Srila Prabhupada dedica o Srimad Bhagavad Gita Como Ele É:
à Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana que aprensentou com muito esmero o comentário Govinda Bhasya sobre a Filosofia Vedanta.
Os textos estudados nos quatro estágios da educação formal Védica são coletivamente chamados de Sruti Sastra, "escrituras que devem ser ouvidas" pelos Brahmanas.
Como vimos no texto anterior "Os Três Margas":
O Vedic-Marga, o qual inclui os mantras védicos como o Brahma Gayatri, é baseado nos quatro Vedas originais:
Rg, Sama, Yajur e Atharva.
Cada um destes possui quatro partes:
1 - Samhitas
2 - Brahmanas
3 - Aranyakas
4 - Upanisads
Mas o Sruti Sastra não é toda a literatura Védica.
O Chandogya Upanisad 7.1.2 declara que os Puranas e Itihasas formam a quinta divisão do estudo Védico.
Os Puranas e Itihasas ensinam o mesmo conhecimento dos quatro Vedas ilustrando com extensas narrações históricas.
O quinto Veda é conhecido como Smrti Sastra, "escrituras que devem ser lembradas"
Srila Vyasadeva compilou estas escrituras em dezoito Puranas e no Mahabharata.
O estudo do Smrti Sastra era permitido para quem não fosse Brahmana.
Antes de Vyasadeva compilar os Smrti Sastras, os Sruti Sastras eram ensinados nos Ashrams de Brahmanas através de seis escolas de filosofia Védica.
Para acabar com a confusão que surgiu entre os Brahmanas devido as incongruências destas diferentes escolas, Vyasa escreveu o Vedanta Sutra como um estudo final dos argumentos destas seis escolas e de outras filosofias.
O Vedanta Sutra forma o terceiro grande corpo da literatura Védica depois do Sruti Sastra e Smrti Sastra.
É conhecido como Nyaya Sastra, "escrituras de caráter filosófico".
Todas estas escolas (Sad Darsana) originalmente estavam em harmonia, reconheciam os Vedas como autoritativos e analisavam diferentes partes do conhecimento Védico, porém com o avanço de Kali Yuga entraram em ruptura e algumas rejeitaram os Vedas.
Posteriormente, naistika (isto não é) filosofias, como os Budistas e Jainistas também rejeitaram os Vedas.
Setecentos anos depois de Cristo, o Budismo foi eclipsado pelos ensinamentos de Sankaracarya, o qual reviveu a cultura Védica na Índia.
Mas a formulação especial de Sankara do Vedanta estava influenciada pelo próprio budismo e não era um representante fidedigno do Vedanta Darsana ensinado por Vyasadeva.
Após Sankara, o Vedanta foi refinado pelas escolas de grandes Acaryas como Ramanuja, Madhva e Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
O Vedanta é hoje representado pelos diferentes Bhasyas (comentários) destes diferentes Acaryas e dos Tikas (sub comentários) dos seus discípulos.
Ao estudar o Srimad Bhagavatam como um comentário natural do Vedanta Sutra (Artha 'yam brahma sutranam), o Govinda Bhasya permite passar de jnana para vijnana, ou a realização prática da Verdade Última.
Existe um caminho que leva o praticante directo para vijnana, como é explicado pela Suprema Personalidade de Deus para Brahma no Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.31:
sri bhagavan uvaca
jnanam prama-guhyam me
yad vijnana-samanvitam
grhana gaditam maya
"A Suprema Personalidade de Deus disse:
O conhecimento a meu respeito como descrito nas escrituras é muito confidencial, e deve ser realizado em conjunto com o serviço devocional.
A parafernália necessária para este processo esta sendo explicada por Mim. Você deve tomar muita atenção."
Este verso, estabelece que Vijnana é alcançada quando se coordena o estudo das escrituras com o serviço devocional puro.
