Sri Bhagavat Sandarbha - God His Qualities, Abode and Associates Satyanarayana Dasa Babaji

1176 Pages·0196.156 MB·English

by  Satyanarayana Dasa Babaji

SRI BHAGAVAT SANDARBHA
God — His Qualities, Abode and Associates
Srila Jiva Gosvami
Sanskrit Text with English Translation
and JIva-tosanI Commentary
SATYANARAYANA DASA
m
iv a
Jiva Institute of
Vaishnava Studies
Vrindavan
hastamalakavat-tattvarh srimad-bhagavatasya yah
darsayamasajivebhyas tam sri-jiva-prabhurh numah
We bow down to Srila JIva Gosvami Prabhupada who revealed the
essential meaning of Srimad Bhagavatam to the people of the world
just as plainly as one would display an amalaki fruit kept on one’s
palm.
Sandarbha yena nadhitas tasya bhagavate sramah
Sandarbha yena cadhita nasti bhagavate bhramah
One who has not undergone comprehensive study of Sat Sandarbhas
must struggle to assimilate the message of Srimad Bhagavatam. One
who has studied Sat Sandarbhas, however, will have no misgivings
about the essential meaning of Srimad Bhagavatam.
Contents at a Glance
Introduction................................................................................. xv
Dedication.........................................................................................xxvii
I Sri Bhagavat Sandarbha l
Mangalacarana............................................................................ 3
Anucchedas 1-102......................................................................... 5
II References 1041
Editors’ Notes............................................................................... 1043
The Language of Transcendence — Key Terms and
Concepts......................................................................................... 1045
Glossary.................... 1059
Abbreviations.............................................................................. 1078
Subject Index................................................................................. 1079
Verse Index................................................................................................ 1115
Bibliography................................................................................. 1149
Acknowledgements.................................................................... 1158
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................. xv
Dedication.........................................................................................xxvii
I Sri Bhagavat Sandarbha 1
Mangalacarana................................................................. 3
1 Absolute Reality Manifests in Three Different
Ways...................................................................................... 5
2 Distinction Between Brahman and Bhagavan.............. 9
3 Bhagavan as the Qualified Absolute.............................. 17
4 Bhagavan Is Narayana........................................................ 35
5 Absolute Reality Manifests in Three Aspects 46
6 The Person Eligible for Brahman Realization.............. 51
7 The Manifestation of Brahman........................................ 65
8 Devotion Is the Means to Bhagavan Realization .... 72
9 Bhagavan Manifests According to the Mood
of the Devotee.................................................................... 74
10 An Example of Bhagavan Realization........................... 77
11 The Characteristics of Bhagavan Are Inherent 121
viii
12 Bhagavan Is the Refuge of Mutually Conflicting
Potencies — I ....................................................................... 126
13 Bhagavan Is the Refuge of Mutually Conflicting
Potencies — I I .................................................................... 129
14 Bhagavan Is the Refuge of Mutually Conflicting
Potencies — III.................................................................... 132
15 Bhagavan’s Potencies Are Inconceivable....................... 134
16 Bhagavan’s Energies Are Intrinsic................................. 138
17 Bhagavan Has Both Conscious and Inert Potencies. . 163
18 Maya’s Two Divisions......................................................... 172
19 The Internal Energy Is the Source of All Action .... 187
20 The Jiva Is Dependent on Bhagavan for His Power
of Cognition......................................................................... 198
21 Maya Is under Bhagavan’s Control................................. 206
22 Maya Is Activated by Bhagavan...................................... 209
23 Threefold Maya Is Real...................................................... 213
24 The Qualities of Bhagavan Are Intrinsic
to His Nature....................................................................... 231
25 Bhagavan’s Attributes Constitute His Essential
Nature.................................................................................... 243
26 Bhagavan’s Attributes Are Eternal................................. 248
27 Bhagavan Is Transcendental to M aya............................ 252
28 Maya Feels Shy to Appear before Bhagavan................. 255
29 Bhagavan’s Body Is Part of His Essential Nature ... . 259
30 Bhagavan’s Body Is Transcendental................................. 268
31 Bhagavan’s Body Is All-pervading.................................... 284
32 Bhagavan’s Form Is Unlimited......................................... 300
ix
33 Bhagavan’s Form Is Not Limited by Material
Elements.............................................................................. 312
34 Bhagavan Is Both within and without
the Universe......................................................................... 316
35 The Universe Is within the Lord’s Belly......................... 321
36 Krsnas Body Is Advaya-brahma...................................... 326
37 Sri Krsna Is the Ultimate Cause...................................... 332
38 Various Avataras of Bhagavan......................................... 337
39 Bhagavan’s Form Is Unlimited......................................... 340
40 Unlimited Forms of Bhagavan Exist within One Form 343
41 The Lord’s Body Contains Everything........................... 359
42 Krsnas Form Can Manifest in Innumerable
Places Simultaneously....................................................... 370
43 Sri Krsna Is the Paramatma — I ...................................... 378
44 Sri Krsna Is the Paramatma — II...................................... 385
45 The Lord’s Body Is Eternal and All-pervading 392
46 Though Invisible, the Lord’s Body Can Be Seen
by His Mercy...................................................................... 405
47 His Name, Form, Actions and Attributes Are
Transcendental................................................................. 413
48 The Lord’s Senses Are Transcendental......................... 476
49 The Lord’s Bodily Limbs Are Non-Material................. 488
50 Contradictory Statements Reconciled............................ 497
51 The Lord’s Form Is the Supreme Absolute Reality... 510
52 Sri Rsabhadeva’s Body Is Transcendental...................... 521
