NANA-SASTRA-visaranaika-nipunau

kailasa · February 14, 2003

sastra-yuktye sunipuлa, dетha-зraddhд yдмra

‘uttama-adhikдrй’ sei tдraye saаsдra

A person who is expert in understanding the conclusion of the revealed scriptures and who fully surrenders to the cause of the Lord is actually able to deliver others from the clutches of material existence.

Srila Rupa Gosvami, in his Upadesamrta (3), advises that to make rapid advancement in the cult of devotional service one should be very active and should persevere in executing the duties specified in the revealed scriptures and confirmed by the spiritual master. Accepting the path of liberated souls and the association of pure devotees enriches such activities.

...Similarly, other false devotees think that studying books of the previous acaryas 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 directions 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.

Both Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami brought various scriptures to Vrndavana and collected the essence of these by compiling many scriptures on devotional service. In this way they delivered all rascals and fallen souls.

PURPORT

Srila Srinivasa Acarya has sung:

nana-sastra-vicдraлaika-nipuлau sad-dharma-saаsthдpakau

lokдnда hita-kдriлau tri-bhuvane mдnyau зaraлyдkarau

rдdhд-Krsna-padдravinda-bhajanдnandena mattдlikau

vande rьpa-sanдtanau raghu-yugau Sri-Jiva-gopдlakau

The six Gosvamis, under the direction of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami, studied various Vedic scriptures and picked up the essence of them, the devotional service of the Lord. This means that all the Gosvamis wrote many scriptures on devotional service with the support of the Vedic literature. Devotional service is not a sentimental activity. The essence of Vedic knowledge is devotional service, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita (15.15): vedaiз ca sarvair aham eva vedyaщ. All the Vedic literature aims at understanding Krsna, and how to understand Krsna through devotional service has been explained by Srila Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis, with evidence from all the Vedic scriptures. They have put it so nicely that even a rascal or first-class fool can be delivered by devotional service under the guidance of the Gosvamis.

"The Gosvamis carried out the preaching work of devotional service on the basis of an analytical study of all confidential Vedic scriptures. This was in compliance with the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus one can understand the most confidential devotional service of Vrndavana.

PURPORT

This proves that bona fide devotional service is based on the conclusions of the Vedic literature. It is not based on the type of sentiment exhibited by the prakrta-sahajiyas. The prakrta-sahajiyas do not consult the Vedic literature,...

The prakrta-sahajiyas do not realize that they are violating the orders of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who specifically said that to understand Vrndavana and the pastimes of Vrndavana one must have sufficient knowledge of the sastras (Vedic scriptures). As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.12), bhaktyд зruta-gеhйtayд. This means that devotional service is acquired from Vedic knowledge. Tac chraddadhдnдщ munayaщ. Devotees who are actually serious attain bhakti, scientific devotional service, by hearing Vedic scriptures (bhaktyд зruta-gеhйtayд). It is not that one should create something out of sentimentality, become a sahajiya and advocate such concocted devotional service.

We have already given the names of four books compiled by Sanatana Gosvami. Similarly, Srila Rupa Gosvami has also compiled many books, which no one can even count.

I shall therefore enumerate the chief books compiled by Srila Rupa Gosvami. He has described the pastimes of Vrndavana in thousands of verses.

Madhya 1.38

Sri Rupa Gosvamis nephew, Srila Jiva Gosvami, has compiled so many books on devotional service that there is no counting them.

The most famous and formidable transcendental literary work is the book named Gopala-campu. In this book the eternal pastimes of the Lord are established, and the transcendental mellows enjoyed in Vrndavana are completely described.

Thus Srila Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami and their nephew Srila Jiva Gosvami, as well as practically all of their family members, lived in Vrndavana and published important books on devotional service.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "According to the verdict of the sastras, the process of hearing and chanting is the best means to attain loving service to Krsna.

"This process entails hearing, chanting and remembering the holy name, form, pastimes, qualities and entourage of the Lord, offering service according to the time, place and performer, worshiping the Deity, offering prayers, always considering oneself the eternal servant of Krsna, making friends with Him and dedicating everything unto Him. These nine items of devotional service, when directly offered to Krsna, constitute the highest attainment of life. This is the verdict of the revealed scriptures.

When one comes to the platform of loving service to Lord Krsna by executing these nine processes beginning with hearing and chanting, he has attained the fifth platform of success and the limit of lifes goals.

In this Age of Kali there are no genuine religious principles other than those established by Vaisnava devotees and Vaisnava scriptures. This is the sum and substance of everything.

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.19.17), it is said:

зrutiщ pratyakсam aitihyam

anumдnaа catuсцayam

pramдлeсv anavasthдnдd

vikalpдt sa virajyate

"Vedic literature, direct perception, history and hypothesis are the four kinds of evidential proofs. Everyone should stick to these principles for the realization of the Absolute Truth."

