History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.298

v7.c95.298

Before proceeding further a passage from the Br. Up. I. 4. 10 and another from the Ait. Up. (II. 4-5) would have to be considered In Br Up. occurs the following passage:²⁵⁶⁴ "In the beginning *brahman* was there, it cognised itself as 'I am brahma', therefore it became all; whoever from among the Gods perceived this (viz. 'I am brahman'), he became that (brahman), the same occurred to sages and men. The sage Vāmadeva realizing this reached the conclusion 'I was (or became) Manu and the Sun also.' Therefore, this (will occur) even now. Whoever (even a man) who realizes 'I am brahman he becomes (identical with) all this (universe); even the gods are not able to prevent that man's being one with *brahman* and with all, for he is the soul of all these." Deussen translates 'aham Manurabhavam Sūryaśca' as 'I was once Manu, I was once the Sun'. There is no word for 'once' and it is supplied by Deussen who remarks 'as a proof of his knowledge of *brahman*, (Vāmadeva) alleged his acquaintance with his former births as Manu and Sūrya' (p. 317). The words can very well be construed as meaning that Vāmadeva, having realized brahman when he sang the hymn Rg. IV. 26, expressed his identity with Manu and Sūrya (and the whole universe). There is no express reference to former births and Śaṅkarācārya in ²⁵⁶⁵ his bhāṣya on Br. Up. understands the passage in this sense and does not refer to former births. It cannot be said that the Br. Up. quotes Ṛg. IV. 26. 1 for supporting the conception of transmigration but it relies on it merely for the conception of identity of the individual soul with the Supreme Self.