Chapter Two (द्वितीयोऽध्यायः॥)
श्रौतस्मृतिविरुद्धत्वात् स्मृतयो न गुणान् हरेः। निषेद्धुं शक्नुयुर्वेदा नित्यत्वान्मानमुत्तमम् ॥१॥
The Smṛti texts cannot deny Hari’s qualities, because such denial would contradict Śruti and Smṛti. Because of their eternality, the Vedas are the highest authority. (1)
देवतावचनादापो वदन्तीत्यादिकं वचः । नायुक्तवाद्यसन्नैव कारणं दृश्यते क्वचित् ॥२॥
Statements such as “the waters speak” are not unreasonable, since the speech is that of the presiding deity. Non-being is never observed anywhere as a cause. (2)
असज्जीवप्रधानादिशब्दा ब्रह्मैव नापरम्। वदन्ति कारणत्वेन क्वापि पूर्णगुणो हरिः ॥३॥
Wherever words such as “non-being,” “the individual self,” and “primordial matter” are used to denote the cause, they designate Brahman alone and nothing else. Hari possesses all attributes in their fullness. (3)
स्वातन्त्र्यात् सर्वकर्तृत्वान्नायुक्तं तद्वदेच्छ्रुतिः। भ्रान्तिमूलतया सर्वसमयानामयुक्तितः॥४॥
न तद्विरोधाद्वचनं वैदिकं शङ्क्यतां व्रजेत्। आकाशादिसमस्तं च तज्जं तेनैव लीयते ॥५॥
Because of His independence and His being the maker of all, it is not unreasonable for scripture to speak thus. Since all other systems are rooted in error and are therefore untenable, a Vedic statement should not be considered doubtful merely because it conflicts with them. Everything beginning with space is born from Him and is dissolved by Him alone. (4–5)
सोऽनुत्पत्तिलयः कर्ता जीवः तद्वशगः सदा। तदाभासो हरिः सर्वरूपेष्वपि समः सदा ॥६॥
He is the creator, without origination or dissolution. The jīva, His reflection, the semblance, is always subject to Him. Hari is eternally the same in all His forms. (6)
मुख्यप्राणश्चेन्द्रियाणि देहश्चैव तदुद्भवाः। मुख्यप्राणवशे सर्वं स विष्णोर्वशगः सदा ॥७॥
The chief vital breath, the senses, and indeed the body arise from Him. Everything is under the control of the chief vital breath, while he is always subject to the control of Viṣṇu. (7)
सर्वदोषोज्झितः तस्माद् भगवान् पुरुषोत्तमः। उक्ता गुणाश्चाविरुद्धास्तस्य वेदेन सर्वशः ॥८॥
Therefore, Bhagavān, the Supreme Person, is free from all defects; and the qualities stated of Him in the Veda are free from contradiction in every respect. (8)
॥इति द्वितीयोऽध्यायः॥
Thus ends the second chapter.
