AKA Vedanta Sutras or Shariraka Sutras
Author: Sage Badarayana
The Brahma Sutras are a foundational text of Hindu philosophy, specifically the Vedanta tradition. Written by the sage Badarayana (often associated with Vyasa) around 400–450 CE (with older origins), the text consists of 555 concise aphorisms (sutras) organized into four chapters.Their primary purpose is to systematize and harmonize the teachings of the Upanishads, which can often seem contradictory at first glance.
The Three Pillars of Vedanta
The Brahma Sutras make up the first of the Prasthanatrayi ("three starting points") which form the basis of all Vedanta philosophy. The other two pillars are:
The Upanishads (The foundational revelations)
The Bhagavad Gita (The practical application of philosophy)
Chapter 8: 2.4
2.4
Verse #1
Origin of the pranas |
ॐ तथा प्राणाः ॐ २.४.१॥ ||
Origin of the pranas | oṃ tathā prāṇāḥ oṃ 2.4.1.. ||
Origin of the pranas | o tatha prana o 2.4.1.. ||
1. Similarly the organs (are produced from the supreme Self).
Sw. Krishnananda
Thus the vital airs (are produced from Brahman).
Sw. Krishnananda
Thus the vital airs (are produced from Brahman).
Verse #2
ॐ गौण्यसम्भवात् ॐ |
२.४.२॥ ||
oṃ gauṇyasambhavāt oṃ ||
o gaunyasambhavat o ||
2. (Origin of the organs has to be accepted) because of the impossibility of (the text about origin having) the secondary sense.
Sw. Krishnananda
On account of the impossibility of a secondary (origin of the Pranas).
Sw. Krishnananda
On account of the impossibility of a secondary (origin of the Pranas).
Verse #3
ॐ तत्प्राक्श्रुतेश्च ॐ |
२। |
४। |
३॥ ||
oṃ tatprākśruteśca oṃ ||
o tatpraksrutesca o ||
3. Also because that term, ("is born"), is used earlier (in the primary sense) in the Upanishad (in connection with Prana).
Sw. Krishnananda
On account of that (word which indicates origin) being mentioned first (in connection with Pranas).
Sw. Krishnananda
On account of that (word which indicates origin) being mentioned first (in connection with Pranas).
Verse #4
ॐ तत्पूर्वकत्वाद्वाचः ॐ |
२। |
४। |
४॥ ||
oṃ tatpūrvakatvādvācaḥ oṃ ||
o tatpurvakatvadvaca o ||
4. (Pranas must have originated from Brahman) since speech is preceded by them.
Sw. Krishnananda
Because speech is preceded by that, (viz., fire and the other elements).
Sw. Krishnananda
Because speech is preceded by that, (viz., fire and the other elements).
Verse #5
Number of Pranas |
ॐ सप्त गतेर्विशेषितत्वाच्च ॐ २।४।५॥ ||
Number of Pranas | oṃ sapta gaterviśeṣitatvācca oṃ 2.4.5.. ||
Number of Pranas | o sapta gatervisesitatvacca o 2.4.5.. ||
5. The pranas are seven in number because of being so known and because of such a specification.
Sw. Krishnananda
The Pranas (organs) are seven on account of this being understood (from scriptural passages) and of the specification (of those seven).
Sw. Krishnananda
The Pranas (organs) are seven on account of this being understood (from scriptural passages) and of the specification (of those seven).
Verse #6
ॐ हस्तादयस्तु स्थितेऽतो नैवम् ॐ |
२। |
४। |
६॥ ||
oṃ hastādayastu sthite'to naivam oṃ ||
o hastadayastu sthite'to naivam o ||
6. But the hands etc., are there; since (an excess is) established thus, therefore it is not so.
Sw. Krishnananda
But (there are also in addition to the seven Pranas mentioned) the hands and rest. This being a settled matter, therefore (we must) not (conclude) thus (viz., that there are seven Pranas only).
Sw. Krishnananda
But (there are also in addition to the seven Pranas mentioned) the hands and rest. This being a settled matter, therefore (we must) not (conclude) thus (viz., that there are seven Pranas only).
Verse #7
Atomic Pranas |
ॐ अणवश्च ॐ २।४।७॥ ||
Atomic Pranas | oṃ aṇavaśca oṃ 2.4.7.. ||
Atomic Pranas | o anavasca o 2.4.7.. ||
7. And the organs are atomic (ie., subtle and limited in size).
Sw. Krishnananda
And (they are) minute.
Sw. Krishnananda
And (they are) minute.