Portanto, o Srimad Bhagavatam levá-nos para além do simples pensar na Verdade Absoluta para o estágio realizado de ocupação prática - corpo, mente, palavras e alma - nas nove divisões (angas) do serviço devocional à Krsna.
Por sua vez o Govinda Bhasya ajuda-nos a apreciar uma sólida base filosófica Védica de Krsna Bhakti.
Todos os Sutras do Vedanta Sutra podem ser analisados com base no Srimad Bhagavatam, alguns exemplos:
Os versos do Vedanta Sutra são indicados por números (Adhyaya, Pada, Sutra) e são seguidos por versos do Srimad Bhagavatam.
The duty of one who has attained Vidya.
BY MEDITATION UPON THE SUPREME LORD, ALL RELIGIOUS DUTIES ARE SATISFIED
THROUGH THE MIND. BY HEARING ABOUT HIM, ALL RELIGIOUS DUTIES ARE
SATISFIED THROUGH THE EARS. BY CHANTING HIS GLORIES, THEY ARE SATISFIED
THROUGH THE VOICE.
(Vs. 3.4.47)
7.11.7
dharma-mulam hi bhagavan
sama-vedamayo harih
smrtam ca tad-vidam rajan
yena catma prasidati
The Supreme Being, the Personality of Godhead, is the essence of
all Vedic knowledge, the root of all religious principles, and the
memory of great authorities. O King Yudhisthira, this principle of
religion is to be understood as evidence. On the basis of this
religious principle, everything is satisfied, including one's mind,
soul and even one's body.
6.3.22
etavan eva loke 'smin
pumsam dharmah parah smrtah
bhakti-yogo bhagavati
tan-nama-grahanadibhih
Devotional service, beginning with the chanting of the holy name
of the Lord, is the ultimate religious principle for the living entity
in human society.
How to become fixed in Vidya.
THE GOAL OF ALL ASRAMAS IS TO ATTAIN BRAHMA-VIDYA, OR KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS.
IT IS NOT THAT THE GRHASTHA ASRAMA IS EXEMPT FROM THIS RESPONSIBILITY;
INDEED, THE GRHASTHA ASRAMA CONTAINS WITHIN IT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF
ALL THE OTHER ASRAMAS (A HOUSEHOLDER IS ENJOINED TO BE CELIBATE EXCEPT
FOR BEGETTING CHILDREN, HE MUST BE NONVIOLENT, HE MUST WORSHIP THE LORD,
ETC.). THEREFORE MEMBERS OF THE GRHASTHA ASRAMA ARE ESPECIALLY ADVISED
TO STRIVE FOR BRAHMA-VIDYA.
(Vs. 3.4.48)
7.15.67
etair anyais ca vedoktair
vartamanah sva-karmabhih
grhe 'py asya gatim yayad
rajams tad-bhakti-bhan narah
.
O King, one should perform his occupational duties according to
these instructions, as well as other instructions given in the Vedic
literature, just to remain a devotee of Lord Krsna. Thus, even while at
home, one will be able to reach the destination.
5.1.17,18
bhayam pramattasya vanesv api syad
yatah sa aste saha-sat-sapatnah
jitendriyasyatma-rater budhasya
grhasramah kim nu karoty avadya
Even if he goes from forest to forest, one who is not self-
controlled must always fear material bondage because he is living with
six co-wives--the mind and knowledge-acquiring senses. Even householder
life, however, cannot harm a self-satisfied, learned man who has
conquered his senses.
yah sat sapatnan vijigisamano
grhesu nirvisya yateta purvam
atyeti durgasrita urjitarin
ksinesu kamam vicared vipascit
One who is situated in household life and who systematically
conquers his mind and five sense organs is like a king in his fortress
who conquers his powerful enemies. After one has been trained in
household life and his lusty desires have decreased, he can move
anywhere without danger.
