Upāsanā

duḥkham avyakta-vartmaiva tad-bahu-vighnam ato budhaḥ

duḥkham avyakta-vartmaiva tad-bahu-vighnam ato budhaḥ |
sukhaṁ kṛṣṇa-padāmbhojaṁ bhakti-sat-pathavān bhajet ||
(Subodhinī-ṭīkā of Śrī Śrīdhara Svāmīpāda on Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 12.20)

“The path of the Unmanifest [i.e., upāsana of undifferentiated (nirviśeṣa) Brahman] is troublesome and beset with many obstacles. Therefore, a wise person, adherent to the right path of bhakti, should worship the delightful lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.”

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duḥkham avyakta-vartmaiva tad-bahu-vighnam ato budhaḥ Read on →

na cāsya kaścin nipuṇena dhātur

na cāsya kaścin nipuṇena dhātur
avaiti jantuḥ kumanīṣa ūtīḥ |
nāmāni rūpāṇi mano-vacobhiḥ
santanvato naṭa-caryām ivājñaḥ ||
sa veda dhātuḥ padavīṁ parasya
duranta-vīryasya rathāṅga-pāṇeḥ |
yo’māyayā santatayānuvṛttyā
bhajeta tat-pāda-saroja-gandham ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 1.3.37–38)

“No living being of corrupt intelligence understands with the mind or words through expertise [i.e., skill in argument and like, or skill in adhering to the paths of jñāna or yoga] the sports, names, and forms of the [Supreme] Element, he who extends [his names, forms, and sports when he graciously descends in age after age], just as an ignorant person [does not understand] the performance of a dancer. [Only] One who can non-deceitfully, continuously, and accordingly worship the fragrance of his lotus feet knows the way [alt., position] of the Supreme Element, he of infinite potency and chakra in hand.”

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nanu śraiṣṭhyaṁ mukundasya brahmato yujyate katham

nanu śraiṣṭhyaṁ mukundasya brahmato yujyate katham |
yad brahma śrī-bhagavator aikyam eva prasidhyate ||
puruṣaṁ paramātmā ca brahma ca jñānam ity api |
sa eko bhagavān eva śāstreṣu bahudhocyate ||
tathā ca skānde—
bhagavān paramātmeti procyate’ṣṭāṅga-yogibhiḥ |
brahmety upaniṣan-niṣṭhair jñānaṁ ca jñāna-yogibhiḥ ||
śrī-prathame ca—
vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam |
brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate || iti |
satyam uktaṁ śṛṇu tatas tṛtīye kāpilaṁ vacaḥ ||
yathā—
yathendriyaiḥ pṛthag-dvārair artho bahu-guṇāśrayaḥ |
eko nāneyate tadvad bhagavān śāstra-vartmabhiḥ || iti |
atra kārikāḥ—
tat tat śrī-bhagavaty eva svarūpaṁ bhuvi vidyate |
upāsanānusāreṇa bhāti tat-tad-upāsake ||
yathā rūpa-rasādīnāṁ guṇānām āśrayaḥ sadā |
kṣīrādir eka evārtho jñāyate bahudhendriyaiḥ ||
dṛśā śuklo rasanayā madhuro bhagavāṁs tathā |
upāsanābhir bahudhā sa eko’pi pratīyate ||
jihvayaiva yathā grāhyaṁ mādhuryaṁ tasya nāparaiḥ |
yathā cakṣur-ādīni gṛhṇanty arthaṁ nijaṁ nijam ||
tathānyā bāhya-karaṇa-sthānīyopāsanākhilā |
bhaktis tu cetaḥ-sthānīyā tat-tat-sarvārtha-lābhataḥ ||
iti pravara-śāstreṣu tasya brahma-svarūpataḥ |
mādhuryādi-guṇādhikyāt kṛṣṇasya śreṣṭhatocyate ||
(Laghu Bhāgavatāmṛta: 1.5.194–205)

