2.3.18
Brahma Sūtra / Adhyāya 2 / 2.3.18
नात्मा श्रुतेर् नित्यत्वाच् च ताभ्यः
nātmā śruter nityatvāc ca tābhyaḥ
The line
Not the self, because of because of scripture, of scripture, because of a compound: eternal, and the state of being that and, tābhya (ताभ्य).
Where it sits
In Brahma Sūtra (सूत्र), adhyāya (अध्याय) 2. Avirodha. The teaching does not collide with reasoning, or with the other systems, in the way an objector claims. The words of this line are the ones to keep. A shorter line after this one may leave them unsaid.
Split: na (न) + ātmā (आत्मा) + śruteḥ (श्रुतेः) + nitya-tvāt (नित्य-त्वात्) + ca (च) + tābhyaḥ (ताभ्यः)
Sanskrit, in depth
The words
| Word | Grammar | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| na (न) | indeclinable | not |
| ātmā (आत्मा) | nominative singular, masculine | the self |
| śruteḥ (श्रुतेः) | ablative or genitive singular | because of scripture, of scripture |
| nitya-tvāt (नित्य-त्वात्) | ablative singular | a compound: eternal, and the state of being that. Read it from the end |
| ca (च) | indeclinable | and |
| tābhyaḥ (ताभ्यः) | nominative singular, masculine | tābhya (ताभ्य) |
The phrases
na (न) is not. It stands as indeclinable. ātmā (आत्मा) is the self. It stands as nominative singular, masculine. The line joins them as nātmā (नात्मा). śruteḥ (श्रुतेः) is because of scripture, of scripture. It stands as ablative or genitive singular. The line writes it śruter (श्रुतेर्).
nitya-tvāt (नित्य-त्वात्) is a compound: eternal, and the state of being that. Read it from the end. It stands as ablative singular. The line writes it nityatvāc (नित्यत्वाच्). ca (च) is and. It stands as indeclinable. tābhyaḥ (ताभ्यः) is tābhya (ताभ्य). It stands as nominative singular, masculine.
Sanskrit in this line
nitya-tvāt (नित्य-त्वात्) is one compound. The hyphen is a teaching mark. Only the last member wears the case. The line joins them as nātmā (नात्मा). The line writes it śruter (श्रुतेर्). The line writes it nityatvāc (नित्यत्वाच्).
Say it back
Cover the English. Gloss ātmā (आत्मा) and śruteḥ (श्रुतेः).