SrI: SrImathE satakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImadh varavaramunayE nama:
sUthram 24
அது ச்ருதிவிருத்தம்.
adhu Sruthi virudhdham.
Meaning: That view is contrary to the Sruthi.
Explanation
In the previous sUthram, the view of the jains was stated – that the soul expands and contracts according to the size of the body and therefore becomes body-sized.
The author now rejects that view.
Why is it rejected?
The jaina position requires the soul to undergo change whenever it enters bodies of different sizes.
An elephant’s body, an ant’s body, and a human body are all different in size. If the soul becomes equal to each of these bodies, it must constantly expand and contract.
This would mean that the soul is subject to modification.
But the Sruthi teaches that the soul is अक्षर (akshara) – unchanging and imperishable. Therefore, the doctrine that the soul changes its size according to the body is opposed to the Sruthi.
Scriptural basis
The commentator explains that the relevant Sruthi here is one which establishes the soul’s निर्विकारत्व (nirvikArathva).
For example:
अमृताक्षरं हरः [SvEthASvathara upanishadh]
(amruthAksharam hara:)
This teaches that the soul is अक्षर (akshara), free from change and decay.
Since the jaina doctrine requires change in the soul, it stands opposed to this teaching.
Additional Sruthi References
Some commentators also cite the following passages against the doctrine that the soul is body-sized:
एषोऽणुरात्मा [muNdaka upanishadh]
(EshO’Nur AthmA)
“This self is atomic.”
And: [SvEthASvathara upanishadh]
बालाग्रशतभागस्य शतधा कल्पितस्य च ।
भागो जीवः स विज्ञेयः ॥
(bAlAgra Satha bhAgasya SathadhA kalpithasya cha |
bhAgO jIva: sa vigyEya: ||)
“The jIva should be understood as being comparable to one part of a hundredth part of the tip of a hair, further divided a hundred times.”
Such passages establish the soul’s minuteness and therefore contradict the view that it expands and contracts according to the body.
adiyen vAsudhEva rAmAnuja dhAsan
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