“[A question is raised:] ‘Well, how is Mukunda’s superiority to Brahman established, since the oneness of Brahman and Śrī Bhagavān is certainly well known? In many places in the śāstras, he, the one Bhagavān, is certainly called the Puruṣa [“the (Supreme) Person”], Paramātmā [“the Supreme Self”], Brahman [“the Absolute”], and jñāna [“consciousness”]. Furthermore, in Skanda Purāṇa [it is said], “Bhagavān is called Paramātmā by aṣṭāṅga-yogīs, Brahman by followers of the Upaniṣads, and jñāna by jñāna-yogīs.” In the First Canto (SB 1.2.11) also [it is said:] “Knowers of tattva (reality) state that tattva is non-dual consciousness (advaya-jñāna), and is known as Brahman, Paramātmā, and Bhagavān.”’ [In reply to this question, it is said:] Rightly stated. Therefore, listen as follows to a statement of Kapila in the Third Canto (SB 3.32.33): ‘As a singular object which is a substratum of numerous qualities is perceived differently by [each of] the senses by distinct means, so Bhagavān is [one yet perceived differently] by [various] paths [enjoined] in the śāstra.’ An aphorism (kārikā) in this regard: As a singular object, such as milk, which is always a substratum of qualities such as form and taste, is perceived by the senses in many [different] ways—to the eye it is white, to the tongue it is sweet—so Bhagavān, although he is one, is perceived in many [different] ways by [different kinds of] upāsanas. As its [i.e., milk’s] sweetness is perceptible only by the tongue and not by others [i.e., by other senses], and as the eyes and so forth perceive [only] their own respective object [and not the aspect of the object they perceive which the other senses perceive], so all the other [kinds of] upāsanas are comparable to external senses, while bhakti is comparable to the mind because of [its leading to the] perceiving all of these various objects [i.e., as the mind perceives all the various objects related to it by all of the external senses, but the external senses perceive only the one type of object they are able to, so bhakti leads to perception of all aspects of the Para-tattva, including the personal aspect, Bhagavān, where all the qualities of the Para-tattva are manifest in full, while all other forms of upāsana lead only to perception of one particular aspect of the Para-tattva]. Thus, in the best of śāstras, Kṛṣṇa’s [i.e., Bhagavān’s personal aspect’s] superiority to his Brahman aspect is stated because of [Kṛṣṇa’s possessing and manifesting] an abundance of qualities, beginning with sweetness.”

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paramātma-vaibhava-gaṇane ca taṭastha-śakti-rūpāṇāṁ cid-eka-rasānām

paramātma-vaibhava-gaṇane ca taṭastha-śakti-rūpāṇāṁ cid-eka-rasānām api anādi-para-tattva-jñāna-saṁsargābhāvamaya-tad-vaimukhya-labdha-cchidrayā tan-māyayāvṛta-svarūpa-jñānānāṁ tayaiva sattva-rajas-tamo-maye jaḍe pradhāne racitātma-bhāvānāṁ jīvānāṁ saṁsāra-duḥkhaṁ ca jñāpitam | … tatas tad-arthaṁ parama-kāruṇikaṁ śāstram upadiśati | tatra ca ye kecit jīvā janmāntarāvṛtta-tad-arthānubhava-saṁskāravanto, ye ca tadaiva vā labdha-mahat-kṛpātiśaya-dṛṣṭi-prabhṛtayas, teṣāṁ tādṛśa-para-tattva-lakṣaṇa-vastūpadeśa-śravaṇārambha-mātreṇaiva tat-kālam eva yugapad eva tat-sāmmukhyaṁ tad-anubhavo’pi jāyate | … athānyeṣāṁ tac-chravaṇa-mātreṇa tādṛśatvaṁ bījāyamānam api kāmādi-vaiguṇyena bījam api doṣeṇa pratihataṁ tiṣṭhati | … tato mukhyena tātparyeṇa para-tattve paryavasite’pi teṣāṁ para-tattvādy-upadeśasya kim abhidheyaṁ prayojanaṁ cety apekṣāyāṁ tad-avāntara-tātparyeṇa tad-dvayam upadeṣṭavyam | tatrābhidheyaṁ tad-vaimukhya-virodhitvāt tat-sāmmukhyam eva | tac ca tad-upāsanā-lakṣaṇaṁ, yata eva taj-jñānam āvirbhavati | prayojanaṁ ca tad-anubhavaḥ | sa cāntar-bahiḥ-sākṣātkāra-lakṣaṇaḥ, yata eva svayaṁ kṛtsna-duḥkha-nivṛttir bhavati | … tad etad ubhayaṁ yadyapi pūrvatra siddhopadeśa evābhipretam asti, yathā “tava gṛhe nidhir asti” iti śrutvā kaścid daridras tad-arthaṁ prayatate labhate ca tam iti, tadvat, tathāpi tac-chaithilya-nirāsāya punas tad-upadeśaḥ | tad evaṁ tān praty anādi-siddha-taj-jñāna-saṁsargābhāvamaya-tad-vaimukhyādikaṁ duḥkha-hetuṁ vadan vyādhi-nidāna-vaiparītyamaya-cikitsā-nibhaṁ tat-sāmmukhyādikam upadiśati |
(Bhakti Sandarbha: 1)

