Because of the scriptural statement that Vidya is a subordinate member of Karma. — 433.

SUTRA III. 4. 4.

 

तच्छ्रुतेः॥३.४.४॥

tacchruteḥ ..3.4.4..

 

… Tat, about that. … there being a direct scriptural statement.

 

4. Because of the scriptural statement that Vidya is a subordinate member of Karma. — 433.

 

C0MMENTARY

 

In the Chhandogya Upanishad, there is a direct statement to the effect that Vidya is subordinate to Karma (I., 1. 8):

By the command of that Full and Supremely High Lord called Om, perform ye both His worship, whether ye understand Him thus or ye do not.

But the knowledge and ignorance are different (and opposed to each other). The man who worships the Lord, with knowledge, faith and propriety (to the utmost of his capacity) verily, his worship alone is conducive to endless reward, (not so the worship of the ignorant, whose reward is limited). This is the full explanation of this Ever-present Imperishable Om.

In the above the word Vidyaya» (with Vidya) shows that Vidya is only a subordinate member of Karma, because it is used in the instrumental case, and an instrumental case always denotes something secondary, just as the words Shraddhaya» and Upanishada.

SUTRA III. 4. 5.

 

समन्वारम्भणात्॥३.४.५॥

samanvārambhaṇāt ..3.4.5..

 

.. Sam-anu-arambhanat, on account of their taking hold together or being together.

 

5. Because the Upanishad. also declares that both Vidya, and Karma take hold of the man after death, and carry him to heavenly regions; therefore, Vidya is not independent of Karma. — 434.

 

COMMENTARY

 

In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, IV., 4. 2, we find that when a man dies, his Vidya and his Karma take hold of him and carry him forward:

And when he thus departs, life (the chief Prana) departs after him, and when life thus departs, all the other vital spirits (Pranas) depart after it. He is conscious, and being conscious he follows and departs.

Then both his knowledge and his work take hold of him, and his acquaintance with former things.

This shows that Vidya and Karma both co-operate in producing the results, and, therefore, Vidya is subordinate to Karma.