गोविन्द भाष्य (श्रील बलदेव विद्याभूषण - अचिन्त्यभेदाभेद वेदान्त ब्रह्मसूत्र भाष्य सटीक)

श्रील बलदेव विद्याभूषण विरचित भूमिका
विषयः अब सूत्रकार यह दर्शाते हैं कि भक्ति दो प्रकार की होती है—एकाङ्गी और अनेकाङ्गी। अथर्ववेदीय गोपालतापनी उपनिषद् के प्रथम अध्याय में अष्टादशाक्षर-मन्त्र का निरूपण करते हुए कहा गया है (१.६)—
यो ध्यायति रसयति भजति सोऽमृतो भवति ॥
"जो परमेश्वर का ध्यान करता है, उनका रस-आस्वादन (कीर्तन/गुणगान) करता है तथा उनका भजन करता है, वह अमृत (मुक्त) हो जाता है।"
संशयः क्या इन तीनों में से किसी एक ही अङ्ग के अनुष्ठान से मुक्ति प्राप्त हो सकती है, अथवा इन तीनों का एक साथ अनुष्ठान करना अनिवार्य है?
पूर्वपक्षः उपनिषद् इन तीनों का नामोल्लेख करती है और उनके उपरान्त कहती है कि साधक अमृत हो जाता है। अतः मुक्ति प्राप्त करने के लिए तीनों का ही अनुष्ठान अनिवार्य है।
सिद्धान्तः इस विषय में सूत्रकार निम्नलिखित शब्दों में अपना सिद्धान्त प्रतिपादित करते हैं—
सूत्र ३२
अनियमः सर्वेषामविरोधाच्छब्दानुमानाभ्याम् ॥ ३२ ॥
पदार्थः अनियमः — कोई नियम (बाध्यता) नहीं है; सर्वेषाम् — सभी के (एकत्र अनुष्ठान का); अविरोधात् — क्योंकि विरोध का अभाव है; शब्दानुमानाभ्याम् — श्रुति और स्मृति के प्रमाणों से।
अनुवाद: उन सभी के एकत्र अनुष्ठान का कोई निश्चित नियम नहीं है, क्योंकि श्रुति-शास्त्र और स्मृति-शास्त्र के वचनों से इसमें कोई विरोध नहीं है।
श्रील बलदेव विद्याभूषण विरचित गोविन्दभाष्य
ऐसा कोई नियम नहीं है कि मुक्ति-लाभ के लिए ध्यान, रस-आस्वादन (कीर्तन) तथा भजन—इन तीनों का ही अनुष्ठान किया जाए। इनमें से किसी एक का भी अनुष्ठान मुक्ति प्रदान करने में समर्थ है।
ऐसा क्यों? सूत्र कहता है—"शब्दानुमानाभ्याम्"। इसका अभिप्राय है—"श्रुति और स्मृति के साथ कोई विरोध न होने के कारण।" आगे चलकर गोपालतापनी उपनिषद् में...

Upaniṣad (1.10) it is said:
cintayaṁś cetasā kṛṣṇaṁ
mukto bhavati saṁsṛteḥ
"By meditating on Lord Kṛṣṇa a person becomes liberated from the cycle of
repeated birth and death."
In the Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad (1.12) it is also said
pañca-padaṁ pañcāṅgaṁ japan dyāvābhūmī sūryācandramasau sāgnī
"By chanting these five names one attains the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
whose potencies are manifested as the heavenly planets, the earth, the sun, the
moon, and fire."
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (12.3.51) it is said:
kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya
mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet
"Simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra one can become free from
material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom."*
It is also said:
eko 'pi kṛṣṇāya kṛtaḥ pramāṇo
daśāśvamedhāvabhṛthair na tulyaḥ
daśāśvamedhī punar eti janma
kṛṣṇa-pramāṇī na punar-bhavāya
"Ten aśvamedhāvabhṛthas are not equal to once bowing down before Lord
Kṛṣṇa. One who performs ten aśvamedhas again takes birth. One who bows before
Lord Kṛṣṇa never takes birth again."
These passages do not in any way oppose the statement of Gopāla-tāpanī
Upaniṣad 1.6. If this were so then each scriptural statement affirming that
liberation is attained by performing a certain kind of devotional service would
have to be rejected. Therefore the statement of Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad (1.6), "He
becomes liberated" must be considered to be connected individually to each of the

