Govinda-bhāṣya

so’yam upadeśo buddhy-arthaḥ

so’yam upadeśo buddhy-arthaḥ | sarvatra tadīyatva-jñānārthaḥ pādavat | pādo’sya viśvā bhūtāni ity atra yathā viśvasya bhagavat-pādatvopadeśas tadvat | evaṁ hi dveṣa-nihīnaṁ manas tat-pravaṇaṁ bhavati | na caivaṁ rāga-prāptir nihīnatva-buddher bādhakatvāt |
(Govinda-bhāṣya on Vedānta-sūtra: 3.2.34)

“This teaching [i.e., the teaching Chāndogya Upaniṣad 3.14.1, ‘All of this is verily Brahman’ (sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ Brahma)] is for the sake of understanding, that is, for the sake of awareness of belongingness to him (tadīyatva) in everything, like [his] foot, that is, as there is a teaching of the universe’s being the foot of Bhagavān here [in Ṛg-veda 10.90.3], ‘The existent universes are his foot.’ In this way completely free from enmity, the mind becomes intent upon him [i.e., on Bhagavān]. Also in this way [i.e., also by means of the aforementioned teaching that everything belongs to him] an occurrence of attachment (rāga) [to the universe in which one is situated, or anything within it] does not occur because of the annulling of that by understanding of the utter inferiority [of sāṁsārika existence and everything within it in comparison to Śrī Bhagavān himself].”

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vittir viraktiś ca kṛtāñjaliḥ puro

vittir viraktiś ca kṛtāñjaliḥ puro
yasyāḥ parānanda-tanor vitiṣṭhate |
siddhiś ca sevā-samayaṁ pratīkṣate
bhaktiḥ pareśasya punātu sā jagat ||
(Govinda-bhāṣya on Vedānta-sūtra: 3.2.1)

“May bhakti to the Supreme Īśa—
She possessed of a form of supreme bliss
Before whom Knowledge and Non-attachment
Stand with cupped-palms
And Siddhi awaits an occasion for service—
Purify the universe.”

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janayitvā vairāgyaṁ guṇair nibadhnāti modayan bhaktān

janayitvā vairāgyaṁ guṇair nibadhnāti modayan bhaktān |
yas tair baddho’pi guṇair anurajyati so’stu me hariḥ preyān ||
(Govinda-bhāṣya on Vedānta-sūtra: 3.4.52)

“May Hari—
He who produces non-attachment (vairāgya) in,
Delights in,
And binds [his] bhaktas with [his] qualities,
And [who] also becomes bound
And delighted by their qualities—
Be my beloved.”

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athāsmin tṛtīye’dhyāye tat-prāpakāṇi sādhanāni nirūpyante

athāsmin tṛtīye’dhyāye tat-prāpakāṇi sādhanāni nirūpyante | teṣu mukhyaṁ tāvat prāpyetara-vaitṛṣṇyaṁ prāpya-tṛṣṇā ceti tat-siddhaye pūrva-pāda-dvayam ārabhyate | tatra prathame pāde pañcāgni-vidyām āśritya nānāvasthasya jīvasya loka-gatyā gati-rūpā doṣāḥ prakāśyante loka-virāgāya | dvitīye tu prāpyānurāga-hetavaḥ tan-mahimādayo guṇā vakṣyante | … tad itthaṁ janma-maraṇādi-duḥkhālayatva-rūpa-prapañca-doṣoktyā nikhila-nirdoṣa-kīrtanena ca nikhila-niyāmakatva-viśuddha-cid-vigrahatvādi-paramātma-guṇa-gaṇa-nirūpaṇena ca brahma-tṛṣṇaiva tad-itara-vitṛṣṇā-pūrvikā tat-prāpti-hetur iti pādābhyāṁ darśitaṁ bhavati |
(Excerpt from Govinda-bhāṣya: 3.1.1, 3.2.42)

“Now, in this third chapter, the means (sādhanas) of attaining him [i.e., he who is the sole Cause of the world, the faultless Ocean of qualities constituted of eternal being, consciousness, and bliss, Śrī Puruṣottama (Viśvaika-hetuṁ Nirdoṣa-guṇa-ratnākaraṁ Sac-cid-ānandātmakaṁ Puruṣottamaṁ)] are determined. Among them, the primary are, specifically, non-desirousness of all that is other than the object be attained (prāpya) and desire for the objected to be attained (prāpya). The first two sections [of this third chapter] are undertaken for the purpose of establishing them [i.e., these two primary sādhanas]. In this regard, in the first section, the faults in the forms of the movements as a result of the movement through [various] planes (lokas) of a jīva subject to various conditions after taking shelter in knowledge of the five fires are shown for the purpose of detachment from those planes, whereas in the the second [section], the qualities [of the object to be attained], beginning with his greatness, which are the causes of deep attachment (anurāga) to the object of attainment, will be discussed.” …
“Thus, in this way, it is shown by [these] two sections that desire for Brahman [i.e., Paramātmā, viz., Śrī Puruṣottama] preceded by the absence of desire for anything other than him as a result of (1) discussion of the faults of phenomenal existence in the form of [its] being an abode of the sufferings of birth, death, and so forth, (2) praise of [his being] completely faultless, and (3) ascertainment of the qualities of Paramātmā [i.e., Brahman, viz., Śrī Puruṣotama] beginning with [his] being the regulator of all and being possessed of a completely pure, conscious figure, is the cause of attainment of him.”

