The System of the Vedanta according to Badarayana's Brahma-Sutras and Cankara's Commentary c6.s2.t3.2

c6.s2.t3.2

Sûtram: "But [there is] no origin of 'the Existent,' on account of the impossibility." Explanation: "After anyone has been taught from the scripture, that also ether [or: space] and air have originated, although we cannot conceive their coming into being, he might come to think that the Brahman also originated from something, for when he perceives how from the ether and the like, which are still only modifications, yet other modifications arise, he might conclude that the ether also sprang into being from the Brahman, as if from a mere modification. The present Sûtram "But [there is] no-origin" etc., serves to remove this doubt; its meaning is: but one must not think that the Brahman, whose essence is Being (sad-ātmaka), could have originated from anything else; why? 'owing to impossibility.' For Brahman is pure Being. As such it can [firstly] not have sprung from pure Being, because [between the two] there is no superiority, so that they cannot be related [to each other] as original and modified;—but also [secondly] not from differentiated Being, because experience contradicts this; for we see that from homogeneity differences arise, for example, vessels from clay, but not that homogeneity arises from differences;—further [thirdly] also not from non-Being,⁶⁸ for this is essenceless (nirātmaka); and because the scripture overthrows it, when it says (Chând. 6, 2, 2): 'How should the Existent come from the non-Existent?' and because it does not admit a producer of the Brahman, when it is said (Çvet. 6, 9):