Brahma Sutras Chapter 2. 4
Brahma Sutras 2.4
Pranotpattyadhikaranam - Topic 1 (Sutras 1-4)
The Pranas have their origin from Brahman
1.
Tatha pranah |II.4.1 (270)
Thus the vital airs (are produced from Brahman).
Tatha - thus, likewise, similarly, like the creation of the five primal elements as stated in the previous section;
Pranah - the Pranas, the organs.
2.
Gaunyasambhavat |II.4.2 (271)
On account of the impossibility of a secondary (origin of the Pranas).
Gauni - secondary sense;
Asambhavat - on account of impossibility, as it is impossible, being impossible.
3.
Tatprakcchrutescha |II.4.3 (272)
On account of that (word which indicates origin) being mentioned first (in connection with Pranas).
Tat - that;
Prak - first;
Sruteh - from Sruti, on account of the Sruti text being mentioned;
Cha - and, also.
4.
Tatpurvakatvadvachah |II.4.4 (273)
Because speech is preceded by that, (viz., fire and the other elements).
Saptagatyadhikaranam - Topic 2 (Sutras 5-6)
The number of the organs
5.
Sapta gaterviseshitatvaccha |II.4.5 (274)
The Pranas (organs) are seven on account of this being understood (from scriptural passages) and of the specification (of those seven).
Sapta - seven;
Gateh - from the movement, being so known (from the scriptural passages);
Viseshitatvat - on account of the specification;
Cha - and.
6.
Hastadayastu sthite’to naivam |II.4.6 (275)
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).
Hastadayah - hands and the rest;
Tu - but;
Sthite - being determined, being a fact, while abiding in the body;
Atah - therefore;
Na - not; Evam - thus, so, like this.
Prananutvadhikaranam - Topic 3 (Sutra 7)
The organs are minute in size
7.
Anavascha |II.4.7 (276)
And (they are) minute.
Anavah - minute;
Cha - and, also.
Pranasraishthyadhikaranam - Topic 4 (Sutra 8)
The chief Prana has also an origin from Brahman
8.
Sreshthascha |II.4.8 (277)
And the best (i.e., the chief vital air or Prana is also produced).
Sreshthah - the best, the highest, the chief Prana (vital force or life-energy);
Cha - and, also.
Vayukriyadhikaranam - Topic 5 (Sutras 9-12)
The chief Prana is different from air and sense functions
9.
Na vayukriye prithagupadesat |II.4.9 (278)
(The chief Prana is) neither air nor function, on account of its being mentioned separately.
Na - not;
Vayukriye - air or function;
Prithak - separate, separately;
Upadesat - because of the teaching, on account of its being mentioned.
(Prithagupadesat - because of the separate mention.)
10.
Chakshuradivattu tatsahasishtyadibhyah |II.4.10 (278)
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.
Chakshuradivat - like the eyes and the rest;
Tu - but;
Tatsaha - along with them;
Sishtyadibhyah - on account of (its) being taught, because of the scriptural instructions and other reasons.
11.
Akaranatvaccha na doshastatha hi darsayati |II.4.11 (280)
And on account of (its) not being an instrument the objection is not (valid); because thus (scripture) declares.
Akaranatvat - on account of (its) not being an instrument;
Cha - and, also;
Na - not;
Doshah - defect, objection, fault;
Tatha - thus, so; Hi - as, because;
Darsayati - teaches, scripture shows, declares.
12.
Panchavrittirmanovat vyapadisyate |II.4.12 (281)
It is taught as having a fivefold function like the mind.
Panchavrittih - having fivefold function;
Manovat - like the mind;
Vyapadisyate - is described, it is taught, it is designated.
Sreshthanutvadhikaranam - Topic 6 (Sutra 13)
The minuteness of the chief Prana
13.
Anuscha |II.4.13 (282)
And it (chief Prana) is minute.
Anuh - minute;
Cha - and.
Jyotiradyadhikaranam - Topic 7 (Sutras 14-16)
The presiding deities of the organs
14.
Jyotiradyadhishthanam tu tadamananat |II.4.14 (283)
But there is the presiding over by Fire and others (over the organs), because of such statement in Sruti.
Jyotiradyadhishthanam - presiding over by Fire and others;
Tu - but;
Tadamananat - because of such statement in Sruti, on account of the scriptures teaching that.
15.
Pranavata sabdat |II.4.15 (284)
(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.
Pranavata - with the one possessing the Pranas (organs);
Sabdat - from the scriptures.
16.
Tasya cha nityatvat |II.4.16 (285)
And on account of its (soul’s) permanence (in the body it is the enjoyer, and not the gods).
Tasya - its;
Cha - and;
Nityatvat - on account of permanence.
Indriyadhikaranam - Topic 8 (Sutras 17-19)
The organs are independent principles and not functions of the chief Prana
17.
Ta Indriyani tadvyapadesadanyatra sreshthat |II.4.17 (286)
They (the other Pranas) are senses, on account of being so designated (by the scriptures), with the exception of the best (the chief Prana).
Ta - they;
Indriyani - the organs;
Tadvyapadesat - because designated as such;
Sreshthat anyatra - except the chief, other than the chief Prana which is the highest. (Anyatra - elsewhere, except; Sreshthat - than the best or the chief Prana.)
18.
Bhedasruteh |II.4.18 (287)
(On account of the) scriptural statement of difference.
Bhedasruteh - on account of the scriptural statement of difference.
19.
Vailakshanyaccha |II. 4.19 (288)
And on account of the difference of characteristics.
Vailakshanyat - on account of difference of characteristics;
Cha - and.
Samjnamurtiklriptyadhikaranam - Topic 9 (Sutras 20-22)
The creation of names and forms is by the Lord and not by the individual soul
20.
Samjnamurtiklriptistu trivritkurvata upadesat |II.4.20 (289)
But the creation of names and forms is by Him who does the tripartite (creation), for so the scriptures teach.
Samjnamurtiklriptih - the creation of name and form;
Tu - but;
Trivritkurvatah - of Him who does the tripartite creation, of His who made the elements triple; Upadesat - on account of scriptural teaching, as Sruti has stated so.
(Samjna - name; Murtih - form; Klriptih - creation; Trivrit - tripartite, compound; Kurvatah - of the Creator.)
21.
Mamsadi bhaumam yathasabdamitarayoscha |II.4.21 (290)
Flesh, etc., originates from earth according to the scriptural statement and (so also) in the case of the other (elements, viz., fire and water).
Mamsadi - flesh and the rest;
Bhaumam - are effects of earth;
Yathasabdam - as Sruti has said so, as declared by the scripture;
Itarayoh - of the other two, namely fire and water;
Cha - also, and.
22.
Vaiseshyattu tadvadastadvadah |II.4.22 (291)
But on account of the preponderance (of a particular element in them the gross elements) are so named (after it).
Vaiseshyat - on account of the preponderance;
Tu - but;
Tadvadah - that special name.