What is the difference between the associated and inherent qualities of God?

[An online spiritual discussion was conducted on March 21, 2021, in which several devotees participated. The questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]

[Smt. Anita Renkuntla asked: Pādanamskāram Swami! You said that the God’s ability to create, maintain and destroy His creation are only His associated qualities (taṭastha lakṣaṇas) but not His inherent qualities (svarūpa lakṣaṇas). Can You please explain this a little more? At Your lotus feet, Anita Renkuntla.]

Swāmi replied: If somebody asks you, “Who is the builder of this palace?”, you will tell the name of the builder. But you will probably not be able to describe any inherent quality of the builder like his height, colour etc. The name of the person is only an associated quality (taṭastha lakṣaṇam) of the builder, which indicates the person who is the builder. But if you even describe the personal identity marks of the person like his height, colour etc., then you are describing his inherent qualities (svarūpa lakṣaṇas). In the Brahma Sūtras, the enquiry as to who God is, begins with the first Brahma Sūtram. However, the second sūtram only describes God as the builder of the universe. This information provided is only an associated quality. It does not give any information about the inherent nature of God. Since God is unimaginable, the knowledge of any inherent quality of God is impossible.

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