statements, "He who meditates on the Supreme Personality of Godhead," "He who
glorifies the Supreme Personality of Godhead", and “He who worships the
Supreme Personality of Godhead".
The meaning here is, "If even only one of the many kinds activities of
devotional service brings liberation, then how much more effectively will the
performance of many kinds of activities in devotional service bring one to
liberation?" This is a hint pointing to the nine activities of devotional service,
beginning with hearing and chanting about the Lord.
Here someone may object: Is it not so that the Śruti-śāstras teach that liberation
is attained by meditation alone? In the Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad (4.5.6 and 2.4.5)
it is said:
ātmā vā are draṣṭavyaḥ
"In a trance of meditation one should gaze on the Supreme Personality of
Godhead."
Therefore how can it be said that liberation is attained by other methods, such
as chanting the glories of the Lord?
To this I reply: Chanting the glories of the Lord and the other activities of
devotional service are woven together with meditation on the Lord. They are not
separate. Therefore when one chants the Lord's glories or performs other activities
of devotional service, meditation on the Lord is also present, and when one
meditates on the Lord, chanting the Lord's glories and the other activities of
devotional service are also present.
Here someone may object: It is not correct to say that one can attain liberation
simply by understanding the truth about the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Although they are perfect in knowledge of the Lord, Brahmā, Śiva, Indra, and the
other demigods still remain in the material world. Indeed it is even seen that
sometimes they oppose the Lord's desires.
If this is said, then the author of the sūtras gives the following reply.
Sūtra 33
yāvad-adhikāram avasthitir ādhikārikāṇām
yāvat—as long as; adhikāram—the post; avasthitiḥ—the situation;
ādhikārikāṇām—of they who hold the posts.

The office-holders stay for the duration of their terms in office.
Purport by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa
We do not say that everyone who has perfect knowledge of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead at once attains liberation. However, their accumulated past
karma is all destroyed by their knowledge of the Lord, and their present actions
also bear no karmic result. When the term of life in their present body is
exhausted, then they will attain liberation. Because they hold posts in the
management of the universe, Brahmā and the other demigods do not become
liberated until their terms of office expire. This is so even though their past and
present karmic reactions are already destroyed.
When their terms of office expire, then they become liberated and enter the
supreme abode of the Lord. This should be understood. The demigod Indra and
the others like him that have relatively short terms of office go, at the end of their
terms, to the demigod Brahmā, whose term of office is much longer. When Brahmā
attains liberation they all attain liberation with him. The author of the sūtras will
describe this later in this book (4.3.10).
As for the demigods opposing the Lord's desires, they do this only in
conformance with His wish, and in order to assist the Lord's pastimes. These
demigods may appear to be materialists engaged in sense gratification, but that is
only a false show. In truth they are transcendentalists fixed in knowledge of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, when their terms of office expire,
they all attain liberation. Of this there is no doubt.
Adhikaraṇa 15
Meditation on the Qualities

॥ अथ तृतीयोऽध्यायः - तृतीयः पादः ॥
॥ अक्षराधिक्षेपाधिकरणम् (अक्षरध्यधिकरणम्) ॥
श्रुति-प्रमाणम् (बृहदारण्यकोपनिषत् ३.८.८) —
"एतद्वै तदक्षरं गार्गि ब्राह्मणा अभिवदन्त्यस्थूलमनण्वह्रस्वमदीर्घम्..."
हिन्दी अनुवाद: "हे गार्गि! ब्रह्मवेत्ता ब्राह्मण जिसे 'अक्षर' कहते हैं, वह परमब्रह्म न स्थूल है, न सूक्ष्म, न छोटा है और न बड़ा।"
तथा चोक्तम् (मुण्डकोपनिषत् १.१.५-६) —
"अथ परा यया तदक्षरमधिगम्यते। यत्तदद्रेश्यमग्राह्यमगोत्रमवर्णमचक्षुःश्रोत्रम्..."
हिन्दी अनुवाद: "परा विद्या वह है जिससे उस अक्षरब्रह्म का साक्षात्कार होता है। वह अदृश्य, अग्राह्य, गोत्र-रहित, वर्ण-रहित तथा चक्षु एवं श्रोत्र से रहित है।"
वह परमेश्वर न कभी क्षीण होता है और न कभी विनष्ट होता है। वह न देखा जा सकता है और न पकड़ा जा सकता है। उसका कोई कुल अथवा जाति नहीं है, न ही उसका शब्दों द्वारा पूर्ण निरूपण सम्भव है। नेत्र और कर्ण उसे नहीं जान सकते।
संशयः — क्या भगवान् के ये नकारात्मक अथवा निषेधात्मक धर्म (जैसे अक्षरत्व, अस्थूलत्व, अनणुत्व आदि) उनके प्रत्येक ध्यान (उपासना) में सम्मिलित किए जाने चाहिए, अथवा प्रत्येक ध्यान में इनका समावेश नहीं होना चाहिए?
पूर्वपक्षः — पूर्वपक्ष का कथन है कि सूत्र ३.३.२० में कहा गया है:
"समान एवं चाभेदात्" (ब्रह्मसूत्र ३.३.२०)
अर्थ: "यद्यपि वह भिन्न प्रतीत होता है, तथापि अभेद होने के कारण वह समान ही है।"
इन वचनों से यह समझा जाता है कि परमेश्वर निश्चित रूप से सविशेष/साकार स्वरूप से युक्त हैं। अतः पूर्वोक्त निषेध-परक वर्णन (कि वे न स्थूल हैं, न सूक्ष्म हैं) साकार रूप वाले परमेश्वर के ध्यान का अङ्ग नहीं माना जा सकता।
सिद्धान्तः — इस संशय के समाधान हेतु सूत्रकार भगवान् बादरायण अपना निश्चित मत प्रस्तुत करते हैं:
॥ सूत्र ३४ ॥
अक्षरधियां त्ववरोधः सामान्यतद्भावाभ्यामौपसदवत्तदुक्तम् ॥ ३४ ॥
पदच्छेद एवं पदार्थ:
अक्षर — अविनाशी परमब्रह्म की;
धियाम् — बुद्धियों का (निषेधात्मक गुणों के चिन्तन का);
तु — किन्तु;
अवरोधः — उपसंहार (सर्वत्र ध्यान में ग्रहण/समावेश);
सामान्य — सर्वत्र ब्रह्म के विशेषणों की समानता से;
तद्भावाभ्याम् — और उसी ब्रह्म का भाव (स्वरूप) होने के कारण;
औपसदवत् — उपसद्-सम्बन्धी मन्त्र के समान;
तत् — वह नियम;
उक्तम् — पूर्वमीमांसा में प्रतिपादित किया गया है।
सूत्रार्थ एवं व्याख्या:
किन्तु अक्षरब्रह्म-सम्बन्धी निषेध-परक बुद्धियों (अस्थूलत्व, अनणुत्व आदि धारणाओं) का सभी ब्रह्मविद्याओं में समावेश (अवरोध) होता है,
क्योंकि सभी उपासनाओं में ज्ञेय ब्रह्म का स्वरूप 'समान' है और वे सभी धर्म उसी 'तद्भाव' (एक ही परब्रह्म के स्वरूप) को स्पष्ट करते हैं।
जिस प्रकार जामदग्न्य अहीन-सत्र में पुरोडाश-प्रदान काल में पठनीय उपसद्-मन्त्र अन्य वेदों के कर्मकाण्ड में भी ग्रहण किए जाते हैं—जैसा कि पूर्वमीमांसा (३.३.९) में कहा गया है—
ठीक उसी प्रकार सभी उपासनाओं में अक्षर-ब्रह्म के निषेधात्मक गुणों का चिन्तन अनिवार्य रूप से ग्राह्य है।

