Madhvaon Brahma Sūtra 2.3.11

It is from Brahman that the creation of water, etc., proceeds, as shown by the text, *« Brahman only was in the beginning of this (world); that created water; and (from) that (Brahman) all this (the element Vayu, etc.,) (has come), though the text, ‘From fire, water is produced ’ (Tait II. i), declares otherwise. For the text says, “ From this (Highest Brahman) are produced the Chief of breaths, mind, all organs of senses, ether, air, fire, water, and earth which supports all ” (Ath. II. i. 3), and so on. Indeed Vishnu is beyond doubt the only one who is the author of all; for the very existence, etc., of all other things depend wholly on His decree.” (Bhavishyat Purana). And the Vamana Purana has “Vishnu (the all-pervading Lord) who abides in the various things, awakening their various powers, who, being of immeasur- able power, makes everything and single-handed makes it well.” The refutation of this point was here again taken up, as the argument ‘ Water is produced from fire,’ seems to be rather strengthened by the reasoning furnished by the (popular) observation that heat, etc., (high tempera- ture), etc., are followed by sweat, etc. 4‘ They (waters) mused, * may we become many, may we produce many ; ’ they produced Anna (Ch. VI. 2).” In this text, the production of Anna is declared to be from water. In some other text, the production of earth is said to proceed from water, as in “ From water, earth ” (Tait II. x). From this contradiction (if not explained) scripture would lose its authoritativeness. Wherefore the Sutrakara says :