Verse #8
Chief Prana: Its Creation |
ॐ श्रेष्ठश्च ॐ २।४।८॥ ||
Chief Prana: Its Creation | oṃ śreṣṭhaśca oṃ 2.4.8.. ||
Chief Prana: Its Creation | o sresthasca o 2.4.8.. ||
8. So also the foremost (Prana is a product of Brahman).
Sw. Krishnananda
And the best (i.e., the chief vital air or Prana is also produced).
Sw. Krishnananda
And the best (i.e., the chief vital air or Prana is also produced).
Verse #9
Nature of Prana |
ॐ न वायुक्रिये पृथगुपदेशात् ॐ २।४।९॥ ||
Nature of Prana | oṃ na vāyukriye pṛthagupadeśāt oṃ 2.4.9.. ||
Nature of Prana | o na vayukriye pthagupadesat o 2.4.9.. ||
9. Prana is neither air nor a function, because it is taught separately.
Sw. Krishnananda
(The chief Prana is) neither air nor function, on account of its being mentioned separately.
Sw. Krishnananda
(The chief Prana is) neither air nor function, on account of its being mentioned separately.
Verse #10
ॐ चक्षुरादिवत्तु तत्सहशिष्ट्यादिभ्यः ॐ |
२। |
४। |
१०॥ ||
oṃ cakṣurādivattu tatsahaśiṣṭyādibhyaḥ oṃ ||
o caksuradivattu tatsahasistyadibhya o ||
10. But Prana is not independent just like the organs of vision etc., because instruction is impared along with them and because of other reasons.
Sw. Krishnananda
But (the Prana is subordinate to the soul), like eyes, etc., on account of (its) being taught with them (the eyes, etc.) and for other reasons.
Sw. Krishnananda
But (the Prana is subordinate to the soul), like eyes, etc., on account of (its) being taught with them (the eyes, etc.) and for other reasons.
Verse #11
ॐ अकरणत्वाच्च न दोषस्तथा हि दर्शयति ॐ |
२। |
४। |
११॥ ||
oṃ akaraṇatvācca na doṣastathā hi darśayati oṃ ||
o akaranatvacca na dosastatha hi darsayati o ||
11. No fault accrues, because Prana is not a sense-organ. For thus it is shown in the Upanishads.
Sw. Krishnananda
And on account of (its) not being an instrument the objection is not (valid); because thus (scripture) declares.
Sw. Krishnananda
And on account of (its) not being an instrument the objection is not (valid); because thus (scripture) declares.
Verse #12
ॐ पञ्चवृत्तिर्मनोवद्व्यपदिश्यते ॐ |
२। |
४। |
१२॥ ||
oṃ pañcavṛttirmanovadvyapadiśyate oṃ ||
o pancavttirmanovadvyapadisyate o ||
12. It is taught that Prana has five states like the mind.
Sw. Krishnananda
It is taught as having a fivefold function like the mind.
Sw. Krishnananda
It is taught as having a fivefold function like the mind.
Verse #13
Prana Is Atomic |
ॐ अणुश्च ॐ २।४।१३॥ ||
Prana Is Atomic | oṃ aṇuśca oṃ 2.4.13.. ||
Prana Is Atomic | o anusca o 2.4.13.. ||
13. And the chief Prana is atomic (ie., subtle and limited in size).
Sw. Krishnananda
And it (chief Prana) is minute.
Sw. Krishnananda
And it (chief Prana) is minute.
Verse #14
Presiding Deities |
ॐ ज्योतिराद्यधिष्ठानं तु तदामननात् ॐ २।४।१४॥ ||
Presiding Deities | oṃ jyotirādyadhiṣṭhānaṃ tu tadāmananāt oṃ 2.4.14.. ||
Presiding Deities | o jyotiradyadhisthana tu tadamananat o 2.4.14.. ||
14. But there is the (fact of) presiding over by (the deities) Fire and others, for so it is taught in the scriptures.
Sw. Krishnananda
But there is the presiding over by Fire and others (over the organs), because of such statement in Sruti.
Sw. Krishnananda
But there is the presiding over by Fire and others (over the organs), because of such statement in Sruti.
Verse #15
ॐ प्राणवता शब्दात् ॐ |
२। |
४। |
१५॥ ||
oṃ prāṇavatā śabdāt oṃ ||
o pranavata sabdat o ||
15. (The organs are) connected with the possessor of the organs, as is known from the Vedic texts.
Sw. Krishnananda
(The gods are not the enjoyers, but the soul, because the organs are connected) with the one (i.e., the soul) possessing them (a thing we know) from the scriptures.
