Chapter Two (द्वितीयोऽध्यायः॥)
śrautasmr̥tiviruddhatvāt smr̥tayō na guṇān harēḥ। niṣēddhuṁ śaknuyurvēdā nityatvānmānamuttamam ॥1॥
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)
dēvatāvacanādāpō vadantītyādikaṁ vacaḥ । nāyuktavādyasannaiva kāraṇaṁ dr̥śyatē kvacit ॥2॥
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)
asajjīvapradhānādiśabdā brahmaiva nāparam। vadanti kāraṇatvēna kvāpi pūrṇaguṇō hariḥ ॥3॥
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)
svātantryāt sarvakartr̥tvānnāyuktaṁ tadvadēcchrutiḥ। bhrāntimūlatayā sarvasamayānāmayuktitaḥ॥4॥
na tadvirōdhādvacanaṁ vaidikaṁ śaṅkyatāṁ vrajēt। ākāśādisamastaṁ ca tajjaṁ tēnaiva līyatē ॥5॥
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)
sō’nutpattilayaḥ kartā jīvaḥ tadvaśagaḥ sadā। tadābhāsō hariḥ sarvarūpēṣvapi samaḥ sadā ॥6॥
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)
mukhyaprāṇaścēndriyāṇi dēhaścaiva tadudbhavāḥ। mukhyaprāṇavaśē sarvaṁ sa viṣṇōrvaśagaḥ sadā ॥7॥
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)
sarvadōṣōjjhitaḥ tasmād bhagavān puruṣōttamaḥ। uktā guṇāścāviruddhāstasya vēdēna sarvaśaḥ ॥8॥
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)
॥iti dvitīyō’dhyāyaḥ॥
Thus ends the second chapter.