WHEN BRAHMA-VIDYA IS AWAKENED IN A PERSON, AND HE LOSES INTEREST IN ALL
WORLDLY CONCERNS, HE MAY TAKE SANNYASA IMMEDIATELY, NO MATTER WHAT HIS
PRESENT ASRAMA MAY BE. INDEED, AS EXPLAINED PREVIOUSLY, KRSNA CONSCIOUS
PERSONS WHO BELONG TO NO VARNA OR ASRAMA TAKE SANNYASA.
(Vs. 3.4.49)
1.13.26,27
gata-svartham imam deham
virakto mukta-bandhanah
avijnata-gatir jahyat
sa vai dhira udahrtah
He is called undisturbed who goes to an unknown, remote place and,
freed from all obligations, quits his material body when it has become
useless.
yah svakat parato veha
jata-nirveda atmavan
hrdi krtva harim gehat
pravrajet sa narottamah
He is certainly a first-class man who awakens and understands,
either by himself or from others, the falsity and misery of this material
world and thus leaves home and depends fully on the Personality of
Godhead residing within his heart.
Vidya is most confidential.
BRAHMA-VIDYA (KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS), BEING THE MOST CONFIDENTIAL WISDOM,
IS NOT TO BE REVEALED TO UNFIT PERSONS.
(Vs. 3.4.50)
3.32.39,40
naitat khalayopadisen
navinitaya karhicit
na stabdhaya na bhinnaya
naiva dharma-dhvajaya ca
Lord Kapila continued: This instruction is not meant for the
envious, for the agnostics or for persons who are unclean in their
behavior. Nor is it for hypocrites or for persons who are proud of
material possessions.
na lolupayopadisen
na grharudha-cetase
nabhaktaya ca me jatu
na mad-bhakta-dvisam api
It is not to be instructed to persons who are too greedy and too
attached to family life, nor to persons who are nondevotees and who are
envious of the devotees and of the Personality of Godhead.
11.29.30
naitat tvaya dambhikaya
nastikaya sathaya ca
asusrusor abhaktaya
durvinitaya diyatam
You should not share this instruction with anyone who is
hypocritical, atheistic or dishonest, or with anyone who will not
listen faithfully, who is not a devotee, or who is simply not humble.
When does Vidya manifest?
IF THERE IS NO OBSTRUCTION, BRAHMA-VIDYA OR FULL KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS
WILL MANIFEST IN THE ASPIRANT'S PRESENT LIFETIME. IF THERE IS AN
OBSTRUCTION, IT WILL MANIFEST IN THE NEXT LIFE. SPIRITUAL PROGRESS IS
NEVER IN VAIN.
(Vs. 3.4.51)
1.5.19
na vai jano jatu kathancanavrajen
mukunda-sevy anyavad anga samsrtim
smaran mukundanghry-upaguhanam punar
vihatum icchen na rasa-graho janah
My dear Vyasa, even though a devotee of Lord Krsna sometimes falls
down somehow or other, he certainly does not undergo material existence
like others [fruitive workers, etc.] because a person who has once
relished the taste of the lotus feet of the Lord can do nothing but
remember that ecstasy again and again.
1.6.21
hantasmin janmani bhavan
ma mam drastum iharhati
avipakva-kasayanam
durdarso 'ham kuyoginam
O Narada [the Lord spoke], I regret that during this lifetime you
will not be able to see Me anymore. Those who are incomplete in service
and who are not completely free from all material taints can hardly see Me.
4.11.14
samprasanne bhagavati
purusah prakrtair gunaih
vimukto jiva-nirmukto
brahma nirvanam rcchati
One who actually satisfies the Supreme Personality of Godhead
during one's lifetime becomes liberated from the gross and subtle
material conditions. Thus being freed from all material modes of
nature, he achieves unlimited spiritual bliss.
The sadhana for attaining Vidya requires repetition.
THE SADHANA, OR PRACTICE OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE (HEARING, CHANTING, ETC.),
MUST BE PERFORMED REPEATEDLY.
