संबन्धानुपपत्तेश्च ॥ ३८ ॥
saṃbandhānupapatteśca || 38 ||
saṃbandha-anupapatteḥ—Because relation is not possible; ca—and.
38. And because relation (between the Lord and the Pradhana or the souls) is not possible.
As the Lord is devoid of parts, and so also the Pradhana and the souls, there can be no conjunction between the Lord and them, and consequently they cannot be ruled by Him. Neither can the relation be one of inherence, which subsists between entities inseparably connected as whole and part, substance and attributes, etc. This difficulty does not arise in the case of the Vedantins, firstly because the relation is inexpressible identity (Tadatmya) and secondly because they depend on the Srutis for their authority and so are not expected to base their reasoning entirely on observed facts, as the opponents have to.