वेदवेदान्तसिद्धान्तस्थितयः स्थितिकारणम् । निर्णीयन्ते विचारेण दीपेन च भुवो निशि ॥ ३९ ॥
vēdavēdāntasiddhāntasthitayaḥ sthitikāraṇam | nirṇīyantē vicārēṇa dīpēna ca bhuvō niśi || 39 ||
Translation
The settled teachings of the Vedas and the Vedānta, the ground of firm standing, are determined by inquiry, as the things on the ground are made out at night by a lamp.
Word by word
- vēda
- of the Vedas
- vēdānta
- and the Vedānta
- siddhānta
- the settled
- sthitayaḥ
- teachings
- sthiti
- of firm standing
- kāraṇam
- the ground
- nirṇīyantē
- are determined
- vicārēṇa
- by inquiry
- dīpēna
- by a lamp
- ca
- and
- bhuvō
- (bhuvaḥ) the things on the ground
- niśi
- at night
Meaning
The commentary takes the teachings as the dharma that is the essence of the Veda, and the truth of Brahman that is the conclusion of the Vedānta. These are the means to the human goal, and they too are settled by inquiry. This does not set reasoning above scripture. A lamp does not make the pot in the dark room; it shows what is there. Inquiry shows what the scripture says.