(Vs. 4.1.1)
1.8.36
srnvanti gayanti grnanty abhiksnasah
smaranti nandanti tavehitam janah
ta eva pasyanty acirena tavakam
O Krsna, those who continuously hear, chant and repeat Your
transcendental activities, or take pleasure in others' doing so,
certainly see Your lotus feet, which alone can stop the repetition of
birth and death.
REPETITION IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DESTROY OFFENSES.
(Vs. 4.1.2)
1.2.18
nasta-prayesv abhadresu
nityam bhagavata-sevaya
bhagavaty uttama-sloke
bhaktir bhavati naisthiki
By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by
rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to
the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the
Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is
established as an irrevocable fact.
The 'neti-neti' text explained.
OBJECTION: YOUR REBUTTAL OF THE ONENESS OF SOUL AND SUPREME SOUL IS
INVALIDATED BY THE NETI-NETI VERSE OF THE BRIHAD-ARANYAKA UPANISAD
(2.3.6) IN WHICH THE SUPREME LORD IS DECLARED TO BE THE ONLY TRUTH,
APART FROM WHICH NOTHING ELSE (NETI-NETI: NOT THIS, NOT THIS) EXISTS.
REPLY: THIS INTERPRETATION OF THE NETI-NETI VERSE IS FALSE. THE VERSE
STATES, ATHATA ADESO NETI NETI; NA HI ETASMAD ITI; NETY ANYAD PARAM
ASTI: 'THIS IS THE TEACHING--NO, NO; NAUGHT THAN HIM; NOTHING IS
GREATER THAN HIM.' THIS MEANS THAT THE SUPREME LORD IS GREATER THAN
ALL ELSE THAT EXISTS. IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT ONLY HE EXISTS AND NOTHING
ELSE EXISTS.
(Vs. 3.2.22)
8.3.22-24
yatharciso 'gneh savitur gabhastayo
niryanti samyanty asakrt sva-rocisah
tatha yato 'yam guna-sampravaho
buddhir manah khani sarira-sargah
sa vai na devasura-martya-tiryan
na stri na sandho na puman na jantuh
nayam gunah karma na san na casan
nisedha-seso jayatad asesah
The Supreme Personality of Godhead creates His minor parts and
parcels, the jiva-tattva, beginning with Lord Brahma, the demigods and
the expansions of Vedic knowledge [Sama, Rg, Yajur and Atharva] and
including all other living entities, moving and nonmoving, with their
different names and characteristics. As the sparks of a fire or the
shining rays of the sun emanate from their source and merge into it
again and again, the mind, the intelligence, the senses, the gross and
subtle material bodies, and the continuous transformations of the
different modes of nature all emanate from the Lord and again merge
into Him. He is neither demigod nor demon, neither human nor bird or
beast. He is not woman, man, or neuter, nor is He an animal. He is not
a material quality, a fruitive activity, a manifestation or
nonmanifestation. He is the last word in the discrimination of "not
this, not this," and He is unlimited. All glories to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead!
OBJECTION: THE REAL MEANING OF THE NETI-NETI VERSE IS THAT JUST AS THE
FORMS AND FEATURES OF THE MATERIAL WORLD DO NOT EXIST IN REALITY, SO
ALSO THE FORMS AND FEATURES OF THE SUPREME LORD DO NOT EXIST IN REALITY
(I.E. HE IS IMPERSONAL AND FORMLESS). THEREFORE THE WORD 'NO' IS USED
TWICE (NETI-NETI).
REPLY: THE MEANING OF THIS VERSE IS, 'HE IS NOT LIKE THEM,' NOT, 'HIS
QUALITIES, LIKE THEIRS, ARE NOT REAL.'
(Vs. 3.2.23)
8.5.26,27
sri-brahmovaca
avikriyam satyam anantam adyam
guha-sayam niskalam apratarkyam
mano-'grayanam vacasaniruktam
namamahe deva-varam varenyam
Lord Brahma said: O Supreme Lord, O changeless, unlimited supreme
truth. You are the origin of everything. Being all-pervading, You are
in everyone's heart and also in the atom. You have no material qualities.
