Sri Tattva-Sandarbha is the first of the Six Sandarbhas. For ease of comprehension these six treatises may be listed as follows:
He then explains the practical difficulties in understanding the Vedas, and establishes that study of the Puranas is the solution, for they are as good as the Vedas, indeed they are the fifth Veda. Then by process of elimination he shows that among the Puranas only sattvika Puranas give clear knowledge of the Absolute and among them Srimad-Bhagavatam is the supreme. It is the essence of the Vedas because it is based on the Gayatri mantra and is the natural commentary on the Vedanta-sutras.
Srila Jiva Gosvami explains Srimad-Bhagavatam as it is. To this end he uses a flawless technique, one that leaves no room to doubt the validity of his conclusions. First he has us consider the heart of the original writer, Srila Vyasadeva, and the heart of the speakers, Sukadeva and Suta Gosvamis. In light of that he analyzes the Bhagavatam incontrovertibly establishing the purpose of this topmost pramana. During this analysis Sri Jiva soundly refutes the impersonalism of Sankaracarya with logic and scriptural references.
Other highlights of Sri Tattva-Sandarbha are: The characteristics of the atma are explained; Buddhism is refuted; the soul is established as conscious, eternal, unchanging, and distinct from the body; an analysis of the ten topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam as enumerated by Sukadeva and Suta Gosvamis to show the harmony between these two foremost authorities on the Bhagavatam; and that the real purpose of the Bhagavatam is to explain Lord Krsna.
Altogether, SriTattva-Sandarbha has sixty-three anucchedas, or sections. Out of these the first eight verses are invocatory. Sections nine to twenty-eight discuss Bhagavata epistemology. Section twenty-nine to the end explain prameya, or what is the knowledge object of knowledge.
Preface | xi |
Mangalacarana | xv |
Introduction | xvii |
Invocation One | 1 |
Invocation Two | 6 |
Invocation 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 Itihasas and Puranas Are Vedic | 46 |
The Itihasas and Puranas Are the Fifth Veda | 52 |
Origin of the Itihasas, Puranas, and Vedas is the Same | 57 |
The Compiler of the Itihasas and Puranas is Unique | 63 |
Three Divisions of the Puranas | 68 |
Srimad-Bhagavatam is the Best of All Puranas | 73 |
Bhagavatam is Natural Commentary on Vedanta-sutra | 79 |
The Characteristics of Srimad-Bhagavatam | 84 |
Bhagavatam Establishes the Meaning of Mahabharata | 93 |
Bhagavatam is the Essence of all Vedic Literature | 98 |
Srimad-Bhagavatam is Luminous Like the Sun | 117 |
Srimad-Bhagavatam is the Topmost Vedic Scripture | 127 |
Sukadeva Gosvami is the Best Scholar of Bhagavatam | 131 |
Srimad-Bhagavatam is Self-Sufficient | 135 |
Methodology of the Sat-Sandarbha | 140 |
The Source of References | 144 |
An Analysis of Sri Sukadeva Gosvami's Faith | 148 |
Analysis of Srila Vyasadeva's Trance Part I | 153 |
Analysis of Srila Vyasadeva's Trance Part II | 163 |
The Living Entity is Distinct From the Lord | 169 |
Maya is a Devotee of the Lord | 176 |
The Jiva is Conscious and Distinct from the Lord | 184 |
The Jiva is Not the Supreme Brahman | 186 |
The Jiva is Not Merely an Upadhi | 191 |
Flaws in Pratibimba-vada and Pariccheda-vada | 193 |
Refutations of Pratibimba-vada and Pariccheda-vada I | 200 |
Refutations of Pratibimba- and Pariccheda-vadas II | 206 |
Inconsistencies in Monism | 209 |
Vyasadeva's Experience Does Not Support Monism | 215 |
The Meaning of Monistic Statements | 218 |
Monistic Statements Need Interpretation | 222 |
Devotional Service is the Abhidheya | 226 |
Love of God is the Goal of Life | 228 |
The Definition of Abhidheya | 232 |
Devotional Service Frees One From Material Miseries | 237 |
Love of God is Superior to the Bliss of Brahman | 243 |
Srimad-Bhagavatam Attracts Even Atmaramas | 247 |
The Subject of the Sat-Sandarbha | 257 |
Absolute Reality is Nondual Consciousness | 259 |
The Meaning of Monistic Statements | 263 |
Characteristics of the Soul | 274 |
The Soul is Distinct From the Body | 280 |
Summary of Sri Pippalayana's Teachings | 287 |
Ten Topics of Bhagavatam Describe Supreme Lord | 289 |
Defining the Srimad-Bhagavatam's First Nine Topics | 295 |
Definition of Srimad-Bhagavatam's Tenth Topic | 301 |
The Lord is the Ultimate Shelter | 303 |
The Jiva is Not the Ultimate Shelter | 307 |
Suta Gosvami Lists the Ten Topics of Bhagavatam | 311 |
Suta Gosvami Defines the Topics of Bhagavatam | 319 |
Conclusion | 328 |
Appendix One | 341 |
Dispute Over the Length of the Bhagavatam | 344 |
Bibliography | 394 |
Index | 397 |
Sri Tattva-Sandarbha is the first of the Six Sandarbhas. For ease of comprehension these six treatises may be listed as follows:
He then explains the practical difficulties in understanding the Vedas, and establishes that study of the Puranas is the solution, for they are as good as the Vedas, indeed they are the fifth Veda. Then by process of elimination he shows that among the Puranas only sattvika Puranas give clear knowledge of the Absolute and among them Srimad-Bhagavatam is the supreme. It is the essence of the Vedas because it is based on the Gayatri mantra and is the natural commentary on the Vedanta-sutras.