53 Krsnas Body Is Transcendental and Most
Beautiful.............................................................................. 530
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54 Devaki’s Prayer to Sri Krsna.............................................. 534
55 The Partial Expansions of Sri Krsna Are Also
Transcendental................................................................. 539
56 Krsnas Form Is the Ultimate of All That Is to Be
Attained............................................................................... 546
57 Krsna Is Sabdabrahman.................................................... 554
58 Krsnas Body Is the Complete Form of Bhagavan. .. . 557
59 Bhagavan’s Attire and Ornaments Are Part
of His Svarupa.................................................................... 574
60 Bhagavan’s Weapons Belong to His Svarupa................. 579
61 Vaikuntha Is Also Part of Bhagavan’s Svarupa 586
62 Vaikuntha Is beyond the Material World...................... 596
63 No One Falls from Vaikuntha............................................ 600
64 Vaikuntha Is Both beyond Matter and a Place
of No Falldown.................................................................... 636
65 Only Those Free from the Gunas of Nature
Attain Vaikuntha............................................................... 639
66 Vaikuntha Is the Shelter of the Nirguna State 641
67 Vaikuntha Is Eternal........................................................... 644
68 Vaikuntha Surpasses Liberation...................................... 646
69 Vaikuntha Is Sat-cit-ananda — 1...................................... 652
70 Vaikuntha Is Sat-cit-ananda — II................................... 657
71 Vaikuntha Is Not Known to Ritualistic Performers . . 662
72 Dhruvaloka Is Also Transcendental Vaikuntha .... 666
73 Vaikuntha Has Numerous Manifestations.................... 689
74 Vaikuntha Self-Manifests like the Lord’s Body 692
xi
75 Bhagavan’s Associates Are Transcendental
like H im .............................................................................. 696
76 The Lord’s Associates Are like the Lord......................... 700
77 A Devotee’s Highest Aspiration: To Be in the
Company of the Lord’s Associates.................................. 703
78 The Residents of Vaikuntha Are Transcendental
to the Material World....................................................... 706
79 The Threefold Spiritual Manifestation Is Part
of the Internal Potency.................................................... 721
80 The Lord Is the Embodiment of All Human
Attainments......................................................................... 782
81 Bhagavan Is the Most Complete Manifestation
of Brahman......................................................................... 785
82 Atmaramas Render Service to Bhagavan...................... 798
83 Bhagavan Realization Is the Highest Rung
on the Ladder of Transcendence..................................... 802
84 Sri Krsna Advises Uddhava to Transcend
Brahma-jnana.................................................................... 815
85 Dhruva Maharaja Accepts Bhagavan as Superior
to Brahman......................................................................... 818
86 Devotees Do Not Desire Liberation................................. 821
87 Brahman Is Not Independent of Bhagavan.................... 824
88 Brahman Is Part of Bhagavan........................................... 831
89 Brahman Is the Attributeless Magnificence
of Bhagavan......................................................................... 835
90 Brahman Is the Opulence of Bhagavan......................... 838
91 Brahman Is the Lord’s Bodily Effulgence...................... 841
92 Scriptures Describe Bhagavan As
beyond Brahman........................................................ 843
93 Bhagavan Is the Shelter of Everything,
Including Brahman...................................................... 848
94 The Primary Meaning of the Word Brahma Is
Bhagavan........................................................................ 868
95 Srimad Bhagavatam Is the Complete Scripture .... 885
96 The Conclusion of the Catuh-slokI of Bhagavatam
Is Bhagavan................................................................... 898
97 All Scriptures Are Reconciled in Bhagavan........ 931
98 The Vedic Sound Reveals Bhagavan........................ 937
99 Laksmi Is the Energy of the Lord.......................... 996
100 Laksmi Is the Lord’s Eternal Consort..................... 1019
101 Bhagavan Can Be Known Only through the Vedas . . 1026
102 Bhagavan Can Be Realized through Devotion Alone . 1032
II References 1041
Editors’ Notes............................................................................... 1043
The Language of Transcendence — Key Terms and
Concepts......................................................................................... 1045
Glossary......................................................................................... 1059
Abbreviations............................................................................... 1078
Subject Index................................................................................. 1079
Verse Index.................................................................................... 1115
Bibliography................................................................................. 1149
Acknowledgments....................................................................... 1158
xiii
Introduction
sri-bhagavan uvaca
idam tu te guhyatamam pravaksyamy anasuyave
jnanam vijnana-sahitam yajjhatva moksyase’subhat
Sri Bhagavan said: “I shall teach you, who are devoid of envy,
this most secret knowledge [of devotion] along with the means
of its realization, knowing which, you will become free from the
inauspiciousness of conditional existence.” (gita 9.1)
The real goal of life is happiness. In whatever we do, our ulti­
mate goal is to be happy. Happiness can be attained in two ways: by
pleasing our own senses or by pleasing the Supreme Person (Bha­
gavan), directly or indirectly. Those who seek their own happiness
independent of Bhagavan ultimately remain unhappy. The reason is
that we cannot truly please ourselves while we are confused about
who we actually are.
A human being is a conscious self, animating a physical body,
ego, mind and discriminating intellect. As such, the conscious self is
our true identity, whereas the other four instruments are acquired,
temporary and superficial dimensions of embodied life. Because we
mistake the body, ego, mind and intellect to be the most important
dimensions of our being, we fail to achieve happiness and try in vain
to please our senses. When one recognizes oneself as a conscious
being, as a part of Bhagavan distinct from the body-mind-complex,
one will understand how to attain true happiness. Vedic literature
teaches that the basic cause of suffering is ignorance about our real
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