The wise follows the rays of the sun (whether he dies in day or in night). — 518.

SUTRA IV. 2. 18.

 

रश्म्यनुसारी॥४.२.१८॥

raśmyanusārī ..4.2.18..

 

… Rashmi, the rays, … Anusari, following.

 

18. The wise follows the rays of the sun (whether he dies in day or in night). — 518.

 

COMMENTARY

 

Whether the wise dies by day or by night at whatever time he dies, he follows the rays of the sun and goes on those rays to the solar disc. This we say Because the Scripture nowhere says that only by dying during the daytime, the soul can follow the rays of the sun and not otherwise.

SUTRA IV. 2. 19.

 

निशि नेति चेन्न संभन्धात् यावद्देहभावित्वाद्दर्शयति च॥४.२.१९॥

niśi neti cenna saṃbhandhasya yāvaddehabhāvitvāddarśayati ca ..4.2.19..

 

.., at night .. Na, not Iti, so. Chet, if. Sambandhasya, of the relation. … Yavad, as long as. … Doha, the body exists, …. Bhavitvat, because of the existence. … Darshayati, the Shastras show. .. Cha, and.

 

19. If it be objected that one dying in the night cannot follow the rays of the sun, we reply it is not so. Because the connection between the rays and the body persists as long as the body lasts. Scripture also declares this. — 519.

 

COMMENTARY

 

If it be objected that a person dying at night cannot follow the rays of the sun, because there is an absence of such rays then, we reply it is not so. Why? Because the connection of the solar rays with the human body is a permanent one, so long as the soul remains in the body. The days and nights may revolve, but this connection of the human rays (Aura) with the solar rays, continues; and it is not a fact that the connection is cut off during the night Therefore, at whatever time a man dies, the rays being there, the soul can go by it to the solar disc. The proof of this connection of the rays of the sun with those of the body is furnished by the fact that bodily heat is perceived both in the winter and in the summer, both in the night and in the day. If the connection wore cut off, then owing to the coldness of the winter, there should be no heat in the body. But the bodily heat is perceived not only in summer nights but also in the wintry nights. Nor is this a mere inferential proposition, based upon reasoning alone, but there is scriptural authority for it also. Therefore, the Sutra says «Darshayati cha», «and scripture also declares this». In the Chhandogya Upanishad (VII., 6. 2,) we find it stated in the following:

As a very long highway goes to two places, to one at the beginning, and to another at the end, so do the rays of the sun go to both worlds, to this one and to the other. They start from the sun and enter into those arteries; they start, from those arteries and enter into the sun.

There is another Shruti also to the same effect:

These rays and the arteries are verily connected together, and they are never separated so long as this body is alive. Therefore, through these he sees, through these he goes out, through these he enters into different undertakings.

Therefore, it is an established rule, that the wise follow the rays of the sun, whether they die by night or by day.

Adhikarana X — The wise dying even during

the southern progress of the Sun goes to the Brahma-world

 

Now is discussed a new topic.

Doubt: Does the man who knows, get the fruit of Vidya if he happens to die during the southern progress of the sun or does he not?

Purvapaksha: The opponent maintains the view that the northern progress is the path leading to Brahmaloka, described in both the Shruti and the Smriti. Moreover, we see instances of persons like Bhishma and others, who waited for the northern progress of the sun for leaving their bodies. Therefore, the sage who dies during the southern progress of the Sun does not get to the Brahma-world.

Siddhanta: This view is set aside in the next Sutra.