Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -18
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As regard the contention based on Śruti being authoritative, we say that it is not proper; for Sruti is authoritative (only) with respect to matters unseen[1]. Śruti is indeed the authority in mat ters not comprehended through the ordinary means of acquiring knowledge, namely pratyaksa (direct perception by the senses) and the rest,-i.e. in such matters as the mutual relation of ends and means of the Agni-hotra and the tike; but not in matters known through pratyaksa and the rest, since the very authoritativeness (of Sruti) lies in its revealing what is not (otherwise) perceivable. Thus, it is not possible to imagine that the notion of "I" with respect to the aggregate of the body etc., which has been ascer tained as due to illusion (mithyā-jñāna) (by the Wise, in their direct experience) is a figurative idea. Not even a hundred Sruti texts which state that fire is cold or that it is dark can acquire authori tativeness[2]. If sruti should at all mention that fire is cold or that it is dark, we will have to suppose that the ŚruWs intention was to convey a different meaning, for the authoritativeness (of Sruti) cannot otherwise be maintained; and we should not attach to it (Sruti) a meaning which contradicts other means to know ledge (pramānas) or its own statement. Objection:- Since action can be engaged in only by a person who is subject to illusion, when there is no such agent[3], Sruti proves to be futile as authority. Reply:- Not so; for Śruti would still be purposeful with respect to Brahma-vidyā, the Science of the Self[4]. |
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References and Context
- ↑ i.e. those which arc beyond the range of human knowledge. (A)
- ↑ because, it is contrary to what is directly experienced. (A)
- ↑ on the cessation of awidyā, due to the dawn of Knowledge. (A)
- ↑ Though the Sruti teaching of works (Kjrma-kāndu), which is of practical validity as the authority in matters of the phenomenal world prior to the dawn of Knowledge, may cease to be authoritative in the absolute sense (-with regard to the Absolute Truth), the Sruti teaching of Brahman (Brahma-kānda), which is of absolute validity (as being authoritative with respect to the Reality), is purposeful, since it can generate the Knowledge of Brahman.