The System of the Vedanta according to Badarayana's Brahma-Sutras and Cankara's Commentary c5.s6.t2.8

c5.s6.t2.8

Quite clearly and consciously, if not everywhere carried out in detail, do we find the contrast made between exoteric and esoteric doctrine in the province of Theology, under the names of the lower, attribute-possessing (*aparâ, saguṇâ*), and the higher, attributeless doctrines (*parâ, nirguṇâ vidyâ*); the former is the doctrine of the lower, attribute-possessing Brahman, the latter of the higher, attribute-free Brahman (*aparam, saguṇam, saviśeṣam, also kâryam, amukhyam brahma, and param, nirguṇam, nirviśeṣam, also avikṛitam, mukhyam, śuddham brahma*); the former is the object of worship, the latter of knowledge; in the case of the former doctrine the fulfilment of duties is commanded; but not in the latter (p. 1077, 7); the former has many different rewards, the only fruit of the latter is deliverance.