nce of Shdr';rirood had bee n cstalllishcd, thcn Glutamaproceedcd to initiirtc aucl instrttct (Satyakam:r) Jirbrrla, rvhich

fact is gathered flont an indicltorl'' sign in thc Upanisad, "Nqnon-Brdhnraea can d$S,tiL+g1.-$ff,c-h ,a !r:qih. O trniitbie one,

#jng saciifi-ci;1-f,€goi, I shrrll initiate -r'ou bccruse 1'ou did r:ot

ciepart from ttnth" (Ch. IV. ir.'. 5).

,4quipry1q{sfh&sq r{frar I llcl r

q Ancl qqq-qsqqq-ert-rflmQurq hearing, stud.v, ncquisition of

nreaning arc prohibitecl q1t: accordinq to Srnlti.

38.,4nt1 bectnrse the Strtrti prcl:ibits for tl:c Sudra thc hcuring,study, anrl acquisitio'n of tl:c rrreaning (of tbc Vcdts).

-flris is anothcf rcason rr'1rl' thc Sirdrl has no riqlrt: B,v the

Snrlti hc is dcbarrcd from heitling, stilclling, lnd acquiring tlienrcening of thc Ycclns. The Slrtrti l]tent;olls thar ,r Suclia Ltas nt-t

right to hear tire Vcclas, no riglit trt strtdv thc \icci;rs, aird no

light to acqrtile tttc ntc:tnius of the Vciirs (lncl perforrn therircs). As for prohitrition of hc,rring, l1'er hnvc tl'lc text, "'fltenslroulcl lrc happen tei }tcal thc \icclirs, ttre cxpirrion crlnsists inlris cars being fillcd r.r.itir learl attcl Iac"r:i, and "I{c u''ho is a

$tr.lr,r is n v'nlking crcrltltorirlm. I-Ience onc -.helttld not rcad inrhc neighbour-hoocl of rr Sltdra";:lr. {i16n1 rhi:; foliorvs tiie prohibi-ti,m ltrorrt study". FIow can onc srudl'the \/eclas lvhcn tircl' are

l'r()[ to bc r:ccitcd'uvithil liis hcaring! T]ren thcrc is t]re chopping

'rGru. I)h. sa., XIL 4 t'3 V:isistht, 18

2;+ BRATITIA.SOTRA.BHASY,\ lI. iii. 38

off of his tongue if he should utter rhe \redas. lnd tl.rc cuttingrif tlrc lrody to picces if he should comurir it tr; merror1,5{. Fromthis ir follou,s b;, implicetion thrrt the acquisirion of merningand actiirg on it are also prohibircd, as is stntetl in, "\'edicknou.ledgc is not to be imparted to a Sudm"5r, and "Stucly,slcrificc, and distribution of gifts are for the rwicc-born"56. Butfry11--tb-,rr"-,!o

-!:ltg,ll_l _!Ig-yl e clge dnu' n s,t ? rqlllqji .Lgstd)tendenr:ie_:; qqqllired ! ,f 9.prsr livcs, Cs for insranc.e to Vidura,l)harmavynChl, and others. the reaping of the resulr of knowl-edgc cnnnor be rvirhlreld, for thc result of knowle dge isinevitable. 1"his position is confirmed b1, the Smrti texr, "Oneshould rcad out to tlre four castes (l<eeoing the Brihmana infront )";;, l hicli dcclarcs rhc -c'orrrpcrpncp for.lll rhc-fpur castcsfor thc rctluisirirn of rlre ,n#ii.ffifll/edIItr,,LgS[i But rtreconclusion itands that a Suair hlx no right ,,, Lrgft@gs t[r.sughthe Vedas.

l-oprc 10: Vrsmrrox/s'cqflq illqil

19. (Prarlu is Brahuz;rtt) because of (the til€ittioit r.tf ) ,-ilrtt:irs;r,

-I'he side issue about compctcnce is concluiled. Not' \\'c revertto the discussion of the mernings of texts we \\"cre eng:rrcd in.81- follou'ing tllc root meaning of the verh ejr u,,hich is "tovitrrate" (to move), this aohorism rcfers to the te-rt, "..\ll thisruivcrse thrt thcrc is, ernerges and vibrates because there isPraila that is a greet terror lilie an r"rplifterl thnnder. Those rvhoknorv this bccome inrmorrrl" (Kr. II. iii.2). In this senrencerve herr of thc u.hole c:rcarion pulslring oo Priltu as irs supporr"and of solne grcirt sourcc of ferr thtt is irnminent and is men-tioned b1' the u,ord thuirdetl rrs also of the attainment of immor.tality from thar knorvledge.

{)pponent: Norv in this conrexr, a deliberation is bourrd toarise, since it is nor clelr as to rvhat thtr Prdna is and rvhat thrt

u'Gau. I)h. Si., XIl. +

'" Geu, I)h. sii., IX. 1

" [Ianu, IV. B0

"'nlbh. 5a.,327. +9