“Also further made known during the consideration of the potencies [i.e., the three śaktis] of Paramātmā [in the discussion thereof in Paramātma Sandarbha] was the suffering in saṁsāra of the jīvas, forms of [his] taṭastha-śakti, who, although solely consciousness (cit) in constitution, have their awareness of their true nature (svarūpa-jñāna) covered by the Para-tattva’s [i.e., the Supreme Entity’s] māyā on account of the acquired fault of obliviousness (vaimukhya) of that [Para-tattva] based on a beginningless absence of the existence of awareness of that [Para-tattva, i.e., a beginningless prior absence (prāg-abhāva) of awareness of the Para-tattva, which can be removed, that is, dispelled by becoming aware of the Para-tattva], and thereby are possessed of a fabricated sense of self (ātma-bhāva) within inert primordial matter (pradhāna) constituted of [the guṇas of] sattva, rajas, and tamas. … Therefore, the supremely compassionate śāstra teaches that object [i.e., the Para-tattva]. Furthermore in that regard, for some of those jīvas, that is, those possessed of a latent saṁskāra of experience of that object [i.e., the Para-tattva] from another birth, and those who alternately then [i.e., in that birth, alt., in this present birth] have received a glance and so forth of profuse grace from a great soul, just by their beginning to hear such teachings about the entity designated as the Para-tattva, intentness (sāmmukhyaṁ) upon that [i.e., the Para-tattva], and experience (anubhava) of that [i.e., the Para-tattva] as well, simultaneously arise at that very time [of hearing about the Para-tattva]. … Now, for others [i.e., those who have no saṁskāra of experience of the Para-tattva from a prior birth, and those who have not received the grace of a great soul capable of leading one to such experience], such [intentness upon and experience of the Para-tattva], even though capable of germinating like a seed [i.e., coming into being] just by hearing of that [i.e., by hearing the teaching of the śāstra about the Para-tattva], remains obstructed [from sprouting, i.e., manifesting] by the faults [in the minds of embodied jīvas] of the defects beginning with kāma. … Therefore, although by the primary intention (tātparya) [of śāstra] the Para-tattva is determined [i.e., although in the course of the first four sandarbhas the nature of the Para-tattva has been determined in this way], in expectation of [the questions], ‘What is the abhidheya [i.e., the principal directive, the means to attainment] and the prayojana [i.e., the objective, the goal to be attained] of that teaching [of the śāstra] about the Para-tattva and so forth for them [i.e., for the jīvas]?’ these two [i.e., the abhidheya and the prayojana] are necessary to be taught [also] by the secondary intention (tātparya) thereof [i.e., of the śāstra]. In that regard, the abhidheya is intentness (sāmmukhyam) upon that [i.e., the Para-tattva], because of [its] being negating of obliviousness (vaimukhya) of that [i.e., of the Para-tattva]. That [i.e., the abhidheya], further, is indicative of upāsanā [lit., ‘sitting near,’ i.e., engaging oneself in] that [i.e., the Para-tattva], on account of which awareness of that [i.e., the Para-tattva] appears. The prayojana is experience of that [i.e., the Para-tattva], and that [i.e., the prayojana], further is indicative of internal and external direct perception (sākṣātkāra) [of the Para-tattva], on account of which alone the complete cessation of suffering occurs of its own accord. … Therefore, although these two [i.e., the abhidheya and prayojana] are implied in the siddhopadeśa [i.e., implied instruction] in the former [i.e., in the earlier discussion in these sandarbhas of the nature of the Para-tattva], just as after hearing, ‘There is a treasure in your home,’ a poor person seeks that object and attains it [without having to be instructed to do so], still again teaching regarding them [i.e., the abhidheya and prayojana] is [given] to dispel laxity regarding [one’s endeavor to attain] them. Thus in this way śāstra tells them [i.e., the jīvas] about the cause of [their] suffering, that is, obliviousness and so forth of that [i.e., the Para-tattva] based on a beginninglessly existent absence of the existence of awareness of that [i.e., the Para-tattva], and teaches [them] intentness (sāmmukhya) upon that [i.e., the Para-tattva], which resembles a treatment consisting of negation of the cause of a disease.”

