1.3.20
Brahma Sūtra / Adhyāya 1 / 1.3.20
अल्पश्रुतेरिति चेत् तदुक्तम्
alpaśruter iti cet tad uktam
The line
If you say the text calls him small, that has already been answered.
नेपालीमा
यदि पाठले उसलाई सानो भन्छ भन्छौ भने, त्यसको उत्तर पहिले नै दिइसकिएको छ।
Where it sits
tat points back to the reply in 1.2.7, nicāyyatva (निचाय्यत्व) and vyomavat. The subject is still daharaḥ (दहरः) of 1.3.13. This is the last objection of the small-space group proper.
Split: alpa-śruteḥ (अल्प-श्रुतेः) + iti (इति) + cet (चेत्) + tat (तत्) + uktam (उक्तम्)
Sanskrit, in depth
The words
| Word | Grammar | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| alpa-śruteḥ (अल्प-श्रुतेः) | ablative singular, feminine | because of the text that says small |
| iti (इति) | indeclinable | thus |
| cet (चेत्) | indeclinable | if |
| tat (तत्) | nominative singular, neuter | that |
| uktam (उक्तम्) | nominative singular, neuter | already said |
The phrases
The objection's last try: the text says small, alpa, dahara, a lotus one can picture. A small thing is the soul, or a small space of the element. śruti (श्रुति) is the hearing of that word.
tat uktam: that has been said. The answer was given when minuteness came up for the self in the heart. He is to be regarded as small, and he is like space, and the same text says greater. The answer is not rebuilt.
Sanskrit in this line
śruteḥ (श्रुतेः) is ablative of śruti (श्रुति), feminine. uktam is the past participle of vac, neuter, agreeing with tat. cet before tat is cet, t before t staying.
Say it back
Point back, by memory, to the grain of rice and to space. Do not invent a new answer.
Next
1.3.21. They are said to imitate him, which fits Brahman (ब्रह्मन्).