It is reasonable to assume that in passages such as 'From that Self
there sprang Ether.' the origination of Ether is not to be taken in its
literal sense; for according to the Chândogya-text 'it sent forth fire.'
Brahman engaged in creation first produces fire, and fire thus having
the first place, the text cannot possibly mean to say that Ether also
was produced. Moreover, there is another text, viz.'Vâyu and antariksha
(i.e. Ether), this is the Immortal,' according to which Ether is
immortal, i. e. non-produced.--But how can one and the same word viz. it
'sprang' (i.e. originated), be taken in a metaphorical sense with
reference to Ether, and in its literal sense with reference to fire, and
so on?--To this the next Sûtra replies.
4. There may be (a double sense) of the one (word), as in the case of
the word 'Brahman.'
Since in the clause 'from that Self there sprang Brahman,' the word
'sprang' cannot be taken in its literal senbe, it may be used there in a
secondary sense; while the same word as connected with the subsequent
clauses 'from Vâyu Agni,' &c., may have its primary sense. This would be
analogous to the use of the word Brahman in Mu. Up. I, 1. There in the
clause 'From him is born that Brahman, name, form, and matter' (9). the
word _Brahman_ is used in a secondary sense, i.e. denotes the Pradhâna;
while in the same chapter, in the clause 'Brahman swells by means of
brooding' (8), the same word denotes Brahman in its primary sense. It is
true indeed that in this latter case the word 'Brahman' occurs twice;
while in the Taitt. text the word 'sambhûta' occurs once only, and has
to be carried over from the first clause into the subsequent ones; but
this makes no difference, for, in the case of such carrying over of a
word, no less than in the case of actual repetition, the general
denotation of the word is repeated.--The next Sûtra refutes this
objection.
5. The non-abandonment of the promissory statement (results) from non-
difference.
It is not appropriate to assume, from deference to the Chândogya-text, a
secondary meaning for those other texts also which declare Ether to have
originated. For the Chândogyaitself virtually admits the origination of
Ether; in so far, namely, as the clause 'that by which the non-heard is
heard,' &c., declares that through the knowledge of Brahman everything
is known. This declaration is not abandoned, i.e. is adhered to, only if
the Ether also is an effect of Brahman and thus non-different from it.