दर्शयति च, अथो अपि स्मर्यते ॥ १७ ॥
darśayati ca, atho api smaryate || 17 ||
darśayati—(Scripture) shows; ca—also; atho—thus; api—also; smaryate—(it is) stated by the Smritis.
17. (The scripture) also shows (this, and) thus also (is it) stated by the Smritis.
That Brahman is without any attributes is also proved by the fact that the Sruti teaches about It by denying all characteristics to It. “Now therefore the description (of Brahman): ‘Not this, not this.’ Because there is no other and more appropriate description than this ‘Not this’” (Brih. 2 . 3. 6). If Brahman had form, then it would be established by such texts, and there would be no necessity to deny everything and say ‘Not this, not this’. So also the Smritis teach about Brahman: “The Highest Brahman without either beginning or end, which cannot be said either to be or not to be” (Gita 13. 12); “It is unmanifest, unthinkable, and without modification, thus is It spoken of” (Gita 2. 25).