re Sankara's gita commentary

[Guest guest]

achintya, "Bhakti Vikasa Swami"

<Bhakti.Vikasa.Swami@p...> wrote:

>

> the commentary of sri sankara is simple and direct on verse 14.27.

that by

 

I don't have time for a lengthy reply just now. However, I wanted to

point out that this is simply not true. Read Shankaraachaarya's

commentary to BG 14.27, all of you. I guarantee you it will leave you

with the feeling of "huh?" The interpretations of Raamaanuja, Madhva,

and Bhaktivedaanta each take the verse as it is. When Krishna

says "brahmaNo hi pratiShthaaham" they each take it to mean that

Krishna is the basis of Brahman, Brahman is situated on Krishna etc.

This is the literal meaning of that verse. What that brahman is, is

variously interpreted. But the point is that each tradition

understands the verse correctly as stating that this Brahman rests on

Krishna.

 

Shankaraachaarya's commentary, on the other hand, is confusing. He

wants to take that Brahman as being Krishna (because Krishna is the

para brahman), but Krishna is saying there that this Brahman is

situated on him. Madhva actually goes so far in his giitaa commentary

on 14.27 to say that Shankaraachaarya is simply engaged in word-

jugglery here.

 

Consequently, while one might have doubts between the interpretations

of Madhva, Raamaanuja, and Bhaktivedaanta, there can be no doubt that

these commentators are far closer to that verse's meaning than

Shankaraachaarya, whose commentary on this verse seems to try and

gloss over what Krishna has said in favor of what Shankara wants Him

to say.

 

As an aside, I suspect that the indivdual whose comments are quoted

here is very sympathetic to bhakti schools, but was probably raised

in Shankara tradition and knows nothing else. I feel for him. But

realize that he is not alone. Naaraayan Tiirtha, the celebrated

composer of "Naaraayaneeyam," a sort of abridged Bhaagavatam, also

appears to have been biased towards devotional conclusions even as he

felt the dryness of Advaita to be too restrictive.

 

This reply can be forwarded to the mailing list from which the

original comments were taken.

 

-K