Bhagavat Sandarbha, Part 26
BY: SUN STAFF
May 05, 2019 — CANADA (SUN) — Sad Sandarbhas by Srila Jiva Goswami
Bhagavat Sandarbha
by Srila Jiva Goswami
SECTION TWENTY-SIX
The 39 Attributes of the Lord.
Elsewhere in the Srimad Bhagavatam (1.16.27) mother earth cites many qualities just as truthfulness, purity including those found in the words of Hamsa Avatara (11.13.40), and finally she concludes (1.16.30):
O Venerable one, these (the 39 qualities listed in 1.16.26-29) and many other eternal supreme qualities, which are desired by those aspiring to be great, never diminish in the Lord.
Sridhara Swami comments: These are thirty-nine qualities. Besides these are many other great qualities, such as respecting Brahmanas, giving shelter to devotees, naturally and eternally exist in the Supreme Lord ; they never diminish. This much is his comment.
In the context the Vishnu Purana states (4.1.84), "The divisions of time, such as kala, muhurta, cannot transform the qualities of the Supreme Lord."
COMMENTARY
To further establish that the Lord's attributes are eternal, Srila Jiva Gosvami quotes a verse that mother earth, in the form of a cow, spoke to the religion personified. When Pariksit Maharaja was on a world tour, he saw religion personified in the form of a bull standing on one leg and speaking to mother earth in the form of a cow. The cow had lost her beauty and was dejected. The bull, thinking that since Lord Krishna had left for His abode, powerful time had snatched away her fortune, inquired about her welfare.
In response the cow enumerated the thirty-nine characteristics of the Lord (S.B. 1.16.26-29) and then spoke the verse cited in this Text (S.B.1.16.30). She was lamenting because Krishna, who possesses all wonderful qualities, had left and thus the whole world had fallen under the grip of Kali. The earth's beauty is measured not by rivers, mountains, mines, and forests, but by how many saintly people reside on her. In the same way, a person is beautiful not because of having a handsome body, but because of his beautiful attributes. In this regard, Bhartrihari says in his Niti-satakam(72):
"The real ornament of the ear is not the earring, but hearing the scriptures. The hands appear beautiful not by donning golden bangles, but by giving in charity. The bodies of benevolent people are decorated not with sandalwood paste, but by their welfare activities."
Mother earth therefore says that she has lost her beauty because Lord Krishna, who is the abode of all wonderful qualities, has abandoned her. She says that His qualities are eternal and do not diminish or change in time. In his Krama Sandarbha, Srila Jiva Gosvami lists 85 of Sri Krishna's qualities and Srila Rupa Gosvami has listed 64 qualities in his Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu. These are only some of His qualities, for actually there is no end of them. Lord Brahma says (S.B. 10.14.7):
"In time, learned philosophers or scientists might be able to count all the atoms of the earth, the particles of snow, or perhaps even the shining molecules radiating from the sun, the stars, and other luminaries; but among these learned men, who could possibly count Your unlimited transcendental qualities. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has descended on the earth for the benefit of all living entities?"
Na viyanti sma (S.B.1.16.30) means that the Lord's qualities do not decay. In the material world people have good qualities but they are not permanent. Srila Jiva Gosvami cites a verse from the Vishnu Purana which explains that the Lord's vibhutis are not influenced even by the smallest unit of time. Lord Brahma spoke this verse to King Raivata regarding Lord Balarama.
By the mercy of the Lord, His devotees also get some portion of these attributes. Prahlada Maharaja confirms this (S.B. 5.18.12):
"All the demigods and their exalted qualities, such as religion, knowledge and renunciation, become manifest in the body of one who has developed unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. On the other hand, a person devoid of devotional service and engaged in material activities has no good qualities. Even if he is adept at the practice of mystic yoga or the hones endeavor of maintaining his family and relatives, he must be derived by his own mental speculations and must engage in the service of the Lord's external energy. How can there be any good qualities in such a man?"
According to logic the relation between an object and its quality is eternal. For example the relation between sugar and sweetness is eternal, for it can never change. Similarly, the qualities of the Lord are eternal in relationship to Him (samavaya sambandha), and because the Lord is eternal His qualities are also eternal. The principle of logic states, nityam gate nityam, the attributes of an eternal object are eternal. Therefore time can have no influence over the attributes of the Lord.
