BY: SUN STAFF
Jan 24, CANADA (SUN) —
Tattva Sandarbha
by Srila Jiva Goswami
SECTION FIFTY-EIGHT
(The fifth of the seven verses, SB. 2.10.7):
He is known as Asraya, from whom proceeds the creation, destruction, and perception of the universe, and He is called Param Brahman and Paramatma.
In this verse the term abhasah means creation and nirodha means dissolution, adhyavasiyate refers to perception. That popular person, who is known as Brahman and Paramatma, from whom comes the origin and dissolution, and because of whom it is perceived or known through the senses of the jivas, is called the Asraya, or the substratum. The particle iti indicates variety and it also signifies Bhagavan. This will be further explained below.
Sri Jiva Toshani Commentary
There are ten subjects described in the Bhagavatam but their culmination is in the Asraya tattva. If a book speaks about too many subjects it will be bewildering for the reader to ascertain its ultimate purpose, so it is said here that the shelter of all the topics is the Supreme Lord. None of these subjects can be described without reference to the Lord and indeed their purpose is to throw light on the energies and activities of the Lord. In other words, the Srimad Bhagavatam is really about one topic--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The Lord creates the world and maintains it. He supplies the senses and intelligence to the living beings to perceive the universe. He blesses them with the Vedic instructions so an inquisitive person can understand Him. He also gives the association of His devotees to the suffering jivas. Most of the living beings remain engaged in material activities, but some develop a desire to know the Lord. These can get the grace of Lord and become qualified to attain mukti or liberation, which, again, is only possible by the mercy of the Lord. Liberation is to become situated in one's own svarupa, or original nature. This happens only by realizing the Asraya tattva. Thus it is rightly said the purpose of the other nine items is to explain the tenth item, the Asraya, which is the source of creation and annihilation.
This Asraya is called Brahman by followers of Jnana-yoga and Paramatma by followers of Ashtanga-yoga. The article ca (lit. and) in this verse is indicative of the other items such as poshana, which are not mentioned in the verse. The word iti is indicative of Bhagavan, the term used by followers of Bhakti-yoga. Thus this verse echoes the brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavaniti sabdyate verse quoted earlier, explaining that the non-dual consciousness is called Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan (SB. 1.2.11).
In the next section, Srila Jiva Gosvami gives further reasoning for the Lord being the Asraya of everything.
Go to Section Fifty-nine
Return to Section Fifty-seven
