Sri Vedanta-sutra, Part 4
BY: SUN STAFF
Nov 20, 2020 — CANADA (SUN) — Sri Vedanta-sutra - Volume One by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana.
Adhikarana 4
This is Confirmed by the Vedic Scriptures
1. Vishaya (statement): That the Supreme Personality of Godhead is described in all Vedic scriptures is described in the following scriptural quotations:
yo 'su sarvair vedair giyate
"The Supreme Personality of Godhead is glorified by all the Vedas."
Gopala-tapani Upanishad
sarve veda yat-padam amananti
"All the Vedas describe the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
Katha Upanishad 1.2.15
2. Samsaya (doubt): Lord Vishnu is the subject-matter described in all the Vedas. Is this statement true or false?
3. Purvapaksha (the argument of our philosophical opponent): It is not true that the Vedas teach only about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Actually the Vedas mainly describe various fruitive karma-kanda sacrifices, such as the kariri-yajna for bringing rain, the putra-kamyeshti-yajna for gaining a son, and the jyotishtoma-yajna for traveling to the celestial material planets (Svargaloka). For this reason it is not possible to say that Lord Vishnu is the only topic discussed in the Vedas.
4. Siddhanta (the proper conclusion): Vyasadeva replies to the objections in the following sutra:
Sutra 4
tat tu samanvayat
tat-this fact; tu-but; samanvayat-because of the agreement of all the Vedic scriptures.
But that (Lord Vishnu is the sole topic of discussion in the Vedas) is confirmed by all scriptures.
Purport by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
The word tu (but) in this sutra is used to rebut the previously stated opposing argument. It is proper to say that Lord Vishnu is the sole topic of discussion in all the Vedas. Why? The answer is: samanvayat (because the scriptures themselves bring us to this conclusion). The word anvaya means "understanding the actual meaning," and the word samanvaya means "perfect understanding after careful deliberation". When we apply the above-mentioned rules of interpretation (beginning with upakrama and upasamhara) to the texts of the Vedas, we will come to the conclusion that Lord Vishnu is the sole topic of discussion in all the Vedas. If it were not so, then why should the Gopala-tapani Upanishad state that Lord Vishnu is glorified by all the Vedas? This is also confirmed by the lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, who says:
vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo vedanta-krid veda-vid eva caham
"By all the Vedas I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of the Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas."*
Bhagavad-gita 15.15
kim vidhatte kim acashte
kim anudya vikalpayet
ity asya kridayam loke
nanyo mad veda kascana
mam vidhatte 'bhidhatte mam
vikalpyapohyate hy aham
"What is the direction of all Vedic literatures? On whom do they set focus? Who is the purpose of all speculation? Outside of Me no one knows these things. Now you should know that all these activities are aimed at ordaining and setting forth Me. The purpose of Vedic literature is to know Me by different speculations, either by indirect understanding or by dictionary understanding. Everyone is speculating about Me."*
Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.21.42-43)
The Vedic literatures also state:
sakshat-paramparabhyam veda brahmani pravartate
"Either directly or indirectly, the Vedas describe Brahman."
In the jnana-kanda section of the Vedas the transcendental forms and qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are directly described, and in the karma-kanda section of the Vedas the Lord is indirectly described in the discussion of fruitive action and various divisions of material knowledge
That the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the sole topic of discussion in the Vedas is also confirmed by the following scriptural passages:
tam tv aupanishadam purusham pricchami
"I shall now ask about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is described in the Upanishads."
Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad (9.21)
tam etam vedanuvacanena brahmana vividisanti
"Brahmanas study the Vedas to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad (4.4.22)
As for the various fruitive results, such as the attainment of rain, a son, or residence in the celestial material planets, that are offered to the followers of the karma-kanda rituals in the Vedas, these benefits are offered to attract the minds of ordinary men. When ordinary men see that these material benefits are actually attained by performing Vedic rituals, they become attracted to study the Vedas. By studying the Vedas they become able to discriminate between what is temporary and what is eternal. In this way they gradually become averse to the temporary things of this world and they come to hanker after Brahman. In this way it may be understood that all the parts of the Vedas describe the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Vedic rituals bring material benefits as a result only when the performer of the ritual is filled with material desire. If the performer is materially desireless, then he does not gain a material result, but rather the result he obtains is purification of the heart and the manifestation of spiritual knowledge. Therefore, the meaning of the previously quoted text from Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad (4.4.22) is that the demigods are considered to be the various limbs of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by worshiping them, one actually worships the Supreme Lord, and the result of such worship is that one gradually become pure in heart and awake with spiritual knowledge.
