• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

The First Book of the SRI-SAFSANDARBHA Tdtion& Commentary Satya Niirliyana D&a Kundali DIsa L-P- -- -- Srila Prabhupada has often glorified Srila Jiva Gosvami for h is wonderful accomplishment-SH-sad-~andahha (Thesix Essences) In the Caitanya-caritamrta he writes: False devotees, lacking the conclusion of-tran- scendental knowledge, think that artificially shedding tears will deliver them. Similarly, other false devotees think that studying books of the previous Bcaryas is unadvisable, like studying dry empiric philosophies. But srila Jiva Gosvami, following the previous acaryas, has inculcated the conclusions of the scriptures in the six theses called the Sat-sandarbhas. False devotees who have very little knowledge of such conclusions fail to achieve pure devotion for want of zeal in accepting the favorable di- rections for devotional service given by self- - realized devotees. Such false devotees are like impersonalists, who also consider devotional service no better than ordinary fruitive actions. Here hila Prabhupada asserts that the conclusions of the scriptures are in the Sat-Sandarbhas. Devotees eager to be fortified with these conclusions will there- fore pay close attention to the presentation of the Sandarbhas in English, complete with illuminating com- mentary on the words of ~rilaJiva Gosvami. Such scrutinizing study is especially cherished by devotees who are dedicated to the preaching mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.Today, sadly, even among those in the direct line of Jiva Gosvami, study of the Sandarbhas is neglected. ~rilaPrabhupada, however, before embarking on his mission to bring Krsna.. con- l sciousness to the Western world, prepared himself by studying the Sat-Sandarbhas and has encouraged his followers to do the same. 7 Sri Tattva-Sandarbha is the first of among them rima ad-~h~gavatam is the supreme. It is the essence of the the Six Sanda&has. For ease of com- Vedas because it is based on the prehension these six treatises may be GayatrTmantra and is the natural com- listed as follows: mentary on the Vedanta-sutras. 1. Tattva-Sandarbha ~rilaJiva Gosvami explains (Discourses on Truth) Srimad-~hagavatamas it is. To this 2. Bhagavata-Sandarbha end he uses a flawless technique, one (Discourses on God) that leaves no room to doubt the va- 3. Paramatma-Sandarbha lidity of his conclusions. First he has (Discourses on the Absolute) us consider the heart of the original writer, ~rilaVyasadeva, and the heart 4. Krsna-Sandarbha.m- (Discourses on Krsna) of the speakers, ~ukadevaand SOta Gosvamis. In light of that he analyzes 5. Bhakti-Sandarbha . (Discourses on Devotional Service) the Bhagavatam incontrovertibly es- 6. Priti-Sandarbha tablishing the purpose of this topmost (Discourses on Love) pramana. During this analysis Sri ~iva soundly refutes the impersonalism of In these six discourses ~rilaJiva ~arikaracaryawith logic and scriptural Gosvami systematically presents the references. conclusions of the Gaudiya Vaisnava. Other highlights of Sri Tattva- philosophy known as acintyabheda- Sandarbha are: The characteristics of bheda tattva. In Tattva-Sandarbha he the atma are explained; Buddhism is lays the foundation for his presenta- refuted; the soul is established as tion of the other Sandarbhas by es- conscious, bternal, unchanging, and tablishing the Gaudiya Vaisnava. epis- distinct from the body; an analysis of temology, or means of knowledge. He the ten topics of rima ad-~hagavatam proves that for the student interested as enumerated by ~ukadevaand SOta in knowledge of the Absolute Truth, Gosvamis to show the harmony be- which is beyond sense perception and tween these two foremost authorities mental speculation, the valid means on the Bhagavatam; and that the real to get knowledge is by sabda- purpose of the Bhagavatam is to ex- brahman and that the Vedas are the plain Lord Krsna... supreme pramana (proof). Altogether, ~ri~attva-~andarbha He then explains the practical dif- has sixty-three anucchedas, or sec- ficulties in understanding the Vedas, and establishes that study of the tions. Out of these the first eight Puranas is the solution, for they are verses are invocatory. Sections nine as good as the Vedas, indeed they are to twen ty-eight discuss Bhagavata the fifth Veda. Then by process of epistemology. Section twenty-nine to elimination he shows that among the the end explain prameya, or what ,is Puranas only sattvika Puranas give the knowable object of knowledge. clear knowledge of the Absolute and (continued) SWAINSTITUTE FOR VAXS~AVA., STUDIF! TATTVA-SANDARBHA The First Book of the Sri Bhagavata-Sandarbha also known as Agtottara-sata Sri- rima ad ~rilaJiva Gosvami Prabhupada Translation and Commentary Sri Satya Narayana dasa Head of Sanskrit Dept. Bhaktk&nta SW- International Gurdda,Vmd&ana .Sri