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奥义书 · Sarasvatīrahasya 4.16
॥
天城文
सात्विकत्वात्समष्टित्वात्साक्षित्वाज्जगतामपि । जगत्कर्तुमकर्तुं वा चान्यथा कर्तुमीशते
转写 (IAST)
sātvikatvātsamaṣṭitvātsākṣitvājjagatāmapi | jagatkartumakartuṃ vā cānyathā kartumīśate
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सात्त्विकत्वात् समष्टित्वात्sāttvikatvāt samaṣṭitvātby clarity, by totality
साक्षित्वात् जगताम् अपिsākṣitvāt jagatām apiby witness-hood, even to the worlds
जगत् कर्तुम् अ-कर्तुं वाjagat kartum a-kartuṃ vāto create the world, not to create it
च अन्यथा कर्तुम् ईशतेca anyathā kartum īśateor to create it otherwise — he is capable
译文
By clarity, by totality, and by witness-hood to the worlds as well, he is capable of creating the world, of not creating it, or of creating it otherwise.
版本
24c6a78321e9 · 发布于 2026年8月12日 05:00:00 UTC
可用语言RUEN用方向键翻颂
A definition of omnipotence is given, and it is technical: kartum akartum anyathā kartum, "to do, not to do, or to do otherwise." This formula is standard in Vedānta and denotes complete freedom: not only to act, but also to refrain, and to act differently. The definition is precise, and it is worth keeping, for it resolves an old difficulty.
If the omnipotent can only act, he is bound by a necessity to act; freedom begins where he can also refrain. The Vaiṣṇava side accepts this definition fully and states her own in the same way: sarva-śaktimān, "possessing all powers." Let us add what she adds to this and what distinguishes her.
If He can refrain from creating, then creation is not a necessity but a choice; and the question "why did He create?" becomes legitimate. Her answer was cited when reading the Kṛṣṇa-upaniṣad: loka-vat tu līlā-kaivalyam, "as in the world, [creation is] mere play" (Vedānta-sūtra 2.1.33). That is, creation is explained not by need or duty, but by play; and this explanation, to my mind, is the only one under which the omnipotent remains free.
Let us add the word sākṣitva, "witness-hood": he is called a witness of the worlds. A witness is one who looks and does not intervene; and the joining of witness and creator is precisely what was discussed when reading the Varāha (3.14): action is attributed to presence.