VEDĀNTA-SŪTRA or Brahma-Sūtra, Skt.; scholars have set the date of origin of this sūtra variously between 400 B.C.E. and 200 C.E. The Indologist Max Müller held it to be older than the Bhagavad-Gītā. Scholars are also at variance regarding the work’s author. Many point to Vyāsa, others to Bādarāyana, and still others believe that these two are the same person. In any event, the author has summarized in this work, which forms the basis of Vedānta philosophy, the insights and revelations concerning brahman and ātman that are scattered throughout the Upanishads. The alternate name, Brahma-Sūtra, refers to the fact that brahman is its central topic.
The Vedānta Sūtra consists of 555 fragments, most comprising no more than two or three words, which are unintelligible without explanation. Hence numerous commentaries exist, the most important of which are by Shankara, Rāmānuja, Bhāskara, Nimbārka, Madhva, and Vallabha.
The author of the sūtra accepts two views of brahman: (1) brahman understood as absolute, impersonal intelligence (Nirvishesha, chinmātra); (2) brahman viewed as a personal god (savishesha). It is not apparent from the sūtra how the author reconciles these two views; the sūtra merely assures us, calling upon the shruti as its basis, that brahman has itself become the universe and yet remains transcendent, which explains how it could serve as a basis for each of the various directions of Vedānta, from Advaita to Dvaita-Vedānta. The work is divided into four chapters. The first covers the theory of brahman as the central reality; the second replies to objections against this position and criticizes the theories of opponents; the third indicates ways and means to attain knowledge of brahman; the fourth discusses the fruits or effects of this knowledge.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Documents on Vedānta-Sūtras
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External Links: Vedanta / Brahma-Sūtras