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

[SŪ. 4. 2. 1.
808 VEDĀNTA-KAUSTUBHA ADH. 1.]
is observed to continue even when the organ of speech has ceased to
function. Apprehending the objection that this is possible even if
there be the merging of only the function of speech, the author states
the main reason: "And on account of scriptural text", i.e. on account
of the text: "Speech merges in the mind" (Chand. 6.8.6). There is
no text to the effect that the function of speech merges in the mind.
'Merging' is to be understood here as denoting 'connection' and
not 'absorption', since the absorption of speech into the mind, which is
not its material cause, is impossible,¹ since in order that the non-
knower ² may obtain another body, it is essential that speech should
continue, and since it will be stated further on ³ that speech and the
rest are absorbed in the Highest Soul alone.
COMPARISON
Śaṃkara and Bhāskara
Interpretation different. In direct opposition to Nimbārka, who
holds that the organ of speech is connected with the mind, they point
out that the function of speech and not the organ of speech merges
in the mind.⁴
Further, the most fundamental point of difference between
Nimbārka and Śaṃkara is that Śaṃkara all throughout makes a dis-
tinction between the higher knower and the lower knower, i.e. one
who knows Brahman as identical with himself, and one who meditates
on Brahman as different from himself. Hence, while according to
Śaṃkara, this quarter deals with the path of gods belonging only to
the lower knowers or worshippers of the qualified Brahman,⁵ according
to Nimbārka, this is the highest path belonging to all knowers.

¹ I.e. a thing is absorbed in its material cause alone, a gold ear-ring into
gold.
² This mode of departure is common to knowers and non-knowers, as
pointed out above, and a non-knower is born again.
³ Vide Br. Sū. 4.2 14.
⁴ Ś.B. 4.2.1, pp. 929-930; Bh. B. 4.2.1, p. 227.
⁵ While the higher knowers do not need to travel through any path to
attain Brahman, but attain Brahman then and there as soon as real knowledge
dawn. Vide Ś.B. 4.3.14. As we shall see, Śaṃkara takes the entire pāda as
referring to lower knowers, except sūtras 12–16 (12–15 according to Nimbārka's
numbering).