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paramātma-vaibhava-gaṇane ca taṭastha-śakti-rūpāṇāṁ cid-eka-rasānām Read on →

upāsanaṁ tu yathā-śāstra-samarthitaṁ kiñcid ālambanam

upāsanaṁ tu yathā-śāstra-samarthitaṁ kiñcid ālambanam upādāya tasmin samāna-citta-vṛtti-santāna-karaṇaṁ tad-vilakṣaṇa-pratyayāntaritam … |
(Śaṅkarācārya’s bhāṣya on Chāndogya Upaniṣād: 1.1.1)

Upāsanā means taking up some basis [i.e., object of meditation] as established by śāstra and maintaining a continuous flow of a singular course of thought (citta-vṛtti) [in regard to it] that is protected from thought distinct from it.”

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upāsanaṁ tu yathā-śāstra-samarthitaṁ kiñcid ālambanam Read on →

yathā-śāstram upāsyasya arthasya

yathā-śāstram upāsyasya arthasya viṣayīkaraṇena sāmīpyam upagamya taila-dhārāvat samāna-pratyaya-pravāheṇa dīrgha-kālaṁ yat āsanaṁ tat upāsanam ācakṣate |
(Śaṅkarācārya’s ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 12.3)

“Approaching the proximity of the entity to be worshipped as per the śāstra by making it an object and dwelling [upon it] for a long time with a flow of singular thought like a stream of oil—this is called upāsana.”

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anabhyāsena vidyānām asaṁsargeṇa dhīmatām

anabhyāsena vidyānām asaṁsargeṇa dhīmatām |
anigraheṇa cākṣāṇāṁ jāyate vyasanaṁ nṛṇām ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha)

“The plight [alt., addictions, vices, depravity, misfortune, distress, etc.] of human beings arises from a lack of practice of knowledge [i.e., a lack of adherence to the education they receive], a lack of association with the wise, and a lack of restraint of the senses.”

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anabhyāsena vidyānām asaṁsargeṇa dhīmatām Read on →

ko’ti-prayāso’sura-bālakā harer

ko’ti-prayāso’sura-bālakā harer
upāsane sve hṛdi chidravat sataḥ |
svasyātmanaḥ sakhyur aśeṣa-dehināṁ
sāmānyataḥ kiṁ viṣayopapādanaiḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.7.38)

[Translated according to Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī’s commentary:] “O boys of the asuras, what great exertion [i.e., difficulty] is there in worship of Hari, he who is present like space in one’s heart and is the inherent self and common friend of all embodied beings? [Therefore,] What [is the use] of accumulating objects of the senses?”

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