The Vedānta-Sūtras with the Commentary of Rāmānuja, Part III

Introduction: Explains the importance of Rāmānuja’s commentary as a major theistic Vedānta interpretation of the Vedānta-Sūtras. It also discusses the methodological distinction between philosophical judgment and critical interpretation of the sūtras. Adhyāya I — Pāda I: Establishes the enquiry into Brahman. Rāmānuja rejects the view of Brahman as pure undifferentiated consciousness and presents Brahman as the supreme personal reality possessing infinite auspicious qualities. Adhyāya I — Pāda II: Interprets various Upaniṣadic passages as referring to Brahman, emphasizing Brahman as the inner ruler, supreme Self, and ultimate ground of all beings. Adhyāya I — Pāda III: Continues the identification of Brahman in difficult scriptural passages and clarifies the relation between Brahman, individual selves, and meditative objects. Adhyāya I — Pāda IV: Defends Brahman as the cause of the world and rejects interpretations that assign ultimate causality to non-conscious principles. Adhyāya II — Pāda I: Replies to philosophical objections against Brahman as cause, addressing creation, divine agency, inequality, suffering, and the relation between Brahman and the world. Adhyāya II — Pāda II: Refutes rival philosophical systems and competing doctrines concerning causality, selfhood, matter, and liberation. Adhyāya II — Pādas III–IV: Discusses the origin of the elements, the individual soul, agency, embodiment, the vital airs, and the relation between the soul and Brahman. Adhyāya III — Pādas I–IV: Treats the soul’s journey after death, rebirth, meditation, the unity and difference of vidyās, spiritual discipline, works, renunciation, devotion, and eligibility for Brahman-knowledge. Adhyāya IV — Pādas I–IV: Presents the fruit of knowledge and devotion, the process of departure at death, the path of the gods, liberation, non-return, and the final state of the released soul in relation to Brahman.