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

[sū. 1. 3. 34
ADH. 9 ] VEDĀNTA-KAUSTUBHA 195
that a Śūdra ¹ is entitled to the knowledge of Brahman. Because
of "his", ² i.e. of Jānaśruti's, desire for salvation, on hearing the dis-
respectful words used by the swan, and because of his hastening
towards, for that reason, to the preceptor at that very moment,—
'it is indicated' that his grief had arisen and that was what was
meant by the address 'Śūdra'.
Vedānta-kaustubha
Now the following question is being considered: Just as it has
been said that the gods are entitled to the knowledge of Brahman, as
the term 'God' is mentioned in the text: 'Then, whosoever among
the gods is awakened' (Bṛh. 1.4.10), so whether or not a Śūdra too
is entitled to the knowledge of Brahman, seeing that in the Chān-
dogya, the word 'śūdra' is mentioned in reference to Jānaśruti who
desired for salvation.
If it be suggested: The word 'śūdra' being mentioned in the
Chāndogya under the Saṁvarga-vidyā in the passages: '"Oh! the
necklace and the carriage be yours, O Śūdra, together with the cows"'
(Chānd. 4.2.3), '"You have brought these, O Śūdra"!' (Chānd. 4.2.3);
a Śūdra too must be entitled to the knowledge of Brahman, it being
possible for him also to be a seeker.³ And, he may gain the know-
ledge of the nature, etc. of Brahman through the hearing of tradition
and the rest, in accordance with the statement of the ancient ones:
'He should make the four castes hear, beginning with the Brāhmaṇa'
(Mahā. 12.12360a ⁴), and, the statement of Hari-Vaṁśa: 'One who is
Śūdra by birth should attain a good end through hearing', which
lays down an injunction with regard to the hearing of Brahman by
him also. The prohibition contained in the passage: 'Hence, a
Śūdra is not to be initiated to a sacrifice' (Tait. Saṁ. 7.1.1 ⁵), is
concerned simply with his disqualification with regard to acts like
sacrifices to be performed by means of fire, but is not a cause of his
¹ The fourth and the lowest caste
² Here the genitive case implies an agent (kartṛ) in accordance with Pāṇ.
2.3.65, SD. K. 623.
³ That is, just as it has been shown that gods are entitled to the knowledge
of Brahman, since they desire (arthins) for salvation, so the Śūdras too desire for
salvation and are as such entitled to the same knowledge.
⁴ P. 81, line 4, vol. 3. ⁵ P. 241, line 21, vol. 2