The more one hears the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with faith, analytically studying them, the more one attains the ecstatic riches of love of Godhead.

sastra-yukti nдhi jдne dетha, зraddhдvдn

‘madhyama-adhikдrй’ sei mahд-bhдgyavдn

"One who has attained the intermediate stage is not very advanced in sastric knowledge, but he has firm faith in the Lord. Such a person is very fortunate to be situated on the intermediate platform."

...In Vrndavana there are prakrta-sahajiyas who say that writing books or even touching books is taboo. For them, devotional service means being relieved from these activities. Whenever they are asked to hear a recitation of Vedic literature, they refuse, saying, "What business do we have reading or hearing transcendental literatures? They are meant for neophytes." THEY POSE THEMSELFS TO BE TOO ELEVATED to exert energy for reading, writing and hearing. However, pure devotees under the guidance of Srila Rupa Gosvami reject this sahajiya philosophy. It is certainly not good to write literature for money or reputation, but to write books and publish them for the enlightenment of the general populace is real service to the Lord. That was SRILA BHAKTISIDHANTA SARASVATIS opinion, and he specifically told his disciples to write books. He actually preferred to publish books rather than establish temples. Temple construction is meant for the general populace and neophyte devotees, but the business of advanced and empowered devotees is to write books, publish them and distribute them widely. According to SRILA BHAKTISIDHANTA SARASVATI, distributing literature is like playing on a great mrdanga. Consequently we always request members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to publish as many books as possible and distribute them widely throughout the world. By thus following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami, one can become a rupanuga devotee.

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says, sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya, cittete kariyд aikya. One should accept a thing as genuine by studying the words of saintly people, the spiritual master and sastra. The actual center is sastra, the revealed scripture. If a spiritual master does not speak according to revealed scripture, he is not to be accepted. Similarly, if a saintly person does not speak according to the sastra, he is not a saintly person. Sastra is the center for all.

"One who is expert in logic, argument and the revealed scriptures and who has firm faith in Krsna is classified as a topmost devotee. He can deliver the whole world."

O Sanatana, you should broadcast the revealed scriptures on devotional service and excavate the lost places of pilgrimage in the district of Mathura.

Establish devotional service to Lord Krsna and Radharani in Vrndavana. You should also compile bhakti scripture and preach the bhakti cult from Vrndavana

PURPORT

Sanatana Gosvami was enjoined (1) to broadcast the revealed scriptures on devotional service and establish the conclusions of devotional service, (2) to reestablish lost places of pilgrimage like Vrndavana and Radha-kunda, (3) to establish the Vrndavana method of temple worship and install Deities in temples (Sri Sanatana Gosvami established Madana-mohana temple, and Rupa Gosvami established Govindaji temple.), and (4) to enunciate the behavior of a Vaisnava (as Srila Sanatana Gosvami did in Hari-bhakti-vilasa). In this way Sanatana Gosvami was empowered to establish the cult of Vaisnavism. As stated by Srinivasa Acarya:

NANA-SASTRA-visaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-saаsthдpakau

lokдnда hita-kдriлau tribhuvane mдnyau зaraлyдkarau

rдdhд-Krsna-padдravinda-bhajanдnandena mattдlikau

vande rьpa-sanдtanau raghu-yugau Sri-Jiva-gopдlakau

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvamis, namely Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami and Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, who are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed scriptures with the aim of establishing eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human beings. Thus they are honored all over the three worlds, and they are worth taking shelter of because they are absorbed in the mood of the gopis and are engaged in the transcendental loving service of Radha and Krsna.”

Crowds of people came to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu from that day on, and scholars of various scriptures discussed different subject matters with the Lord.

When people came to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to discuss the principles of various scriptures, the Lord defeated their false conclusions and established the predominance of devotional service to the Lord. With logic and argument He very politely changed their minds.

Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhagavata Purana propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhagavatam, compiled by the great sage Sri Vyasadeva, is sufficient in itself for God realization. As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhagavatam, he becomes attached to the Supreme Lord.

The pastimes of Lord Krsna are the essence of all nectar. They flow in hundreds of rivulets and in all directions. The pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are an eternal reservoir, and one is advised to let his mind swim like a swan on this transcendental lake.

With all humility, I submit myself to the lotus feet of all of you devotees, taking the dust from your feet as my bodily ornaments. Now, my dear devotees, please hear one thing more from me.

That Absolute Truth without a second is Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the supreme truth in the past, present and future. That is the evidence of all revealed scriptures.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Srila Rupa Gosvamis elder brother, whose name is Sanatana Gosvami, is such a wise and learned scholar that no one is equal to him."

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu praised the metaphors and other literary ornaments of Srila Rupa Gosvamis transcendental poetry. Without such poetic attributes, He said, there is no possibility of preaching transcendental mellows.