Sri Vedanta-sutra
BY: SUN STAFF
Dec 4, CANADA (SUN) — Sri Vedanta-sutra - Volume Three, Pada 4 by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana, Translated by Sriman Kusakratha dasa.
Adhikarana 6
Principal Prana (Life-Force) Is An Instrument Used By the Soul
Introduction by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
In the Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad it is said:
supteshu vag-adishu prana eko jagarti. prana eko mrityunanaptah. pranah samvargo vag-adin samvrinkte. prana itaran pranan rakshati mateva putran.
"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."
Samsaya (doubt): Is this principal prana identical with the independent spirit soul residing in the material body or is this principal prana an instrument that assists the spirit soul?
Purvapaksha (the opponent speaks): Because the Sruti-sastra describes this prana as having many powers and glories, therefore this principal prana is the independent spirit soul.
Siddhanta (conclusion): In the following words the author of the sutras gives His conclusion.
Sutra 10
cakshur-adi-vat tu tat saha sishthyadibhyah
Indeed, it is like the eyes and other senses, because it is taught along with the senses.
Purport by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
Here the word "tu" (indeed) is used to dispel doubt. The prana (life-force) is an instrument used by the individual spirit soul. It is like the eyes or the other senses. Why is that? The sutra explains: "Because it is taught along with the senses." The prana is described along with the eyes and senses. Things of a like nature are generally described together. as example of that is the Brihadratha meters, which are described together. This is also confirmed by the use of the word "adi" (beginning with) in the sutra.
That the prana is here grouped with the senses is seen in the following passage:
yatra vayam mukhyah pranah sa evayam madhyamah pranah
"There is a principle prana and there is a secondary prana."
In this way the idea that the prana is the independent spirit soul is refuted.