Kundali. dasa Sri Gopipariinadhana dLa Sanskrit Editor Sri Dravida d&a Sri Karma-rfipa diisa English Editors L Interested readers are invited to correspond with the publishers at this address: JWAINSTITUTE FOR VAISNAVASTUDIES Sri-Sri Krsna-Balarama Mandir Ramana Reti, Vmdavana Mathura Dist., U.P., 281 124 India Telephone: 91 -565-442904 F=: 91 - 129-295547 - E.Mail: Snd e jiva-ernet-in . C' (O Copyright 1995 JIVAS All rights reserved Printed at Rekha Printers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 110 020 I sandarbha yena nadhita stasya bhagavate Sramah sandarbha yena cadhita nasti bhagavate bhramah Without studying the Sat-Sandarbhas one must struggle to understand the message of the ~firnad-~hagavatamand he still may not succeed. One who has studied the Sat-Sandarbha, however, will have no mis- givings about the essence of the &/mad- Bhagavatam. I would first like to offer my sincere respects to my teacher His Holiness ~astriMaharaja, who explained the esoteric meaning and importance of the Sandabhas to me without inhibition. With- out his doing so, I would not have dared to make this effort. Although he has many other important affairs, he saw to it that ' my classes went on without interruption. By his blessings, guid- ance, and well-wishes I am able to venture on this project. I always seek the guidance and blessings of this exceptional Vaisnava. scholar. My sincere thanks to rima an Kundali Prabhu who not only worked laboriously to help me shape the book through its many successive drafts but also helped with many managerial and practical aspects of the project. I pray that he will always give me his association. His grace KUrma ROpa Prabhu keyed in the handwritten manu- script, did the layout, design, and index. I am grateful to him for his kind help. Kundali Prabhu and Kurma ROpa Prabhu are like two pillars supporting the Sandarbha edifice. Coincidentally, Kundali. is also a name of ~esa,who supports the universe on His many heads, and KOrma is the name of the tortoise incar- nation who supported the Mandara mountain used for churning the ocean to extract nectar. , My deep regards go to His Holiness Dhanurdhara Swami, Principal of the Bhaktivedanta Swami International Gurukula, Vmdavana for supporting me in my studies. I thank Sri Purusottama Dasa for editing the Devanagari and Pundarika Vidyanidhi Dasa for proofreading. Two of my students Jalandhar and Nandu helped me in a variety of ways for which I thank them. I pray that they will grow into scholarly devotees and continue rendering service to the movement of Lord Caitanya. Finally, I would like to thank my many friends and well-wish- ers whose names are not included, but to whom I am indebted for their practical and moral support. Satya Narayana Dasa vraja-bhaktireva vedantah Sri-gaura eva radhakantah pracariti yena siddhantah ratvidam mudari, tasya svantah Devotional service to Lord Krsna in the mood of the residents of Vraja is the ultimate conclusion of all the Vedas and Vedic literature. Lord Krsna, the sweetheart of ~rimatiRadharani, the supreme heroine of Vraja, is Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. To the one who vigorously preached His philosophy, His Divine Grace ~rila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, may he be so pleased with this work that he feels ecstasy in his heart. Contents Preface ............................................................................... xi Mangalacarana ..................................................................xv 1nt roduct ion ..................................................................... XVII.m Invocation One ................................................................... 1 Invocation Two ................................................................... 6 Invocaton Three .................................................................. 8 The Source of Sri Sat-Sandarbha. ..................................... 9 Homage to Sri Gopala Bhatta. Gosvami ........................... 10 Qualifications of the Reader ................................. ............ 11 Homage to the Teachers ................................................... 13 The Essence of Sri Sat-Sandarbha .................................. 14 Vaisnava Epistemology ....................................................17 The Vedas Are the Original Source of Knowledge .......... 27 The Authority of the Vedas ...............................................35 Difficulties in Studying the Vedas .................................... 39 The Rihasas and Puranas Are Vedic ................................ 46 The Iti hasas and Puranas Are the Fifth Veda .................. 52 Origin of the ltihasas, Puranas. and Vedas is the Same .57 The Compiler of the ltihasas and Puranas is Unique ..... 63 Three Divisions of the Puranas .......................................

Load more

  452

Copy Link