Purport by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa
The word "tu" (but) here begins the refutation of the opponent's argument.
The idea that the imperishable Lord is neither great nor small should be included
in all meditations on Him. Why is that? The sūtra explains: "Because He has the
same qualities." The Kaṭha Upaniṣad (1.2.15) explains:
sarve vedā yat-padam āmananti
"All the Vedas glorify the Supreme."
The worshipable Supreme is always the same. Therefore these features are
present even though He has a form. Therefore the qualities like being neither great
nor small are also present in the Lord's form. This is the meaning. Śvetāśvatara
Upaniṣad (1.11) affirms that by understanding the Supreme Personality of
Godhead one attains liberation. The knowledge here is knowledge of the Supreme
as an extraordinary being, not as an ordinary being. To posit anything else is
illogical and an insult to the Supreme. Therefore the qualities like being neither
great not small should be included with the qualities like being all-pervading, all-
knowing, and full of bliss. In this way there is the knowledge that the Supreme is
an extraordinary being. From this it may be inferred that the Supreme is different
from all other persons. In this way it is proved that the form of the Supreme is free
from anything that is bad or to be rejected. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (8.3.24) it is
said:
sa vai na devāsura-martya-tiryaṅ
na strī na ṣaṇḍo na pumān na jantuḥ
nāyaṁ guṇaḥ karma na san na cāsan
niṣedha-śeṣo jayatād aśeṣaḥ
"He neither demigod nor demon, neither human nor bird nor beast. He is not
woman, man, nor 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."*
Prayed to with these words, which describe a being neither great nor small, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead personally appeared in His transcendental form, a
form that must be the same as the being described in these prayers. That
appearance is described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (8.3.30):

