The System of the Vedanta according to Badarayana's Brahma-Sutras and Cankara's Commentary c7.s5.t2.8

c7.s5.t2.8

If the effect did not exist before its manifestation, the activity of manifestation would be without an agent, and therefore without a subject (*nirātmaka*). But every activity must necessarily have an agent. If the jar becomes manifest, who is the agent in this action, if not the jar itself?--The potter, perhaps? But then the potter would become manifest from his action, and not the jar. Or do you maintain that the effect originates and receives a self, after it has been previously connected with the Being of the cause?--But connection can only take place between two things which are, and not between what is and what is not.--And just as unthinkable is the limit which you set to the non-existence of the effect, by the moment of becoming manifest: for only what is, and not what is not, can have a limit.--And through no activity can the non-existence of the effect become existent, as little as the son of the barren woman can be made existent by any effort (p. 464, 8--466, 7).