Sat (6) Sandarbhas

- select Bhagavatam verses to illustrate the essence

- Sat Sandarbhas are the most thorough and systematic presentation of philosophy
and theology of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.
- gives authority of Bhagavata regarding ontology
- Without earnestly studying the Sandarbhas, one would find it difficult to
ascertain the essential theological principles found in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.
- sarva-samvadini - Jiva’s commentary that “harmonizes everything”

Tattva Sandarbha

- 63 anucchedas (sections)
- for Jiva Goswami scholarship is relevant only in the sense of
earnest investigative inquiry into truth leading to immediate realization.

Mangalacarana - auspicious invocations (8 verses)

- linking of consciousness with deity and line of master

- self-surrender, relinquishing of separate self
- method for the author’s consciousness to be illuminated by higher cognition
- key to transpersonal authorship (apauruseyatva)

- generally has three elements

namaskāra - offering obeisances to worshipful deity
vastu-nirdeśa - identifying the subject of the book
āśīrvāda - offering or seeking blessings

anubandhas , indispensable elements of Vedānta

adhikāra - the qualifications of the reader
sambandha - relationship of treatise and subject
abhidheya - means of investigative study, attainment
prayojana - the subject of to be realized

the books explicit intent - siddhartha

sandarbha yena nadhitas tasya bhagavate sramah

sandarbha yena cadhita nasti bhagavate bhramah

One who has not undergone comprehensive study of Sat Sandarbhas must struggle
to assimilate the message of Srimad Bhagavatarn. One who has studied Sat Sandarbhas,
however, will have no misgivings about the essential meaning of Srimad Bhagavatam.
- Satyanarayana dasa
Anuccheda 1
kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ
 sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair
 yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ

Word for word:

kṛṣṇa-varṇam — repeating the syllables kṛṣ-ṇa; tviṣā — with a luster; akṛṣṇam — not
black (golden); sa-aṅga — along with associates; upa-aṅga — servitors; astra —
weapons; pārṣadam — confidential companions; yajñaiḥ — by sacrifice; saṅkīrtana-
prāyaiḥ — consisting chiefly of congregational chanting; yajanti — they worship; hi —
certainly; su-medhasaḥ — intelligent persons.

Translation:

In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the
incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kṛṣṇa. Although His
complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates,
servants, weapons and confidential companions.
Karabhajana Rsi to Maharaja Nimi - SB 11.5.32

- shows deference to Srimad Bhagavatam

and surrender to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
- channa-avatara - hidden avatara, black color is covered by effulgence of Radha
- su-medhasaḥ are those endowed with discriminating wisdom
- verse is vastu-nirdeśa, identifying the subject of the book

Anuccheda 2

In Kali-yuga we take shelter of Sri Krsna Caitanya by chanting the Lord's holy names
congregation-ally and engaging in other devotional practices. He is blackish within but
golden without, and He has revealed to everyone the opulences of His beautiful bodily
limbs and other features.

- glorifies Sri Krsna Caitanya and sam-kirtana

- verse is vastu-nirdeśa and namaskāra

Anuccheda 3

jayatam mathura-bhiimau Srila-rupa-sanatanau

yau vilekhayatas tattvam jnapakau pustikam imam
All glories to Srila Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis who reside in the land of Mathura!
They have engaged me in writing this book to broadcast the essential truth about the
Supreme Lord.

- glorifies Srila Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis, who engaged me in this service

Anuccheda 4

Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, a friend of Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana, born in a South Indian
brahmana family, compiled the original version of this book based on the works of
venerable Vaisnavas.

- Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami did initial compilation

- son of Vyenkata Bhatta of south India, a child during Caitanya’s
four month visit - 1513
- Studies philosophy from Sri-sampradaya
- established Sri Radha-ramana temple in Vrindavan
- Gopala Bhatta’s books was based upon teachings of Sri Ramanujacarya,
Sri Madhvacarya and Sridhar Swami
- his book no longer available

Anuccheda 5

Some parts of this first book by Gopala Bhatta Gosvami were in correct sequence, and
some were not. Some parts were incomplete or lost. Now, after careful study, Jiva is re-
writing this book in the proper sequence.

