Tattva Sandarbha

Srila Prabhupada has often glorified Srila Jiva Gosvami for his wonderful
accomplishment-Sri-Sad-Sandarbha (The Six Essences). In the Caitanya-

caritamrta, he writes:
False devotees, lacking the conclusion of-transcendental knowledge, think
that artificially shedding tears will deliver them. 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. Here hila Prabhupada asserts that the
conclusions of the scriptures are in the Sat-Sandarbhas. Devotees eager
to be fortified with these conclusions will therefore pay close attention to
the presentation of the Sandarbhas in English, complete with illuminating
commentary on the words of ~rilaJi va Gosvami. Such scrutinizing study
is especially cherished by devotees who are dedicated to the preaching
mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Today, sadly, even among those in
the direct line of Jiva Gosvami, study of the Sandarbhas is neglected.
~rilPar abhupada, however, before embarking on his mission to bring
K.rs.n . a conl sciousness to the Western world, prepared himself by
studying the Sat-Sandarbhas and has encouraged his followers to do the
same.
Sri Tattva-Sandarbha is the first of the Six Sanda&has. For ease of
comprehension these six treatises may be listed as follows:
1. Tattva-Sandarbha - (Discourses on Truth)
2. Bhagavata-Sandarbha - (Discourses on God)
3. Paramatma-Sandarbha - (Discourses on the Absolute)
4. Krsna-Sandarbha - (Discourses on Krsna)
5. Bhakti-Sandarbha - (Discourses on Devotional Service)
6. Priti-Sandarbha - (Discourses on Love)
In these six discourses ~Srila Jiva Gosvami systematically presents the
conclusions of the Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy known as
acintyabhedabheda tattva. In Tattva-Sandarbha he lays the foundation
for his presentation of the other Sandarbhas by establishing the Gaudiya
Vais. n. ava epistemology, or means of knowledge. He proves that for the
student interested in knowledge of the Absolute Truth, which is beyond
sense perception and mental speculation, the valid means to get
knowledge is by sabdabrahman
and that the Vedas are the
supreme pramana (proof).
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 rima ad-~h~gavatam is
the supreme. It is the essence of the
Vedas because it is based on the
GayatrTmantra and is the natural commentary
on the Vedanta-sutras.
~rilaJi va Gosvami explains
Srimad-~hagavatama s 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, ~rilVay asadeva, and the heart
of the speakers, ~ukadevaa nd SOta
Gosvamis. In light of that he analyzes
the Bhagavatam incontrovertibly establishing
the purpose of this topmost
pramana. During this analysis Sri ~iva
soundly refutes the impersonalism of
~arikaracaryaw ith 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, bternal, unchanging, and
distinct from the body; an analysis of
the ten topics of rima ad-~hagavatam
as enumerated by ~ukadevaan d SOta
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 K.rs.n . a.
Altogether, ~ri~attva-~andarbha
has sixty-three anucchedas, or sections.
Out of these the first eight
verses are invocatory. Sections nine
to twen ty-eight discuss Bhagavata
epistemology. Section twenty-nine to
the end explain prameya, or what ,is
the knowable object of knowledge

Tattva Sandarbha

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Tattva Sandarbha

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Tattva Sandarbha

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What are the six Sandarbhas?

What is the purpose of Sri Tattva-Sandarbha?

Srila Prabhupada has often glorified Srila Jiva Gosvami for his wonderful

accomplishment-Sri-Sad-Sandarbha (The Six Essences). In the Caitanya-

You might also like