The Vedânta-Sûtras, Part II, with the Commentary by Sankarâkârya — SBE Vol. 38

the fact that perception takes place where there is a body, and does not take place where there is none, does not imply that it is an attribute of the body ; for like lamps and so on the body may be used (by the Self) as a mere auxiliary. Nor is it even true that the body is absolutely required as an auxiliary of perception ; for in the state of dream we have manifold perceptions while the body lies motionless. — The view of the Self being something separate from the body is therefore free from all objections.

55. But the (meditations) connected with members (of sacrificial acts are) not (restricted) to (particular) ^'akhas, according to the Veda (to which they belong).

The above occasional discussion being terminated, we return to the discussion of the matter in hand. — We meet in the different 5akhas of each Veda with injunctions of vidyas connected with certain members of sacrificial acts, such as the udgitha and the like. Cp. e. g. • Let a man meditate on the syllable Om (as) the udgitha ' {Kh. Up. I, I, i) ; 'Let a man meditate on the fivefold Saman as the five worlds' (i^//. Up. II, 1, i) ; 'People say: "Hymns, hymns ! " the hymn is truly this earth ' (Ait. Ar. II, 1,2, 1) ; • The piled up fire-altar truly is this world ' (vSat. Bra. X, 5, 4. i). A doubt here arises whether the vidyas are enjoined with reference to the udgitha and so on as belonging to a certain vSakha only or as belonging to all 6"akhas. The doubt is raised on the supposition that the udgitha and so on dift'er in the different 5akhas because the accents.. &c. differ.

Here the purvapakshin maintains that the vddyas are enjoined only with reference to the udgitha and so on which belong to the particular 5akha (to which the vidya belongs). — Why ? — On account of proximity. For as such general injunctions as ' Let a man meditate on the udgitha ' are in need of a specification, and as this need is satisfied by the specifications given in the same 6"akha which stand in immediate proximity, there is no reason for passing over that 5akha and having recourse to specifications enjoined

Ill ADHYAYA, 3 PADA, 56. 2^ \

in other 6"akhas. Hence the vidyas are to be held apart, according to the .Sakhas to which they belong.

To this the Sutra replies ' but those connected with members/ &c. — The word ' but ' discards the prima facie view. The meditations are not restricted to their own vSakhas according to the Veda to which they belong, but are valid for all ^akhas. — Why?- — Because the direct statements of the texts about the udgitha and so on enounce no specification. For to such general injunctions as ' Let a man meditate on the udgitha' — which say nothing about specifications — violence would be done, if on the ground of proximity we restricted them to something special belonging to its own 6"akha, and that would be objectionable because direct statement has greater weight than proximity. There is, on the other hand, no reason why the vidya should not be of general reference. We therefore conclude that, although the vSakhas differ as to accents and the like, the vidyas mentioned refer to the udgitha and so on belonging to all 6'akhas, because the text speaks only of the udgitha and so on in general.

56. Or else there is no contradiction (implied in our opinion) ; as in the case of mantras and the like.