The effect is no other than the cause, so this (world) is entirely non-existent;
How can the non-existent rise up? How from not rising up, dissolution?
Commentary
The sage unifies cause and effect by seeing them together, and says this world is entirely non-existent. This is because only the Self-Absolute exists. Sankaracharya in his commentary on the Brahma Sutra (II.1.14) also declares that cause and effect are not different, pointing out that this manifold moving world has no existence apart from the Absolute. The Sambhandavartika (verse 352) declares, "Even viewing cause and effect, the effect is not any other than the cause, and there is no specification in reality like the bracelet, etc. into gold."