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

[SŪ. 1. 1. 1.
4 VEDĀNTA-KAUSTUBHA ADH. 1.]
previous. Hence, the word "then" has the sense of 'succession'
only; the word "therefore" implies the reason.
The reality which is obtainable by one who is devoted to the
sound-Brahman,—in accordance with the following and other
scriptural and Smṛti texts, viz. 'He who does not know the Veda
does not know Him, the Great', 'There are two Brahmans to be
known, the sound-Brahman and what is Higher. Those who know
the sound-Brahman go to the Higher Brahman'. (Maitrī 6 22),—
and which is possessed of the characteristics to be mentioned here-
after, is the object denoted by the term 'Brahman'. The word
"enquiry" denotes a desire for the knowledge of the desired Brahman.
Although the supplial of the verb (in the indicative mood, viz.
'arises') is appropriate here thus: "Then", i.e. afterwards, "there-
fore", i.e. for this reason, an "enquiry into Brahman" arises, it being
possible for people with insight to have a spontaneous desire for
enquiring into a particular object (viz. Brahman) (without being
definitely told or enjoined by Scripture to do so), yet in concordance
with the text: 'O, the self verily is to be seen, to be heard, to be
thought, to be meditated on, it is to be enquired into' (Bṛh. 2.4.5;
4.5 6), we must understand here a grammatical concordance with a
word implying injunction, viz. 'should arise'.¹ In accordance with
the scriptural text: 'Desiring for release, one should see the self
in the self alone' (Bṛh. 4.4.23), the words 'one who desires for
release' in the instrumental case, are implied here—such is the
construction of the words (in the sūtra) ².
Here the term "then", implying 'succession', means: After the
knowledge regarding the nature of religious duties, the means
thereto, the mode of performing them and their fruits—which form
the subject of the enquiry into religious duties.³ Thus, having
studied the Veda with its parts,⁴—being first properly
¹ That is, we can of course make the sūtra complete thus: 'Then, there-
fore, an enquiry into Brahman (arises)', but it is better to complete it thus:
'Then, therefore, an enquiry into Brahman (should arise)', and make the sūtra
an injunction and not a plain statement.
² Thus, the entire sūtra really means: '(Mumukṣuṇā) athāto Brahma-
jijñāsā (kartavyā)', or '(By one who desires salvation) then, therefore, an
enquiry into Brahman (should be made)'.
³ I.e. the Pūrva-mīmāṁsā.
⁴ See footnote (¹), p. 1.