Ancient teachers (such as Dramidāchārya and others) abridged that extensive commentary on the Brahma-Sūtras* which was composed by the venerable Bodhāyana. * In accordance with their opinion, the words of the sūtras (i.e. aphorisms) are (here) explained.
ADHIKARAṆA. I.
Jijñāsādhikaraṇa.
Sutra I. Athato Brahmajijnasa.
Then therefore the enquiry into the Brahman.
Here the word then is used in the sense of coming immediately after ; the word therefore is used in the sense that that (enquiry) which has been concluded (viz. the enquiry into the Karma-kdnda* ) is the reason (for undertaking the present enquiry). With him who has (first) studied and learnt the Vedas with all their limbs 7 and head, and who, through realizing that the mere knowledge of (ritualistic) works gives small and transitory results, has the desire for final release born in him (with him), the desire for that knowledge of the Brahman, which is productive of infinite and eternal results, is, indeed, of subsequent origin.
Brahmano jijildsd Brah majijnasa. Brahmanas, the
4. Brahma-Sutras is another name 7. In the same way in which the for the Veddnta-Sutras of Badarayana. Upanishads are looked upon as the 5. Accordingly, Bodhayana is called head of the Vedas, the science of Sik- the Vrittikara or the author of the s/id or phonetics, which deals with the itti. ~ proper pronunciation and euphony of 6. The Karma-kanda is that section words, grammar, metrics, Xirukta of Vedic scriptures which includes the which deals with the etymology and Manlras, the Brahmanas and such proper meaning of Vedic words, astro- portions of the Aranyakas as deal uomy, and Kalpa or the code of litur- with rituals and their performance. gy, form the six limbs of the Vedas.