Srila Jiva Gosvami explains Srimad-Bhagavatam as it is. To this end he uses a flawless technique, one that leaves no room to doubt the validity of his conclusions. First he has us consider the heart of the original writer, Srila Vyasadeva, and the heart of the speakers, Sukadeva and Suta Gosvamis. In light of that he analyzes the Bhagavatam incontrovertibly establishing the purpose of this topmost pramana. During this analysis Sri Jiva soundly refutes the impersonalism of Sankaracarya with logic and scriptural references.
Other highlights of Sri Tattva-Sandarbha are: The characteristics of the atma are explained; Buddhism is refuted; the soul is established as conscious, eternal, unchanging, and distinct from the body; an analysis of the ten topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam as enumerated by Sukadeva and Suta Gosvamis to show the harmony between these two foremost authorities on the Bhagavatam; and that the real purpose of the Bhagavatam is to explain Lord Krsna.
Altogether, SriTattva-Sandarbha has sixty-three anucchedas, or sections. Out of these the first eight verses are invocatory. Sections nine to twenty-eight discuss Bhagavata epistemology. Section twenty-nine to the end explain prameya, or what is the knowledge object of knowledge.
Preface | xi |
Mangalacarana | xv |
Introduction | xvii |
Invocation One | 1 |
Invocation Two | 6 |
Invocation 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 Itihasas and Puranas Are Vedic | 46 |
The Itihasas and Puranas Are the Fifth Veda | 52 |
Origin of the Itihasas, Puranas, and Vedas is the Same | 57 |
The Compiler of the Itihasas and Puranas is Unique | 63 |
Three Divisions of the Puranas | 68 |
Srimad-Bhagavatam is the Best of All Puranas | 73 |
Bhagavatam is Natural Commentary on Vedanta-sutra | 79 |
The Characteristics of Srimad-Bhagavatam | 84 |
Bhagavatam Establishes the Meaning of Mahabharata | 93 |
Bhagavatam is the Essence of all Vedic Literature | 98 |
Srimad-Bhagavatam is Luminous Like the Sun | 117 |
Srimad-Bhagavatam is the Topmost Vedic Scripture | 127 |
Sukadeva Gosvami is the Best Scholar of Bhagavatam | 131 |
Srimad-Bhagavatam is Self-Sufficient | 135 |
Methodology of the Sat-Sandarbha | 140 |
The Source of References | 144 |
An Analysis of Sri Sukadeva Gosvami's Faith | 148 |
Analysis of Srila Vyasadeva's Trance Part I | 153 |
Analysis of Srila Vyasadeva's Trance Part II | 163 |
The Living Entity is Distinct From the Lord | 169 |
Maya is a Devotee of the Lord | 176 |
The Jiva is Conscious and Distinct from the Lord | 184 |
The Jiva is Not the Supreme Brahman | 186 |
The Jiva is Not Merely an Upadhi | 191 |
Flaws in Pratibimba-vada and Pariccheda-vada | 193 |
Refutations of Pratibimba-vada and Pariccheda-vada I | 200 |
Refutations of Pratibimba- and Pariccheda-vadas II | 206 |
Inconsistencies in Monism | 209 |
Vyasadeva's Experience Does Not Support Monism | 215 |
The Meaning of Monistic Statements | 218 |
Monistic Statements Need Interpretation | 222 |
Devotional Service is the Abhidheya | 226 |
Love of God is the Goal of Life | 228 |
The Definition of Abhidheya | 232 |
Devotional Service Frees One From Material Miseries | 237 |
Love of God is Superior to the Bliss of Brahman | 243 |
Srimad-Bhagavatam Attracts Even Atmaramas | 247 |
The Subject of the Sat-Sandarbha | 257 |
Absolute Reality is Nondual Consciousness | 259 |
The Meaning of Monistic Statements | 263 |
Characteristics of the Soul | 274 |
The Soul is Distinct From the Body | 280 |
Summary of Sri Pippalayana's Teachings | 287 |
Ten Topics of Bhagavatam Describe Supreme Lord | 289 |
Defining the Srimad-Bhagavatam's First Nine Topics | 295 |
Definition of Srimad-Bhagavatam's Tenth Topic | 301 |
The Lord is the Ultimate Shelter | 303 |
The Jiva is Not the Ultimate Shelter | 307 |
Suta Gosvami Lists the Ten Topics of Bhagavatam | 311 |
Suta Gosvami Defines the Topics of Bhagavatam | 319 |
Conclusion | 328 |
Appendix One | 341 |
Dispute Over the Length of the Bhagavatam | 344 |
Bibliography | 394 |
Index | 397 |