हरिर् आविरासीत्।
"तब परम पुरुषोत्तम भगवान् स्वयं साक्षात् प्रकट हुए।"
इस प्रसंग में गजेन्द्र ने भगवान् की एक विशेष रूप में स्तुति करते हुए उनसे प्रार्थना की,
और भगवान् ने भी उसी रूप में प्रकट होकर प्रत्युत्तर दिया जैसा कि प्रार्थनाओं में
वर्णित किया गया था। यदि वे प्रार्थनाएं भगवान् के स्वरूप के अनुरूप न होतीं, तब तो
भगवान् गजेन्द्र के हृदय में केवल एक अस्पष्ट निर्विशेष ज्ञान के रूप में ही प्रकट होते।
इस प्रकार यह विचार कि परमेश्वर कोई प्राकृत देवता अथवा अन्य किसी प्रकार के
भौतिक प्राणी हैं, पूर्णतः निराकृत हो जाता है। यद्यपि भगवान् किसी देवता अथवा मनुष्य के
सदृश रूप में प्रकट होते हैं, तथापि ये उनके अपने नित्य दिव्य रूप हैं और
वे भौतिक (प्राकृत) नहीं हैं।
"औपसदवत्" शब्दों द्वारा सूत्र यह दिखाने के लिए दृष्टान्त प्रस्तुत करता है कि
गौण धर्म अनिवार्य रूप से मुख्य धर्म का ही अनुसरण करते हैं। यहाँ "उपसद्" शब्द
एक विशिष्ट वैदिक अनुष्ठान में प्रयुक्त विशिष्ट मन्त्र का निर्देश करता है। जब जाResource/जामदग्न्य
सत्र में, जहाँ "अग्नेर्वै होत्रम्" मन्त्र से पुरोडाश की आहुति दी जाती है,
उपसद्-मन्त्र का पाठ सामवेद की शैली (गान) में किया जाता है। तथापि, जब इसका
यजुर्वेदीय अनुष्ठान में प्रयोग होता है, तो उपसद्-मन्त्र का पाठ यजुर्वेद की शैली में
किया जाता है। इस प्रकार गौण स्वभाव मुख्य स्वभाव का अनुगमन करता है। अतः
भगवान् के गौण गुणों को उनके मुख्य गुणों के अनुसार ही समझा जाना चाहिए।
यह बात विधि-खण्ड (पूर्वमीमांसा) में निम्नलिखित शब्दों में कही गई है:
गुणमुख्यव्यतिक्रमे तदर्थत्वान्मुख्येन वेदसंयोगः॥
"जब मुख्य और गौण (अंग) में विरोध उपस्थित हो, तो मुख्य के प्रयोजनवश
मुख्य धर्म को ही स्वीकार किया जाना चाहिए।"
यहाँ कोई पूर्वपक्षी आक्षेप कर सकता है कि भगवान् के स्वरूप का वर्णन
निम्नलिखित श्रुति-वचनों में भी किया गया है:
सर्वकर्मा सर्वगन्धः (छान्दोग्योपनिषद् ३.१४.२)
"परब्रह्म समस्त कर्मों वाले तथा समस्त दिव्य गन्धों से युक्त हैं।"
इस हेतु, भगवान् के समस्त ध्यान-उपासनाओं में उनके सर्वकर्तृत्व तथा
सर्वगन्धत्व का ध्यान भी अवश्य सम्मिलित होना चाहिए।
यदि ऐसा कहा जाए, तो इसके उत्तर में सूत्रकार (श्रीव्यासदेव) निम्नलिखित समाधान देते हैं:
सूत्र ३५

iyad āmananāt
iyat—this; āmananāt—by the description.
It follows the description.
Purport by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa
The word "iyat" means "in that way". In that way one should always meditate
on the qualities of the Supreme Lord's transcendental form. In what way? The
sūtra explains: "āmananāt" (following the description). This means, "following the
description of the Lord's primary qualities". On the Lord's primary qualities are
compulsory in meditation on Him. Therefore it is not necessary that in every
meditation on the Lord one must meditate on His doing everything or possessing
all fragrances.
Adhikaraṇa 16
The Lord's Transcendental Abode
Introduction by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa
Now it will be explained that one should meditate on the transcendental abode
of the Lord. In the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad (2.2.7) it is said:
yaḥ sarva-jñaḥ sarva-vid yasyaiṣa mahimā bhuvi sambabhūva divye pure hy eṣa
samvyomny ātmā pratiṣṭhitaḥ.
"The all-knowing Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose greatness is seen
everywhere in the world, resides in His own effulgent city in the spiritual sky."
However, it is also said (Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 2.2.10):
brahmaivedam viśvam idaṁ variṣṭham

