Sri Vedanta-sutra, Part 139
BY: SUN STAFF
Aug 27, 2021 — CANADA (SUN) — Sri Vedanta-sutra - Volume Six by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana, Translated by Sriman Kusakratha dasa.
Adhikarana 9
A Special Situation
Introduction by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
Now will be explained the truth that the Lord Himself takes certain exalted nirapeksha devotees back to His own abode. In the Gopala-tapani Upanishad (1.22 and 24) it is said:
etad vishnoh paramam padam ye
nityodyuktah samyajante na kaman
tesham asau gopa-rupah prayatnat
prakasayed atma-padam tadaiva
"To they who always diligently worship Lord Vishnu's transcendental form, the Lord, in His original form as a cowherd boy, shows His lotus feet.
omkarenantaritam ye japanti
govindasya panca-padam manum tam
tesham asau darsayed atma-rupam
tasman mumukshur abhyasen nityam santyai
"To they who chant the five-word mantra with Om and Govinda, the Lord reveals His own form. Therefore, to attain transcendental peace, they who desire liberation should regularly chant this mantra."
Samsaya (doubt): Are the nirapeksha devotees carried to the spiritual world by the ativahika demigods, or by the Supreme Lord Himself?
Purvapaksha (the opponent speaks): The scriptures affirm:
dvav eva margau
"There are two paths."
The conclusion is that they who are enlightened with transcendental knowledge travel by the path beginning with light. In that way they enter the spiritual world. That is affirmed by the Sruti-sastra. That is how the Supreme Lord becomes the cause of their liberation.
Siddhanta (conclusion): In the following words the author of the sutras gives His conclusion.
Sutra 16
visesham ca darsayati
It reveals a special situation also.
Purport by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
The general situation is that the souls enlightened with transcendental knowledge are carried to the spiritual world by the ativahika demigods. However, those nirapeksha devotees who are especially distressed in separation from the Lord are carried there by the Supreme Lord Himself, for the Lord becomes impatient and cannot tolerate any delay in bringing them back to Him. This is a special situation. The Sruti-sastra reveals the truth of this situation in Gopala-tapani Upanishad (1.22 and 24). The Supreme Lord Himself also explains (Bhagavad-gita 7.6 and 7):
ye tu sarvani karmani
mayi sannyasya mat-parah
ananyenaiva yogena
mam dhyayanta upasate
tesham aham samuddharta
mrityu-samsara-sagarat
bhavami na cirat partha
mayy avesita-cetasam
"But those who worship Me, giving up all their activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, having fixed their minds upon Me, O son of Pritha, for them I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death."*
The word "ca" (also) in this sutra means that for the liberated souls there are two paths, one where the material body is cast off, and the other where contact with the material body is maintained. It is not possible to say that the nirapeksha devotees follow the path that begins in light. Also, in the Varaha Purana the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself says:
nayami paramam sthanam
arcir-adi-gatim vina
garuda-skandham aropya
yatheccham anivaritah
"My devotees need not follow the path beginning in light. Riding on Garuda's shoulders, I personally take them to My supreme abode."
In this way the truth has been explained.
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