The System of the Vedanta according to Badarayana's Brahma-Sutras and Cankara's Commentary c6.s2.t5.1

c6.s2.t5.1

(p. 32, 4:) “Is the Brahman which is to be investigated “known or unknown? If it is known, we do not need to in- “vestigate it; if it is unknown, we cannot investigate it!— “Answer: That Being which is of its own nature is eternal, “pure, wise, free, all-knowing, almighty is Brahman. For from “the etymology of the word Brahman the meanings ‘eternal, “pure’ etc. are reached, according to the meaning of the root “barh [‘to separate;’ see above, p. 119]. But the existence of “the Brahman is demonstrated by the fact that it is the Self “(Soul, ātman) of all. For everyone assumes the existence of “himself, for he cannot say: ‘I am not.’ For if the existence “of Self were not demonstrated, then all the world could say “‘I am not.’ And the Self is the Brahman.—But if the “Brahman is universally demonstrated because it is the Self, “then it is known, and the objection that it need not be in- “vestigated, recurs?—Not so! For with reference to its “characteristics there is contradiction. For the common people “and the materialists [Lokāyatika: ‘those who follow the world’] “assert: ‘the Self is only the body invested with intelligence;’ “—others again: ‘the Self is only the [naturally] intellectual “organs of sense;’—others: ‘it is the understanding (manas);’ “—yet others: ‘it is only the perishable intellect;’—others: “‘the Void;’—others again: ‘it is the [individual soul] extend- “ing beyond the body, wandering, acting, and suffering;’—some: “‘it is only the sufferer, not the agent;’—some: ‘it is the “all-knowing, almighty Lord, who extends beyond this [world];’ “—still others: ‘it is the Self of him who suffers [or: enjoys] “there.’—Thus many oppose each other, and rely on arguments “and passages [of Scripture] or their appearance. He, there- “fore, who inconsiderately assumes the one or the other, may “compromise his salvation and come to destruction. Therefore, “because they set forth the investigation of the Brahman, the “consideration of the Vedânta [Upanishad] texts, supported “by non-contradictory reflexion, is recommended as a means “of salvation.”