प्रकरण-सन्दभः
"परमपुरुष भगवान् इस सम्पूर्ण प्राकृत जगत् में सर्वत्र व्याप्त रूप से उपस्थित हैं।"
संशयः
संशयः — क्या चिद्व्योम (आध्यात्मिक आकाश/परमव्योम) में वर्णित भगवान् की पुरी (परमधाम/नगर) का वर्णन केवल
भगवान् की महिमा का रूपक (अलंकार) मात्र है, अथवा वास्तव में वहाँ अनेक अद्भुत प्रासादों,
गोपुर-द्वारों, परकोटों (प्राचीरों) आदि दिव्य वैशिष्ट्यों से युक्त ऐसा वास्तविक नगर विद्यमान है?
पूर्वपक्षः
पूर्वपक्षः — अत्र किं प्राप्तम्? क्या यह केवल रूपक है? उत्तर यह है कि ये समस्त वर्णन
केवल परमेश्वर की असीम महिमा को व्यक्त करने हेतु रूपकात्मक (गौण) हैं। छान्दोग्योपनिषद् (७।२४।१) में
कहा गया है —
श्रुति-प्रमाणम् (छान्दोग्योपनिषद् ७।२४।१)
«स भगवः कस्मिन् प्रतिष्ठित इति। स्वे महिम्नि...»
श्रुति-हिन्दी-अनुवादः
"हे भगवन्! वह परमात्मा किसमें प्रतिष्ठित (स्थित) हैं? वे अपनी ही महिमा में प्रतिष्ठित हैं।"
इस प्रकार श्रुति-शास्त्र भगवान् को स्व-महिमा में ही प्रतिष्ठित बतलाता है। अतः आध्यात्मिक आकाश
में वर्णित धाम वास्तव में भगवान् की महिमा ही है, कोई पृथक् देश या नगर नहीं।
इसलिए यह सम्भव नहीं कि परमेश्वर का किसी सीमित स्थानविशेष में आवास हो।
इसकी पुष्टि "ब्रह्मैव..." इत्यादि श्रुति-वाक्यों से भी होती है।
सिद्धान्तः
सिद्धान्तः — इस पूर्वपक्ष के निवारणार्थ सूत्रकार भगवान् बादरायण अग्रिम सूत्र प्रस्तुत करते हैं —
ब्रह्मसूत्रम् (३।३।३६)
सूत्र ३६
«अन्तरा भूतग्रामवत् स्वात्मनः॥ ३६॥»
पदच्छेदः एवं शब्दार्थः
अन्तरा — अन्तः, मध्ये (भीतर / चिद्व्योम के मध्य में);
भूत-ग्राम-वत् — भौतिक-तत्त्व-निर्मित-नगरवत् (भौतिक जगत् के नगर के समान प्रासाद-गोपुरादि-युक्त);
स्वात्मनः — स्वस्य, स्वभक्तानाम् (परमात्मा के अपने स्वरूप से / अपने भक्तों के प्रति)।
सूत्रार्थः (हिन्दी अनुवाद)
चिद्व्योम के भीतर परमधाम अपने भक्तों के लिए भौतिक नगर के सदृश साक्षात् स्वरूप-विभूतियों सहित नित्य विद्यमान है।
श्रीमद्-बलदेवविद्याभूषण-कृत गोविन्दभाष्य-तात्पर्यम्
गोविन्दभाष्य-भावानुवादः
भगवान् के अपने भक्तों के लिए चिद्व्योम में वह परमधाम एक महान् नगर के सदृश नित्य प्रत्यक्ष है।
यहाँ "स्वात्मनः" पद का अर्थ "अपने निज भक्त के प्रति" (स्वभक्तस्य) है। श्रुति-शास्त्र (मुण्डकोपनिषद् ३।२।३
एवं कठोपनिषद् १।२।२३) में भी यही स्पष्ट किया गया है —

yam evaiṣa vṛṇute tena labhyaḥ
"The Supreme Personality of Godhead is attained only by one whom He
Himself chooses."*
Although everything in that city is perfectly spiritual, still it appears like a city
made of earth and the other material elements. The word "vat" (like) used in the
sūtra refutes the idea that this city is actually material in nature. The sūtra says
that it is "svātmanaḥ" (manifested from Himself). In the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad
(2.2.11) it is said:
brahmaivedam amṛtaṁ purastāt paścāc ca. brahma dakṣiṇataś cottareṇādhaś
cordhvaṁ prasṛtam. brahmaivedaṁ viśvam idaṁ variṣṭham.
"The Supreme is eternal. He is in the east and the west. He is in the south and
the north. He is below and He is above. He is everywhere in the universe. He is the
greatest."
As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full of transcendental
knowledge and bliss, has a wonderful variety of features, such as His hands, feet,
nails, and hair, so the Lord's transcendental abode, which is manifested from His
own personal form, also has a wonderful variety of features, such as the different
forms in its land and water. Even though they are all spirit and nothing else, still
they manifest a great variety, like a peacock feather or other colorful object.
Sūtra 37
anyathā bhedānupapattir iti cen nopadeśāntara-vat
anyathā—otherwise; bheda—difference; anupapattiḥ—non-attainment; iti—
thus; cet—if; na—not; upadeśa—teaching; antara—another; vat—like.
If it is said, "It is otherwise, for there is no difference", then I reply: No. It is not
so. For it is like other teachings.
Purport by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa
If it is said, "It is otherwise, for if there is no difference between them, then

there must be no difference between the creator of the abode and the abode itself,"
then the sūtra replies. “No. This is not a fault". Why is that? The sūtra replies,
“upadeśāntara-vat" (for it is like other teachings). In the Taittirīya Upaniṣad it is
said:
ānandaṁ brahmaṇo vidvān
"A wise man knows the bliss of the Supreme".
In this and other teachings it is said that even though the Supreme is one with
His attributes, still He is also different from them. That is the meaning.
(Note: Here the opponent claims that because the Lord is not different from His
transcendental abode, therefore it is not possible for the Lord to dwell in that
abode, for He is not different from it. This is refuted by the scriptures' assertion
that the Lord is also different from His attributes, including His transcendental
abode.)
Sūtra 38
vyatihāro viśiṁṣanti hītara-vat
vyatihāro-changeable; viśiṁṣanti—distinguish; hi—indeed; itara—others; vat—
like.
Like others, they say they are interchangeable.
Purport by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa
In the Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad (1.4.15) it is said:
ātmānam eva lokam upāsīta
"One should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead as identical with His
spiritual abode."
This passage of the Śruti-śāstra clearly shows that the Supreme Personality of
Godhead is identical with His spiritual abode and the spiritual abode is identical