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na vinā sādhanair devo jñāna-vairāgya-bhaktibhiḥ

na vinā sādhanair devo jñāna-vairāgya-bhaktibhiḥ |
dadāti sva-padaṁ śrīmān atas tāni budhaḥ śrayet ||
(Govinda-bhāṣya on Vedānta-sūtra: 3.1.1)

“Without the means (sādhanas) of knowledge (jñāna), non-attachment (vairāgya), and devotion (bhakti), blessed Deva does not grant his own abode [alt., his feet, to anyone]. Therefore, the wise shall take shelter in those [i.e., in the sādhanas of jñāna, vairāgya, and bhakti].”

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yadā paśyaḥ paśyate rukma-varṇaṁ

yadā paśyaḥ paśyate rukma-varṇaṁ
kartāram īśaṁ puruṣaṁ brahma-yonim |
tadā vidvān puṇya-pāpe vidhūya
nirañjanaḥ paramaṁ sāmyam upaiti ||
(Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad: 3.1.3; cited in Paramātma Sandarbha: 37; Laghu Vaiṣṇava-toṣaṇī-ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.87.17; Govinda-bhāṣya on VS: 1.2.23, 1.3.2; Sāraṅga-raṅgadā-ṭīkā on Laghu Bhāgavatāmṛta: 1.1.2)

“When a seer sees the golden-complexioned Maker, Īśa, the Puruṣa, the Source of Brahman, then that wise one casts away virtue and sin, and attains taintless, supreme likeness (sāmya) [to the Puruṣa].”

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yatra niṣkāma-dharma-nirmala-cittaḥ

yatra niṣkāma-dharma-nirmala-cittaḥ sat-prasaṅga-lubdhaḥ śraddhāluḥ śānty-ādimān adhikārī | sambandho vācya-vācaka-bhāvaḥ | viṣayo niravadyo viśuddhānanta-guṇa-gaṇo’cintyānanta-śaktiḥ sac-cid-ānandaḥ puruṣottamaḥ | prayojanaṁ tv aśeṣa-doṣa-vināśa-puraḥsaras tat-sākṣātkāra … |
(Govinda-bhāṣya on Vedānta-sūtra: 1.1.1)

“… In which [i.e., in the Vedānta-sūtra], the bearer of eligibility (adhikārī) is a person who is of taintless heart by virtue of [engagement in] desireless dharma, is desirous of association with sādhus, is endowed with śraddhā [in the meaning of śāstra], and is possessed of tranquility and so forth [i.e., control of the mind, control of the senses, and other virtues]. The relation (sambandha) [of the text with its subject (viṣaya)] is of the nature of referent (vācya) and referrer (vācaka). The subject (viṣaya) is the irreproachable Supreme Person (Puruṣottama) constituted of eternal being, consciousness, and bliss and possessed of endless pure qualities and endless inconceivable potency. The aim (prayojana) is direct perception (sākṣātkāra) of him preceded by the disintegration of all faults.”

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viṣayo viśayaś caiva pūrvapakṣas tathottaram

viṣayo viśayaś caiva pūrvapakṣas tathottaram |
nirṇayaś ceti pañcāṅgaṁ śāstre’dhikaraṇaṁ smṛtam ||
(Śloka-vārtika of Kumārila Bhaṭṭa)

“(1) The subject (viṣaya), (2) a doubt (viśaya) [regarding it], (3) a prior position (pūrvapakṣa) [regarding it], then (4) the answer [lit., the ‘latter’ position regarding it], (5) and the conclusion (nirṇaya)—an adhikaraṇa [i.e., ‘topic’] in śāstra in known to be of these five parts.”

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śrīmad-govinda-padāravinda-makaranda-lubdha-cetobhiḥ

śrīmad-govinda-padāravinda-makaranda-lubdha-cetobhiḥ |
govinda-bhāṣyam etat pāṭhyaṁ śapatho’rpito’nyebhyaḥ ||
(Govinda-bhāṣya: Upasaṁhāra, 2)

“This Govinda-bhāṣya is to be studied by those whose minds are desirous of the nectar of the lotus feet of Śrīmad Govinda. A curse [i.e., a prohibition on studying it] is cast upon others [i.e., those devoid of such desire, who read it].”

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