The Vedānta-Sūtras with the Commentary by Śaṅkarācārya, Part I

Introduction: Explains the distinction between Pūrva-Mīmāṃsā and Uttara-Mīmāṃsā, the relation of the Vedānta-Sūtras to the Upaniṣads, the difficulty of interpreting sūtra literature, the authority of Śaṅkara’s Bhāṣya, and the comparison between Śaṅkara’s Advaita and Rāmānuja’s Viśiṣṭādvaita interpretations. Adhyāya I — Pāda I: Establishes Brahman as the subject of Vedānta; discusses Brahman as the origin of the world, the source of scripture, the unity of Vedānta teaching, and the rejection of the Sāṃkhya pradhāna as first cause. Adhyāya I — Pāda II: Interprets selected Upaniṣadic passages as referring to Brahman rather than to the individual soul or other limited principles; discusses the inner ruler, the person in the eye, the imperishable, and related doctrinal passages. Adhyāya I — Pāda III: Continues the interpretation of difficult Upaniṣadic passages, including discussions of ether, light, the person within the heart, the individual soul, and the eligibility of different beings for Brahman-knowledge. Adhyāya I — Pāda IV: Refutes Sāṃkhya interpretations of scripture and argues that Brahman, not pradhāna, is both the intelligent and material cause of the world. Adhyāya II — Pāda I: Replies to objections against Vedānta on speculative grounds; defends Brahman as the cause of the world and explains the relation between cause and effect, creation, divine agency, and the problem of inequality and suffering. Adhyāya II — Pāda II: Refutes rival philosophical systems, including Sāṃkhya, Vaiśeṣika atomism, Buddhist theories, Jaina doctrine, and other views concerning the origin and nature of the world.