- homage to Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami whose works were notes (kadaca)
- by use of jivaka (a petty being) Jiva Goswami expresses humility
- as jivanugas (followers) we take it as one who confers blessings
and inherent meaning

Anuccheda 6

This book may be studied only by one whose sole desire is to serve the lotus feet of Lord
Sri Krsna. All others are forewarned as to the implications of this investigation (A curse it
given to others).

- If a person does not respect the position of Krishna, reading this book is
inauspicious.
 - View of reality based upon assimilation of the teaching of book.
- A signal to the reader in no uncertain terms is Turning of consciousness for
entirety of being, not armchair philosophy (not for intellectual stimulation).
- The inquiry itself should be rooted in a trans-egoic view.
- Book is to be entered into and allowed to influence the core of being, or
consciousness itself. (not objective like science, rather subjective (quantum).
- Jiva uses word eka (solely) bhajana, turning of consciousness is whole bodied
worship. In Sarva-samvadini he uses the term primary.
anna-maya-kosa - physical body
prana-maya-kosa - emotional body
mano-maya-kosa - mental body
vijnana-maya-kosa - atma, consciousness itself
[ ananda-maya-kosa - Paramatma in Vaisnava siddhanta ]
- Not intellectual exercise, nor should practitioners who presume themselves
already surrendered, but egoic self-reference or self-interest, who hide
themselves from the true state of internal non-surrender not proceed without
willingness to embrace the study properly to benefit from the self-
revelation offered.
- Unconditional devotion to Sri Krishna is the supreme goal of life.

Anuccheda 7

After offering obeisances to my initiating spiritual master and to those spiritual masters
who taught me the meaning of Srimad-Bhagavatam, I wish to write this book called Sri
Bhagavata-Sandarbha.

- This Sandarbha gathers together essential verses of the Srimad Bhagavatam to

disclose the confidential meaning of that book.

Anuccheda 8 - The Seed-Conception of the Sat Sandarbhas

- The nature of the reality to be realized

- core truths
- Verse 8 is the seed-conception for the Sandarbhas
- Has visaya, sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana
- both describes reality and serves to attune consciousness to that reality

The feature of Lord Krsna as pure consciousness, without any manifest characteristics, is
called Brahman in some portions of the Vedas. In another feature He expands as the
Purusa, who controls the external potency, Maya, by His many plenary portions. In yet
another of His principal forms He is present as Narayana in the spiritual sky, Vaikuntha.
May that Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, bestow love for Himself on
those who worship His lotus feet in this world.
 - visaya (subject) is Svayam Bhagavan Sri Krishna
- sambandha is relationship between signified and signifier (words)
(words carry inherent power to turn consciousness toward what they
signify - Sri Krishna)
- abhidheya is tat-pada-bhajam pure devotional worship of His feet
- prayojana is prema

- Brahman is eternal, conscious and unlimited (satyam jnanam anantam brahma).

- amsa is antaryami Paramatma interior regulator and immanence

(purusa-avataras) with gunavataras and lilavataras
Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha

- Narayana, lord of Vaikuntha, also Bhagavan belongs to Svayam Bhagavan

is a vilasa expansion, same quality and potency with different form

- Sri Krishna is svayam-rupa, independent of other forms, the original

self-existent form, basis for all other forms.

SB 1.2.11

vadanti tat tattva-vidas

 tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam
brahmeti paramātmeti
 bhagavān iti śabdyate

Word for word:

vadanti — they say; tat — that; tattva-vidaḥ — the learned souls; tattvam — the Absolute
Truth; yat — which; jñānam — knowledge; advayam — nondual; brahma iti — known
as Brahman; paramātmā iti — known as Paramātmā; bhagavān iti — known as
Bhagavān; śabdyate — it so sounded.

Translation:

Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance
Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān.

- anubandhas to create taste, like the subject, prema, ect.