Page:The Vedanta-sutras, with the Sri-bhashya of Ramanujacharya.djvu/350

Adhik II. Sūt. 2.] ADHIKARAṆA. II. Janmādyadhikaraṇa. To point out what that Brahman really is which is stated to be the object of the enquiry here, he (the Sūtrakāra) says —

'Sūtra 2. Janmādyasya yataḥ.'

(The Brahman is that) from whom (proceed) the creation, &c., of this (universe).

The word janmādi means creation, preservation, and destruction. The attributive compound (here) denotes that (collection of things) which is characterised (as having ‘creation’ at its beginning). The word asya denotes the world which is constituted in an unthinkably varied and wonderful fashion, and which is mixed up with (all) the individual souls, beginning with Brahmā and ending with a clump of grass, each of which has its own particularly assigned enjoyment of the fruits (of karmas) limited to particular times and places. The word yataḥ denotes that that Highest Person who is the Lord of all, who possesses a nature which is hostile to all that is evil, who wills the truth, who possesses innumerable auspicious qualities, such as knowledge, bliss, &c., who is omniscient, omnipotent, and merciful in the highest degree, and from whom proceed creation, preservation, and destruction, — (it denotes that that Highest Person) is the Brahman. This is the meaning of this sūtra.

There is the scriptural passage which begins with — “The celebrated Bhṛigu, son of Varuṇa, approached his father, saying ‘Reverend sir, teach me the Brahman’”, — and