...परमपुरुष श्रीभगवान् के साथ। इस प्रकार यह सिद्ध होता है कि वे दोनों परस्पर अभिन्न हैं। श्रीभगवान् अपने दिव्य धाम से अभिन्न हैं, और उनका दिव्य धाम स्वयं श्रीभगवान् से अभिन्न है।
गोपालतापिन्युपनिषद् के "सत्पुण्डरीकनयनम्" से आरम्भ होने वाले वचन में, तथा "साक्षात् प्रकृतिपरोऽयमात्मा गोपालः" इत्यादि सन्दर्भ में,
श्रुति-शास्त्र यह स्पष्ट प्रतिपादित करता है कि श्रीभगवान् का श्रीविग्रह स्वयं श्रीभगवान् से अभिन्न है, और श्रीभगवान् अपने श्रीविग्रह से अभिन्न हैं।
इस प्रकार सच्चिदानन्द-स्वरूप श्रीभगवान् अपनी अचिन्त्य शक्ति के द्वारा अपने दिव्य धाम के रूप में स्वयं को प्रकट करते हैं,
जिसे वे केवल अपने अनन्य भक्त पर ही प्रकाशित करते हैं, अन्य किसी पर नहीं।
इस प्रकार यह सिद्ध होता है कि जिस प्रकार श्रीभगवान् का ध्यान किया जाता है, उसी प्रकार श्रीभगवान् के दिव्य धाम का भी ध्यान करना चाहिए।
॥ अधिकरणम् १७ ॥
(भगवद्धर्माधिकरणम् — श्रीभगवान् के दिव्य गुण)
श्रील बलदेव विद्याभूषण विरचित गोविन्दभाष्य — भूमिका:
पूर्वोक्त सिद्धान्त को ही और अधिक दृढ़ करने के लिए यह निरूपण आरम्भ किया जाता है।
भगवान् के विशेष स्वरूप और दिव्य गुणों का प्रतिपादन करने वाले अनेक श्रुति-वाक्य यहाँ विचार के विषय (विषय-वाक्य) हैं।
संशय: क्या श्रीभगवान् के रूप और गुण दिव्य यथार्थता (अप्राकृत सत्य) हैं अथवा वे केवल प्राकृत माया (भ्रम) हैं?
पूर्वपक्ष: (पूर्वपक्षी का कथन है) — बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद् (४।४।१९) में कहा गया है:
नेह नानास्ति किञ्चन
"परम तत्त्व में किसी प्रकार का नानात्व (विविधता या भेद) विद्यमान नहीं है।"
तथा बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद् (२।३।६) में कहा गया है:
अथात आदेशो नेति नेति
"इसके पश्चात् ब्रह्म का उपदेश 'यह नहीं, यह नहीं' (नेति नेति) इस प्रकार किया गया है।"

"This is the teaching: It is not this. It is not this."
In this way the Śruti-śāstra teaches that the Supreme has neither features nor
qualities.
Siddhānta (conclusion): In the following words the author of the sūtras gives
His conclusion.
Sūtra 39
saiva hi satyādayaḥ
sā—she; eva—indeed; hi—indeed; satya—truth; ādayaḥ—beginning with.
Indeed, she is those that begin with truth.
Purport by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa
In the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (6.8) it is said:
parāsya śaktiḥ
"The Supreme has a potency that is spiritual."
In the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (6.7.61) it is said:
viṣṇu-śaktiḥ parā
"Lord Viṣṇu has a potency that is spiritual."
This potency is clearly different from the illusory material potency (māyā). As
heat is to fire, so this personal, spiritual potency is to the Lord. This potency is
called parā śakti (spiritual potency) or svarūpa śakti (the Lord's personal potency).
Because this spiritual potency manifests itself as the truthfulness and other
qualities of the Lord, these qualities are not material or illusory. They are the
actual qualities of the Lord. Two arguments proving that the Lord's truthfulness
and other qualities are manifestations of this spiritual potency will be given later.

