Sri Vedanta-sutra, Part 48
BY: SUN STAFF
Feb 17, 2021 — CANADA (SUN) — Sri Vedanta-sutra - Volume Three, by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana, Translated by Sriman Kusakratha dasa.
Adhikarana 9
The Principal Prana Is Atomic
Introduction by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
Samsaya (doubt) Is the principal Prana atomic or all-pervading?
Purvapaksha (the opponent speaks): In the Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad (1.3.22) it is said:
sama ebhis tribhir lokaih
"Prana is equal to the three worlds."
This and other passages of Sruti-sastra declare that prana is all-pervading.
Siddhanta (conclusion): In the following words the author of the sutras gives his conclusion.
Sutra 13
anus ca
Purport by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
The principal prana is also atomic in size. This is so because the Sruti-sastras declare that the principal prana leaves (the material body at the time of death). Scriptural passages describing the principal pranas as atomic should be understood to mean that living entities everywhere are dependent on the principal prana.
Adhikarana 10
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Moving Force
Behind the Prana
Introduction by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
In the Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad it is said:
supteshu vag-adishu prana eko jagarti
"When speech and the other senses sleep, prana alone remains awake. Prana alone is untouched by death. Prana controls speech and the other senses. As a mother protects her children, so one prana protects the other pranas."
In this way the function of the principal prana is described.
The functions of the secondary pranas are described in the following passage:
sapteme loka yeshu sancaranti
"The pranas move in seven realms."
Thus the secondary pranas move among the senses.
Samsaya (doubt): Do the secondary pranas move by their own power among the senses, or does something else create the movement of the pranas? Are the pranas moved by the demigods, the individual spirit soul, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
Purvapaksha (the opponent speaks): Endowed with the power of action, the pranas move themselves. Or perhaps the demigods move them. In the Aitareya Upanishad (2.4) it is said:
agnir vag bhutva mukham pravishad
"Becoming speech, Agnideva entered the mouth."
Or perhaps the individual spirit soul moves the pranas. This may be so because the pranas are instruments the soul uses to attain enjoyment.
Siddhanta (conclusion): In the following words the author of the sutras gives His conclusion.
Sutra 14
jyotir-ady-adhishthanam tu tad amananat
Indeed, light is the controller, because that is the description.
Purport by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
The word "tu" (indeed" is used here to dispel doubt. The word "jyotih" (light) here means "the Supreme Personality of Godhead". He is the mover (adhishthanam) of the pranas. The affix lyut in the word adhishthanam" makes it mean "the mover". Why is the Supreme Personality of Godhead the mover of the pranas? The sutra explains: "Because that is the description". This means "Because it is understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as the all-pervading Supersoul, moves the pranas and senses. In the Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad (3.7.16) it is said:
yah praneshu tishthan
"The Supersoul stays in the midst of the pranas and moves them."
That the demigods and the individual spirit soul may also move the pranas is not disputed here, but the pranas cannot move themselves, for they are only inert matter.
Hoping to enjoy, the individual spirit soul also moves the pranas. That is described in the next sutra.
Sutra 15
pranavata sabdat
By the person who possesses the pranas, because of the Sruti-sastra.
Purport by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
The word "pranavata" (the person who possesses the pranas) refers here to the individual spirit soul. Hoping to enjoy, the spirit soul moves the pranas and senses. Why is that? The sutra explains: "sabdat" (because of the Sruti-sastra). In the Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad (2.1.18) it is said:
sa yatha maha-rajo janapadan grihitva sve janapade yatha-kamam parivartate evam evaisha etat pranan grihitva sve sarire yatha-kamam parivartate.
"As a great king rules the subjects in his kingdom, so the individual spirit soul rules the pranas in his body."
This is the gist of the matter: The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the supreme ruler of the pranas and the demigods and the individual spirit soul also rule the senses. The former (the demigods) rule the pranas and senses by enabling them to act, and the latter (the individual spirit souls) rule the pranas and senses with the hope of attaining enjoyment. By exerting their wills, the individual souls thus move the pranas.
There is no alternative to this description. This the author of the sutras explains in the following words.
Sutra 16
tasya ca nityatvat
Because this is eternal.
Purport by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
Because He has an eternal relationship with them, the all-powerful Supersoul is the actual controller and mover of them. He should be considered the primary mover and controller. This is confirmed in the words of the Antaryami-brahmana (Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad 3.7).
