Tattva Sandarbha With Sarva-Samvadini Commentary by Jiva Goswami and Commentary of Baladeva Vidyabhusana

Back the Book May Sri-Krsna, Bhagavan Svayam, whose existence as pure consciousness is defined in some scriptures as Brahman, whose amsa, the purusavatara, controlling maya, shines with His expansions, and one of whose forms called Narayana plays in Vaikuntha, give prema to those who worship His feet in this world!

Preface Anupama or Srivallabha, was the younger brother of Rupa and Sanatana. Anupama's son, born in Ramakeli, was Jiva (1511-1596 CE). As a child he made deities of Krsna and Balarama and worshipped them with fruits and sandalwood. He came to Navadvipa as a young man and met Nityananda Prabhu. Together they did parikrama of the place. He then ordered Jiva to go to Vrindavan. On his way there he stopped at Kasi and studied Vedanta under Madhusudana Vacaspati for some time. Taking shelter of Rupa and Sanatana, he became well known as the greatest scholar of his time.

The Sandarbhas are one of Jiva Gosvami's major works. Sandarbha literally means "stringing together." Baladeva explains,. "The wise say a Sandarbha is that which possesses various matters of importance which should be known. Bhagavatam verses are gathered together (sandrbhyate)."

In this case, it is a literary composition consisting of a series of prose sections mixed with verse mainly from Bhagavatam. It is in six parts which explain Gaudiya epistemology, theology and philosophy. Tattva Sandarbha deals with the epistemology, while Bhagavat, Paramatma and Krsna Sandarbhas deal with object of worship (sambandha). Bhakti Sandarbha deals with the process or abhidheya, bhakti, and Priti Sandarbha deals with the goal or prayojana, prema.

Tattva Sandarbha first explains the various pramanas or methods of proof and concludes that sabda or scripture is the strongest. Using scriptural proofs, finally Bhagavatam is concluded to be the best among all scriptures. The second part of Tattva Sandarbha explains prameya-what is proved by Bhagavatam: Krsna as the object of worship, bhakti as the method and prema as the goal. These topics are expanded in the other Sandarbhas.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages