History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.226

v7.c95.226

Another objection is raised to the above proposition contained in V. S. II. 1. 34. The Upaniṣads often state 'In the beginning there was that only which is one without a second (Chān. Up. VI. 2. 1 sad-eva somyedam agra āsīd-ekam evādvitiyam). Therefore, before creation there was no difference between deeds and so there could have been no inequality among the first created beings dependent on difference in deeds. You may say that after difference in deeds arose God has regard to deeds of men, but all beings created in the beginning must have been alike. To this the reply is that saṁsāra is without beginning (anādi) and that such a conception of the beginninglessness of saṁsāra stands to reason and is supported by (Śruti) texts.