Indeed, You are inconceivable. The mind cannot catch You by speculation,
and words fail to describe You. You are the supreme master of everyone,
and therefore You are worshipable for everyone. We offer our respectful
obeisances unto You.
vipascitam prana-mano-dhiyatmanam
arthendriyabhasam anidram avranam
chayatapau yatra na grdhra-paksau
tam aksaram kham tri-yugam vrajamahe
The Supreme Personality of Godhead directly and indirectly knows
how everything, including the living force, mind and intelligence, is
working under His control. He is the illuminator of everything and has
no ignorance. He does not have a material body subject to the reactions
of previous activities, and He is free from the ignorance of partiality
and materialistic education. I therefore take shelter of the lotus feet
of the Supreme Lord, who is eternal, all-pervading and as great as the
sky and who appears with six opulences in three yugas [Satya, Treta and
Dvapara].
The form of the Supreme Lord.
THE FORM OF THE SUPREME LORD IS INVISIBLE TO THE SENSES OF MATERIALISTS.
THEREFORE HIS FORM IS SAID TO BE UNMANIFEST.
(Vs. 3.2.24)
5.17.18
sri-bhagavan uvaca
om namo bhagavate maha-purusaya
sarva-guna-sankhyanayanantayavyaktaya nama iti.
The most powerful Lord Siva says: O Supreme Personality of Godhead,
I offer my respectful obeisances unto You in Your expansion as Lord
Sankarsana. You are the reservoir of all transcendental qualities.
Although You are unlimited, You remain unmanifest to the nondevotees.
Brahman can be seen.
BUT THE TRANSCENDENTALISTS ENGAGED IN HIS WORSHIP PERCEIVE THE SUPREME
LORD DIRECTLY.
(Vs. 3.2.25)
3.9.11
tvam bhakti-yoga-paribhavita-hrt-saroja
asse sruteksita-patho nanu natha pumsam
yad-yad-dhiya ta urugaya vibhavayanti
tat-tad-vapuh pranayase sad-anugrahaya
O my Lord, Your devotees can see You through the ears by the
process of bona fide hearing, and thus their hearts become cleansed,
and You take Your seat there. You are so merciful to Your devotees that
You manifest Yourself in the particular eternal form of transcendence
in which they always think of You.
IT IS WRONG TO SUPPOSE THAT THE SUPREME LORD HAS A GROSSLY MANIFEST
EXTERNAL FORM, AND A SUBTLE INTERNAL ASPECT THAT IS UNMANIFEST AND
DEVOID OF FORM.
(Vs. 3.2.26)
3.2.2
rupam yad etad avabodha-rasodayena
sasvan-nivrtta-tamasah sad-anugrahaya
adau grhitam avatara-sataika-bijam
yan-nabhi-padma-bhavanad aham avirasam
The form which I see is eternally freed from material contamination and
has advented to show mercy to the devotees as a manifestation of internal
potency. This incarnation is the origin of many other incarnations, and
I am born from the lotus flower grown from Your navel home.
OBJECTION: THE SUPREME LORD DOES NOT ALWAYS APPEAR WHEN HE IS WORSHIPED.
REPLY: THE SUPREME LORD REVEALS HIS PERSONAL FORM TO DEVOTEES WHO HAVE
ATTAINED PERFECTION BY REGULAR PRACTICE OF BHAKTI-YOGA ACCORDING TO THE
PRESCRIBED METHOD. REGULAR PRACTICE (ABHYASA-KARMA) REFERS TO MANTRA
MEDITATION, WHICH IS COMPARED IN THE UPANISADS TO THE CONSTANT RUBBING
OF TWO STICKS TO PRODUCE FIRE. BUT THE LORD IS NOT REVEALED BY A MERE
REPETITIVE FORMULA; HE MANIFESTS HIMSELF WHEN HE IS PLEASED BY THE LOVE
OF HIS DEVOTEE.