The "neti neti" passage quoted by the pūrvapakṣa has already been refuted in sūtra
3.2.22.
The word "ādi" (beginning with) should be understood to imply the Lord's
other qualities, such as His purity, mercy, forgiveness, omniscience, omnipotence,
bliss, handsomeness, and many others. That is why Parāśara Muni defines the
word "bhagavān" as "The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is supremely
pure, filled with spiritual good qualities, and the master of great potencies". Then
Parāśara Muni explains that the Lord has many transcendental qualities, such as
His being the maintainer of all, the master of all, the master of all opulences,
possessing all intelligence, and many other qualities also. In the Viṣṇu Purāṇa
(6.5.72-75) Parāāsra Muni says:
śuddhe mahā-vibhūty-ākhye
pare brahmaṇi śabdyate
maitreya bhagavac-chabdaḥ
sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇe
"O Maitreya, the word bhagavān' means The Supreme Personality of Godhead,
who is supremely pure, who is the cause of all causes, and who is the master of
great potencies.'
sambharteti tathā bhartā
bha-kāro 'rtha-dvayānvitaḥ
netā gamayitā sraṣṭā
ga-kārārthas tathā mune
"The syllable bha' means the maintainer of all' or the protector of all'. O sage, the syllable ga' means the leader', the savior', or `the creator'.
aiśvaryasya samagrasya
vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ
jñāna-vairāgyayos cāpi
ṣaṇṇāṁ bhaga itīṅganāḥ
"Full wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge, and renunciation: these are
the six opulences of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.*
vasanti yatra bhūtāni
bhūtātmany akhilātmani
sa ca bhūteṣv aśeṣeṣu
vakārārthas tato 'vyayaḥ

jñāna-śakti-balaiśvarya. . .
"The syllable va' means the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in whom
everything abode, and who Himself abides in all beings.' Therefore the word
bhagavān' means The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has all knowledge,
power, and opulences'. "
Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead's truthfulness and other
qualities are not different from Him. In this way it is proved that one should
meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead as being not different from His
qualities.
Adhikaraṇa 18
The Goddess of Fortune
Introduction by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa
Now will be explained the truth that the goddess of fortune is the best of the
Lord's qualities. In the Śukla Yajur-Veda (31.22) it is said:
śrīś ca te lakṣmīś ca patnyau
"O Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī and Lakṣmī are Your wives."
Some say that Śrī is Ramā-devī and Lakṣmī is Bhāgavatī Sampat. Others say that
Śrī is Vāg-devī and Lakṣmī is Ramā-devī. In the Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad (.141) it is
said:
kamalā-pataye namaḥ
"Obeisances to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband."
In the Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad (1.42) it is also said:
ramā-mānasa-haṁsāya

govindāya namo namaḥ
"Obeisances to Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is the pleasure of the cows, the land, and the
senses, and who is a swan swimming in the Mānasa lake of the goddess of fortune's
thoughts."
In the Rāma-tāpanī Upaniṣad it is said:
ramādhārāya rāmāya
"Obeisances to Lord Rāma, on whom the goddess of fortune rests."
Saṁśaya (doubt): Is the goddess of fortune material, and therefore not eternal,
or is she spiritual, and therefore eternal?
Pūrvapakṣa (the opponent speaks): In Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad (2.3.6) it is
said:
athāta ādeśo neti neti
"This is the teaching: It is not this. It is not this."
These words show that the Supreme has no qualities and therefore it is not
possible that, ultimately, the goddess of fortune can be His wife. The goddess of
fortune is a material illusion, a manifestation of the material mode of pure
goodness.. Therefore the goddess of

because She has many other virtues, She is the source of what is to be desired, both
there and in other places also.
Purport by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa
The words "sā eva" (she indeed) are understood from the previous sūtra. The
"she" here is the transcendental goddess of fortune, who in both the spiritual sky
(tatra), which is untouched by matter, and also in the world of the five material
elements (itaratra), fulfills the desires of her master. She is the eternal goddess of
fortune. The word "kāma" here means "the desire for amorous pastimes". The
word "ādi" (beginning with) here means "personal service and other activities
appropriate for these pastimes.
In this way the goddess of fortune is transcendental. Why is that? The sūtra
explains: "āya-tanādibhyaḥ". The word "āya" means "all-pervading". The word
“tana" means "giving liberation an bliss to the devotees". In these two ways she is
like the Lord Himself, who possesses truthfulness and a host of other virtues.
The word "ādi" (beginning with) here hints that she is spiritual in nature. The
statement of Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (6.8) also affirms that she is spiritual. In this
way she is spiritual and all-pervading. She has knowledge, compassion, and a host
of other virtues, and she is also a giver of liberation. In these ways the goddess of
fortune is not different from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the Viṣṇu
Purāṇa it is said:
nityaiva sā jagan-mātā
viṣṇoḥ śrīr anapāyinī
yathā sarva-gato viṣṇus
tathaiveyaṁ dvijottama
"The goddess of fortune is the eternal companion of Lord Viṣṇu. She is the
mother of the universe. O best of the brāhmaṇas, as Lord Viṣṇu is all-pervading, so
is she also."
It is also said in the scriptures:
ātma-vidyā ca devi tvaṁ
vimukti-phala-dāyinī
"O goddess of fortune, You are the Lord's spiritual knowledge. You are the
giver of liberation."
If the goddess of fortune were not spiritual it would be improper to ascribe
these two qualities (all-pervasiveness and giving liberation) to her. That the

