Brahma Sutras

Brahma Sūtra

A collection of terse aphorisms that systematises the teaching of the Upanishads about Brahman and defends it against rival schools.

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Tradition: Vedanta · Vedic & Upanishadic foundations
Difficulty: advanced
Attribution: Traditionally attributed to Badarayana, whom tradition often identifies with Vyasa
Period · language: Scholars place its compilation roughly between the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE; dating is debated · Sanskrit
Themes: Brahman · Interpretation of the Upanishads · Causation · Debate · Liberation

Why read this?

The Brahma Sutras are the systematic backbone of Vedanta: every major Vedanta school established itself by writing a commentary on them. The sutras are so brief that they are nearly unreadable alone, which is exactly why comparing how Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhva read them is so illuminating.

Questions it answers

?What is Brahman, and how is it known?
?Is Brahman the cause of the world?
?How should apparently conflicting Upanishadic passages be reconciled?
?What is the state of the liberated?

Key teachings

Editorial overview

The inquiry into Brahman

The work opens by announcing an inquiry into Brahman, and next defines Brahman as that from which the origin, sustenance and dissolution of the world proceed.

Scripture as the source

Brahman is said to be known through scripture, and the Upanishads are shown to agree in teaching it. Reason is used to defend, not replace, this source.

Refuting rivals

The second chapter answers objections and critiques other systems, including Sankhya, Vaisheshika, Buddhist and Jain views, as well as some theistic schools.

Creation as play

One sutra says Brahman's creating is like play (lila) in the world, done without need, answering the objection that a complete being would have no motive to create.

Means and fruit

The later chapters discuss rebirth, meditations and the path, and the final chapter the fruit of knowledge and the state of the liberated, closing with the statement that there is no return.

Structure

4 chapters (adhyayas), each of 4 quarters (padas)Roughly 550 sutras; the count varies slightly between commentators
1 SamanvayaHarmony: all Upanishads teach Brahman
2 AvirodhaNon-contradiction: answering objections and other schools
3 SadhanaMeans: rebirth, meditations, qualifications
4 PhalaFruit: liberation

Important passages

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References only — the passages themselves are not reproduced until the source text is ingested.

1.1.1Now, therefore, the inquiry into Brahman
1.1.2Brahman as the source of the world's origin, sustenance and dissolution
1.1.3Scripture as the source of knowledge of Brahman
1.1.4The Upanishads harmoniously teach Brahman
2.1.33Creation compared to play (lila)
4.4.22The final sutra: no return for the liberated

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The text of the Brahma Sutras is not part of this version. What you see here is an editorial overview with passage references. No verses have been reproduced or invented. The architecture is ready for the text to be added.

Concepts

Conceptब्रह्मन्BrahmanThe ultimate reality, the ground from which everything arises.Conceptआत्मन्Atman — the SelfThe innermost Self — what you are beneath body, mind and personality.ConceptजीवJiva — the individual soulThe living, embodied individual who acts, experiences and transmigrates.Conceptईश्वरIshvara — GodThe Lord — God as ruler, creator and object of worship.Conceptमोक्षMoksha — liberationFinal freedom from bondage and the cycle of rebirth.Conceptप्रमाणPramana — means of valid knowledgeThe accepted sources of valid knowledge, such as perception, inference and testimony.ConceptलीलाLila — divine playCreation as God's spontaneous play rather than an act of need.ConceptमायाMayaThe power of appearance — why the world seems other than it is.

Textछान्दोग्योपनिषद्Chandogya UpanishadMany sutras interpret Chandogya passages Textबृहदारण्यकोपनिषद्Brihadaranyaka UpanishadAnother major source interpreted by the sutras Textश्रीमद्भगवद्गीताBhagavad GitaTogether with the Upanishads and the Gita, forms the prasthana-traya, the three sources of Vedanta Textब्रह्मसूत्रभाष्यBrahma Sutra Bhashya (Shankara)The Advaita commentary Textश्रीभाष्यSri Bhashya (Ramanuja)The Vishishtadvaita commentary Textब्रह्मसूत्रभाष्यBrahma Sutra Bhashya (Madhva)The Dvaita commentary Textमीमांसासूत्रMimamsa SutrasThe sister work on ritual interpretation; Vedanta is sometimes called Uttara Mimamsa

Thinkers

Thinkerव्यासVyasa (Veda Vyasa)Legendary figure; tradition places him at the end of the Dvapara age. No historical dating is possible.Thinkerआदि शङ्कराचार्यAdi ShankaracharyaTraditionally 788–820 CE; many scholars prefer an earlier 8th-century or late 7th-century date. Dates are debated.Thinkerरामानुजाचार्यRamanujacharyaTraditionally 1017–1137 CE; the traditional lifespan of 120 years is often questioned and scholars treat the dates as approximate (11th–12th century CE).Thinkerमध्वाचार्यMadhvacharyaTraditionally 1238–1317 CE; some scholars prefer 1199–1278 CE.

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Traditions

वेदान्तVedanta वैदिकVedic & Upanishadic foundations

Source type: Primary source. Overview text on this page is editorial.