(Vs. 3.2.27)
10.14.5,6
pureha bhuman bahavo 'pi yoginas
tvad-arpiteha nija-karma-labdhaya
vibudhya bhaktyaiva kathopanitaya
prapedire 'njo 'cyuta te gatim param
O almighty Lord, in the past many yogis in this world achieved the
platform of devotional service by offering all their endeavors unto You
and faithfully carrying out their prescribed duties. Though such
devotional service, perfected by the process of hearing and chanting
about You, they came to understand You and achieve Your supreme abode.
tathapi bhuman mahimagunasya te
viboddhum arhaty amalantar-atmabhih
avikriyate svanubhavad arupato
hy ananya-bodhyatmataya na canyatha
Nondevotees, however, cannot realize You in Your full personal
feature. Nevertheless, it may be possible for them to realize Your
expansion as the impersonal Supreme by cultivating direct perception of
the Self within the heart. But they can do this only by purifying
their mind and senses of all conceptions of material distinctions and
all attachment to material sense objects. Only in this way will Your
impersonal feature manifest itself to them.
5.18.34-36
uttaresu ca kurusu bhagavan yajna-purusah krta-varaha-rupa aste
tam tu devi haisa bhuh saha kurubhir askhalita-bhakti-yogenopadhavati
imam ca paramam upanisadam avartayati.
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Dear King, the Supreme Lord in His boar
incarnation, who accepts all sacrificial offerings, lives in the
northern part of Jambudvipa. There, in the tract of land known as
Uttarakuru-varsa, mother earth and all the other inhabitants worship
Him with unfailing devotional service by repeatedly chanting the
following Upanisad mantra.
om namo bhagavate mantra-tattva-lingaya yajna-kratave
maha-dhvaravayavaya maha-purusaya namah karma-suklaya tri-yugaya
namas te.
O Lord, we offer our respectful obeisances unto You as the gigantic
person. Simply by chanting mantras, we shall be able to understand You
fully. You are yajna [sacrifice], and You are the kratu [ritual].
Therefore all the ritualistic ceremonies of sacrifice are part of Your
transcendental body, and You are the only enjoyer of all sacrifices.
Your form is composed of transcendental goodness. You are known as
tri-yuga because in Kali-yuga You appeared as a concealed incarnation
and because You always fully possess the three pairs of opulences.
yasya svarupam kavayo vipascito
gunesu darusv iva jata-vedasam
mithnanti mathna manasa didrksavo
gudham kriyarthair nama iritatmane
By manipulating a fire-generating stick, great saints and sages
can bring forth the fire lying dormant within wood. In the same way,
O Lord, those expert in understanding the Absolute Truth try to see You
in everything--even in their own bodies. Yet you remain concealed.
You are not to be understood by indirect processes involving mental or
physical activities. Because You are self-manifested, only when You
see that a person is wholeheartedly engaged in searching for You do
You reveal Yourself. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto
You.
THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IN THE VEDIC LITERATURE TO PROVE THAT THE
SUPREME LORD SIMULTANEOUSLY PERVADES ALL THINGS AND YET MANIFESTS HIS
TRANSCENDENTAL FORM SPECIFICALLY TO HIS DEVOTEES. THUS HE IS KNOWN AS
ANANTA (THE UNLIMITED).
(Vs. 3.2.28)
6.4.33
yo 'nugrahartham bhajatam pada-mulam
anama-rupo bhagavan anantah
namani rupani ca janma-karmabhir
bheje sa mahyam paramah prasidatu
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is inconceivably opulent,
who is devoid of all material names, forms and pastimes, and who is
all-pervading, is especially merciful to the devotees who worship His
lotus feet. Thus He exhibits transcendental forms and names with His
different pastimes. May that Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose form
is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, be merciful to me.
Vosso servo
Prahladesh Dasa