Sw. Krishnananda
(The gods are not the enjoyers, but the soul, because the organs are connected) with the one (i.e., the soul) possessing them (a thing we know) from the scriptures.
Verse #16
ॐ तस्य च नितयत्वात् ॐ |
२। |
४। |
१६॥ ||
oṃ tasya ca nitayatvāt oṃ ||
o tasya ca nitayatvat o ||
16. And on account of that soul's constant relation (with the body).
Sw. Krishnananda
And on account of its (soul's) permanence (in the body it is the enjoyer, and not the gods).
Sw. Krishnananda
And on account of its (soul's) permanence (in the body it is the enjoyer, and not the gods).
Verse #17
Prana and Pranas |
ॐ त इन्द्रियाणि तद्व्यपदेशादन्यत्र श्रेष्ठात् ॐ २।४।१७॥ ||
Prana and Pranas | oṃ ta indriyāṇi tadvyapadeśādanyatra śreṣṭhāt oṃ 2.4.17.. ||
Prana and Pranas | o ta indriyani tadvyapadesadanyatra sresthat o 2.4.17.. ||
17. As distinguished from the chief Prana, the other pranas (eleven in number) are the organs, for they are so designated.
Sw. Krishnananda
They (the other Pranas) are senses, on account of being so designated (by the scriptures), with the exception of the best (the chief Prana).
Sw. Krishnananda
They (the other Pranas) are senses, on account of being so designated (by the scriptures), with the exception of the best (the chief Prana).
Verse #18
ॐ भेदश्रुतेः ॐ |
२। |
४। |
१८॥ ||
oṃ bhedaśruteḥ oṃ ||
o bhedasrute o ||
18. Because of the (mention of) difference in the Upanishads.
Sw. Krishnananda
(On account of the) scriptural statement of difference.
Sw. Krishnananda
(On account of the) scriptural statement of difference.
Verse #19
ॐ वैलक्षण्याच्च ॐ |
२। |
४। |
१९॥ ||
oṃ vailakṣaṇyācca oṃ ||
o vailaksanyacca o ||
19. And (the organs are different from Prana) because of the dissimilarity in characteristics.
Sw. Krishnananda
And on account of the difference of characteristics.
Sw. Krishnananda
And on account of the difference of characteristics.
Verse #20
Creation of Gross Objects |
ॐ संज्ञामूर्तिक्लृप्तिस्तु त्रिवृत्कुर्वत उपदेशात् ॐ २।४।२०॥ ||
Creation of Gross Objects | oṃ saṃjñāmūrtiklṛptistu trivṛtkurvata upadeśāt oṃ 2.4.20.. ||
Creation of Gross Objects | o sajnamurtiklptistu trivtkurvata upadesat o 2.4.20.. ||
20. The arrangement of designation and shape, however, is by Him who made the elements tripartite, for it is taught (in the Upanishad).
Sw. Krishnananda
But the creation of names and forms is by Him who does the tripartite (creation), for so the scriptures teach.
Sw. Krishnananda
But the creation of names and forms is by Him who does the tripartite (creation), for so the scriptures teach.
Verse #21
ॐ मांसादि भौमं यथाशब्दमितरयोश्च ॐ |
२। |
४। |
२१॥ ||
oṃ māṃsādi bhaumaṃ yathāśabdamitarayośca oṃ ||
o masadi bhauma yathasabdamitarayosca o ||
21. Flesh etc., are produced from earth as it is shown in the Upanishads. From the other two as well (evolve other things).
Sw. Krishnananda
Flesh, etc., originates from earth according to the scriptural statement and (so also) in the case of the other (elements, viz., fire and water).
Sw. Krishnananda
Flesh, etc., originates from earth according to the scriptural statement and (so also) in the case of the other (elements, viz., fire and water).
Verse #22
ॐ वैशेष्यात्तु तद्वादस्तद्वादः ॐ |
२। |
४। |
२२॥ |
इति श्रीमत्कृष्णद्वैपायनकृत ब्रह्मसूत्रेषु द्वितीयाध्यायस्य चतुर्थः पादः समाप्तः |
इति द्वितीयोऽध्यायः॥ ||
oṃ vaiśeṣyāttu tadvādastadvādaḥ oṃ | tṛtīyādhyāyasya ||
o vaisesyattu tadvadastadvada o | ttiyadhyayasya ||
22. But owing to the preponderance (of any one) occurs the corresponding designation, occurs the corresponding designation.
Sw. Krishnananda
But on account of the preponderance (of a particular element in them the gross elements) are so named (after it).
Sw. Krishnananda
But on account of the preponderance (of a particular element in them the gross elements) are so named (after it).