The Meaning Of The Badarayana's Aphorism The Scripture Being Its Womb

 - Here the word womb means a source of knowledge. Accordingly the aphorism means that revelation is the only source of knowledge concerning Brahman

- The course of reasoning embodied in the section wherein this aphorism is comprised may be briefly stated as follows:

- The question at issue is Is Brahman known only by the Vedas, or is there any other source of knowledge? It would at first appear that Brahman can be known by other means 

- Also, inasmuch as all things that already exist such as the pot unlike acts which are intended to bring about results that do not already exist

- can be known by other means, such as pratyaksha or immediate perception. But the truth is that Brahman cannot be known by any other means of knowledge than the Vedas

- As devoid of form, He is not known by pratyaksha - As devoid of attributes which might form marks pointing to His essential nature, He cannot be known by anumana either

- In such passages as "I ask of thee about Him, the Purusha of the Upanishad" it is declared that Brahman can be known only from the Vedas

- The end in view - Thus the question as to the specific theme of the Upanishad has been answered. We shall now proceed to answer the question as to the end in view

- The immediate end is the attainment of a clear knowledge of the main subject under investigation, namely the real nature of the Self as one with the secondless Brahman. And this has been declared in the Brihadaranyaka in the following words