goddess of fortune is spiritual is described in the following words of the Viṣṇu
Purāṇa:
procyate parameśo yo
yaḥ śuddho 'py upacārataḥ
prasīdatu sa no viṣṇur
ātmā yaḥ sarva-dehinām
"May supremely pure Lord Viṣṇu, who is the master of the spiritual goddess of
fortune and the Supersoul of all living entities, be merciful to us."
The word "para-mā" in this verse means "the spiritual (para) goddess of fortune
(mā)". Because the goddess of fortune has been described as being all-pervading
and having other spiritual attributes, it is not possible that she is material. In this
way it is proved that the goddess of fortune is not material. For these reasons the
goddess of fortune is spiritual and eternal.
Here someone may object: Is it not so that if the goddess of fortune is the
spiritual potency of the Lord, (which is not different from the Lord), then it is not
possible for her to have devotion for the Lord? After all, it is not possible for a
person to have devotion to himself.
If this objection is raised, then the author of the sūtras replies in the following
words.
Sūtra 41
ādarād alopaḥ
ādarāt—because of devotion; alopaḥ—non-ending.
Because of devotion it does not cease.
Purport by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa
Although in truth the goddess of fortune is not different from the Lord, still,
because the Lord is a jewel mine of wonderful qualities, and also because He is the
root of the goddess of fortune's existence, the love and devotion that the goddess
bears for Him never ceases. The branch never ceases to love the tree, nor the
moonlight the moon. Her love and devotion for the Lord is described in many

places in the Śruti-śāstra. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.29.37) it is said:
śrīr yat-padāmbuja-rajaś cakame tulasyā
labdhvāpi vakṣasi padaṁ kila bhṛtya-juṣṭam
"Dear Kṛṣṇa, the lotus feet of the goddess of fortune are always worshiped by
the demigods, although she is always resting on Your chest in the Vaikuṇṭha
planets. She underwent great austerity and penance to have some shelter at Your
lotus feet, which are always covered by tulasī leaves."*
Here someone may object: Is it not true that amorous love is possible only
when there are two: the lover and the beloved? If there is no difference between
the lover and the beloved, then love is not possible between them.
If this is said, then the author of the sūtras gives the following reply.
Sūtra 42
upasthite 'tas tad-vacanāt
upasthite—being near; ataḥ—thus; tat—of that; vacanāt—from the statement.
It is in His presence. It is so because of the statement.
Purport by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa
The word "upasthite" means "nearness". even though the Lord's potency and
the Lord Himself, the shelter of that potency, are one, still, because the Lord is the
best of males and His potency is the jewel of young girls, when They are together
there is naturally the perfection of blissful amorous pastimes. How is that known?
The sūtra explains: "tad-vacanāt" (because of the statement). In the Gopāla-tāpanī
Upaniṣad (2.25) it is said:
yo ha vai kāmena kāmān kāmayate sa kāmī bhavati. yo ha vai tv akāmena kāmān
kāmayate so 'kāmī bhavati.
"He who lusts after pleasures is lusty. He who enjoys without material lust is
not lusty."

In these words the amorous pastimes of the Lord are described. The word "a-
kāmena" here means "with something that bears certainly similarities to lust". This
thing with some similarities to material lust is the Lord's pure spiritual love. That
is the meaning. With spiritual love He enjoys the goddess of fortune, who is
actually Himself. In this way He finds pleasure and fulfillment. For this there is no
fault on His part. By touching the goddess of fortune, who is actually Himself, the
Lord enjoys transcendental bliss. It is like a person gazing at his own
handsomeness (in a mirror). That is what is said here.
Different from His spiritual potency (parā śakti) is the potency of the Lord's
form (svarūpa-śakti). The Śruti-śāstras and other scriptures explain that through
the svarūpa-śakti the Supreme Lord manifests as the best of males, and through
the parā śakti the Lord manifests His various transcendental qualities. It is through
the parā śakti that the Lord manifests His knowledge, bliss, mercy, opulence,
power, sweetness, and other qualities.
It is also through the parā śakti that the Vedic scriptures are manifested. In the
same way is manifested the earth and other places. manifesting as the Lord's
pleasure potency (hlādinī śakti), the parā śakti appears as Śrī Rādhā, the jewel of
teenage girls.
Although the Lord and His parā śakti are not different, still, for enjoying
different pastimes, They are manifested as different. In this way the Lord's desires
are perfectly and completely fulfilled.
These manifestations of the parā śakti, beginning with the manifestation of the
Lord's qualities, are not manifested only recently. They are beginningless and
eternal. They will never cease to exist. Therefore the devotees should meditate on
the Supreme Personality of Godhead as accompanied by the goddess of fortune.
Adhikaraṇa 19
The Many Forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Introduction by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa
In the Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad (1.54) it is said:
tasmāt eva kṛṣṇaḥ paro devas taṁ dhyāyet taṁ raset taṁ bhajet taṁ yajet. iti. oṁ
tat sat.
"Therefore, Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should
meditate on Him, glorify Him, serve Him, and worship Him. Oṁ Tat Sat."