"The gist of SribhAsyam on chatussUtrI" by DR.NSA
From the Bhakti List Archives
• August 10, 1999
BhagavAn RAmAnuja has composed two invocatory verses before commenting upon the "vEdAnta sUtrAs" of BAdarAyaNa. The opening verse is, akhila bhuvana janma sthEma bhangAdi leele vinata vividha bhUta vrAta rakshaika deekshe | s`ruti s`irasi vidIpte brahmaNi srInivAse bhavatu mama parasmin s`EmushI bhaktirUpA || Before commencing a work, it is customary to pray for the completion of that work without any obstruction. NamaskAra, AshI: or benediction and vastunirdEsa or narration of the theme in brief - are the three aspects of the invocatory verse. MangaLAcharaNa is meant for the successful completion of the work. It is also meant for guidance of the disciples. All these three are to be found in this invocatory verse. The meaning of this verse may be summarized thus : May my mind be filled with devotional knowledge towards the Supreme Brahman, Lord SrInivAsa, who is exquisitely revealed in the upanishads, who sports in creating, protecting and destroying the entire universe, who has taken the one vow of redeeming the hosts of beings, that devote themselves onto Him. Let us now try to understand the significance of the verse. The verse starts with the letler "A"( first syllable in sanskrit), which is the first name of that Supreme (narAyaNa) and this ensures, all mangaLa or auspiciousness, would accrue. The first gaNa in the verse is, nagaNa, that is akhila and the usage of nagaNa is also suggestive of all auspiciousness. All the 6 attributes in the locative case or saptamI vibhakti, relating to Brahman, declare that Brahman is the prApya and the prApaka. PrApyatvam brahmaNa: sidhyEt BrahmaNatvasya kIrtanAt SvaprAptE: sAdhanatvam hi Brahmaatvam ivOchyate -----tatvatIkA - 13 The word Brahman means "brhatvam" and it also means "brmhaNatvam". The meaning is, by nature, it is great. This term, therefore, signifies that Brahman is the prApya and for its prApti, that alone is the upAya. The word leelA, declares that, Brahman is paripUrna and this is His spontaneous play or sport. The first quarter of this verse condenses the meanings of the first chapter of the vEdAnta sUtrAs. The word "leelA", found in the first quarter suggests the theme of the second chapter of the sUtrAs. The second quarter of the verse namely, "vinatavividhaÂ…Â…Â…Â…" ,condenses the last two chapters of the sUtrAs. The first pAda expounds that Brahman is the cause of the universe & this signifies the supremacy or "paratva" of the Lord. The second pAda i.e. "vinataÂ…Â…Â….", declares the accessability of the Lord and expounds His "mOkshapradatva". The third pAda, points out the pramANa, by means of which, Brahman is known. The impersonal sruti, which is svayampramANa, is the authority to know Brahman. Though Brahman is known in the form of Agni, Indra, Vayu and others, in the pUrvabhAga of the vEdAs, He is exquisitely illumined in the uttarabhAga or the upanishads. The term vidIpte, points out this. The two words "brahmaNi" and "srInivAsE", signify the Supreme reality. Brahman is a general term which culminates in the particular term sriNIVaSa. The term srInivAsa declares that, the Lord is the consort of Goddess "Shree" and it suggests the "nityavibhUti", which is, as real as the "leelAvibhUti". This also establishes the fact that "srImannarAyaNa" alone is the Supreme Brahman and discards the view that, one of the trinity may be the Supreme or equality among the trinity or someone higher than the trnity, may be the Supreme cause of this universe. "parasmin" signifies the Supreme object of attainment and excludes the attainment of any other thing, as the highest object of life. The last pAda of the verse, points out the means of attainment of that Supreme Brahman. The two terms "s`hEmushI"and "bhaktirUpA" ,are significant. Bhakti may mean worship and others. "s`mushI" is of the from of reflective knowledge. Both these are implied in the combination of "s`mushI bhaktirUpA". It is knowledge of the form of meditation or "UpAsanAtmakam jn`Anam" VedAnta dEsika points out as follows. BhaktE: pUjAdimAtratvam dhiya: chintAdirUpatAm vyavaccHettum ihanyastam s`EmushyAdi padadvayam ------------ tatvatIkA - 72. By this, the views of others, that state that "vAkyArtha j`nAna" or "j`nAnakarmasamucchaya" is the means to "mOksha" is refuted. The significant truths of this school are also concisely expounded in this invocatory verse. The characteristics of Brahman are to be noted as follows. 1. "akhilEtyAdinA sarvakAraNatvam" ----- Brahman is the one cause of all effects as suggested by the terms akhila bhuvana janma etc. 2. He is the one to be known and meditated upon, in all the modes of upAsanAs, meant for attainment of "mOksha". 3..He is to be known exclusively from the host of upanishads. "sarvOpanishadEkapratipAdyatvam" 4. He, who is characterised by the above is, "srInivAsa". The idea is that, the s`ruti, "nEti nEti" , should be understood, in the light of all these characteristics and without contradicting any one of them. Summarizing the truths expounded here, we may point out thus: 1. Brahman is the main topic of the "s`Astra" ------ "pradhAnavishaya:" The prayOjana or the benefit from the study is, the attainment of Brahman. The process of relationship between the "adhiKarI" and "prayOjana" is thus: By means of "vichAra" or enquiry, one will ascertain the true nature of the Supreme object of attainment and also will understand that Brahman itself is the prApaka or the means of that attainment. 2. When this is ascertained, that is, when "jij`nAsA" leads to the "vidIpti" of Brahman, the aspirant will, on account of that itself, observes "vinati" or self surrender, under the Lord. This absolute surrender under the Lord, will be the cause of the generation of the grace of the Lord, which leads to one's "rakshA" or protection, which will be the ultimate "prayOjana". Thus, in this invocatory verse, everything that is to be known about the tatva, hita and purushArtha, is expouned. _____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com
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