On account of thinking (being attributed to the First Cause by the scriptures, the Pradhana ) is not (the First Cause referred to by them); it (Pradhana) is not based on the scriptures.

If it be said (that ‘thinking’) is used in a secondary sense (with regard to Sat); (we say) not so, because of the word ‘Self’ (by which the First Cause is referred to in the scriptures).

(That Pradhana cannot be designated by the word ‘Self’ is established) because Liberation is declared to one who is devoted to that Sat (the First Cause).

And because it is not stated (by the scriptures) that It (Sat) has to be abandoned, (Pradhana cannot be denoted by the word ‘Sat’).

On account of (the individual soul) merging in its own Self (or the universal Self referred to as the Sat, in deep sleep, the Pradhana cannot be denoted by the word ‘Self’).

Because (all the Vedanta texts) uniformly refer to (an intelligent principle as the First Cause, Brahman is to be taken as that Cause).

(The all-knowing Brahman alone is the First Cause of this world) because (it is so known directly) from the Vedas also.