Brahma-sutra-bhashya

work by Shankara

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The Brahma-sutra-bhashya is a seminal commentary by the philosopher Shankara on the Brahma-sutras, a foundational text of Vedanta philosophy. Shankara, a key figure in the Advaita school, argued that ultimate reality is a single, unchanging essence called brahman, and that the perceived world of multiplicity is an illusion (maya).123

His philosophy posits that the individual self (atman) is identical to brahman, and liberation (moksha) is achieved through the realization of this non-dual identity, dispelling ignorance. Shankara developed a theory of error to explain how false appearances arise from brahman due to ignorance (avidya). He emphasized ethical discipline and scriptural study as prerequisites for this profound realization.41

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Shankara
Later life and thought
His masterpiece is the Brahma-sutra-bhashya, the commentary (bhashya) on the Brahma-sutra, which is a fundamental text of the Vedanta school. The commentaries on the principal Upanishads that are attributed to Shankara are certainly all genuine, with the possible exception of the commentary on the Shvetashvatara Upanishad. The commentary on…
Read More
His masterpiece is the Brahma-sutra-bhashya, the commentary (bhashya) on the Brahma-sutra, which is a fundamental text of the Vedanta school. The commentaries on the principal Upanishads that are attributed to Shankara are certainly all genuine, with the possible exception of the commentary on the Shvetashvatara Upanishad. The commentary on…
Read More