MANDUKYA UPANISHAD with GAUDAPADA’S KARIKA: 31 - Swami Advayananda.

===================================================================================

Saturday 10, Aug 2024, 06:15.
MANDUKYA UPANISHAD 
GAUDAPADA’S KARIKA
Agama Prakarana – “The Scriptural Treatise”

=================================================================================

GAUDAPADA’S KARIKA:  PART 4/4:   ALAATA-SHANTI PRAKARANA (100 mantras): Quenching the Firebrand:
The SANKHYANS Refuted:
Karika Section 4.3:   
Mantras - 14-23 (10 No.) 
Mantram- 4.15: The Vedantin’s Reply to the Meemamsakas  
Post-31.

===================================================================================

Mantram- 4.15: The Vedantin’s Reply to the Meemamsakas : 

1 

Hetoh phalam aadih yeshaam, = “The effect is the origin of the cause”, 

2 

aadih hetuh phalasya cha; =  and, “The cause is the origin of the effect”;  

3 

tathaa janma bhavet teshaam, = According to this logic, birth will be like this: 

4 

putraat janma pituh yathaa. = Out of his son, the father is born! 

=====================================================================================

1-2

 We remind ourselves that we are dealing with the Meemamsakas’ view. In 

comparison to this view, that of the Sankhyans and Nyayayikas (which we have already dealt 

with in the previous section) is different. They say that the cause can never be the same as 

the effect, and the effect never the same as the cause. The Meemamsakas are saying 

something very different: they say the cause produces the effect, and the effect produces 

the cause (the First and Second Statements). 

3

 The Vedantin’s immediate reaction to the Meemamsakas is that their statements 

are a complete impossibility. Actions in themselves are inert. They do not have any 

sentiency in them. They need a sentient power behind them. So they cannot be depended 

on for anything. They cannot produce any results on their own. Besides, even the performer 

of the actions, the ‘Doer’, i.e. the individual concerned, has no power over the results of his 

actions. The results are determined by the Lord, who is the only Power that can determine 

them, taking all variables into account. The individual has no knowledge of these. 

4

 In what way is the Meemamsakas statements impossible? It is like saying that “the 

father is born from his son!” This is a strong reaction brom the Vedantin to the statements, 

and fully justified, as we shall soon see. 

=======================================================================================

Next

Mantram - 4.16: Cause & Effect – Sequential or Simultaneous 

Continued

===========================================================================================