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The System of the Vedanta according to Badarayana's Brahma-Sutras and Cankara's Commentary c8.s6.t5: 5. Mutual Relation of the Systems of the conscious and unconscious Life

The System of the Vedânta according to Bâdarâyana's Brahma-Sûtras and Çankara's Commentary c8.s6.t5

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5. Mutual Relation of the Systems of the conscious and unconscious Life

c8.s6.t5.1

Sûtras 2. 4, 17—19.

c8.s6.t5.2

There is a doubt whether the remaining *Prânas* (the *Manas* and the ten *Indriyas*) are mere functions of the *Mukhya Prâna* or are separate entities (p. 729, 3). The former opinion might be maintained, because we read (Brih. 1. 5, 21) "they all became part of its nature" and because they too bear the name *Prâna* (p. 729, 5). But this is not so; they are separate entities, as follows from their having the special name *Indriyam*;

c8.s6.t5.3

that inhaling is of importance for the promotion of the movement of the contents of the intestines.

c8.s6.t5.4

it is true the Śruti (Muṇḍ. 2, 1, 3) mentions the Manas as well as the Indriyas, but the Smṛiti (Manu 2, 89) enumerates eleven Indriyas, and includes the Manas among them, which is never done with the Prāṇa (p. 730). The difference is also exhibited in the fact that in the quarrel of the gods and demons (Bṛih. 1. 3. Chānd. 1, 2) all except the Prāṇa are overcome (p. 730, 12).

c8.s6.t5.5

The difference of the two consists in the following: 1) even if all others sleep, Prāṇa remains awake; 2) all except it are subject to death, Bṛih. 1, 5, 21, by which here weariness is to be understood (p. 732, 2); 3) the Prāṇa, not the Indriyas, conditions by its remaining the continuance, and by its removal the destruction of the body; 4) the activity of all Indriyas is directed to objects [they are organs of relation] but not that of the Prāṇa; 5) that "they became part of its nature" (Bṛih. 1, 5, 21) means that the Indriyas are dependent on the Prāṇa, so far as it brings about their stimulation (parispanda); and for this reason also bear its name (prāṇa) in a metaphorical sense (p. 731, 8--732, 11).

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