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Bhagavat-sandarbha · Reading 7 of 11

Sections 69–79

Unit 14 of 110Bhagavat · Sanskrit §69 · English §61Bhagavat · Sanskrit §79 · English §7010 source entries

Bhagavat · Sanskrit §69 · English §61

Source

[६९] प्रकृतेः परत्वम् - ततो वैकुण्ठम् अगमद् भास्वरं तमसः परम् । यत्र नारायणः साक्षान् न्यासिनां परमा गतिः ॥ शान्तानां न्यस्त-दण्डानां यतो नावर्तते गतः ॥ [भ्प् १०.८८.२५-२६] अगमत् जगाम शिव इति शेषः ॥ ॥ १०.८८ ॥ श्री-शुकः ॥६९॥

[69] prakṛteḥ paratvam - tato vaikuṇṭham agamad bhāsvaraṃ tamasaḥ param | yatra nārāyaṇaḥ sākṣān nyāsināṃ paramā gatiḥ || śāntānāṃ nyasta-daṇḍānāṃ yato nāvartate gataḥ || [BhP 10.88.25-26] agamat jagāma śiva iti śeṣaḥ || || 10.88 || śrī-śukaḥ ||69||

English translation

English witness · section(s) 61

Anuccheda 61

1 The spiritual world of Vaikunthaloka is non different from the Lord in the same way, and it is repeatedly described in the Vedic literatures so the slow witted conditioned souls may become aware of its existence. For example, Vaikunthaloka is described in the following statement of Srimad Bhagavatam (2.9.9): “The Personality of Godhead, being thus very much satisfied with the penance of Lord Brahma was pleased to manifest His personal abode, Vaikuntha, the supreme planet above all others. This transcendental abode of the Lord is adored by all self-realised persons freed from all kinds of miseries and fear of illusory existence.”* 2 Because the spiritual world of Vaikuntha cannot be reached by ordinary materially pious activities, because the Vedic literatures explain that it is beyond the limits of the material creation, because it is glorified as that place in which the residents do not fall into the illusion of maya, because it is reached when one become unaffected by the three modes of material nature, because by entering a temple of Lord Visnu even in this material world, one actually enters the spiritual world, and consequently becomes free from the touch of the three modes of material nature, therefore it should be understood that the spiritual world of Vaikuntha is actually a manifestation of the spiritual form of the Personality of Godhead, that the material energy, that it is eternal, that it may be obtained only by devotional service which eclipses the so-called happiness of liberation, and that it is full of eternity, knowledge and bliss. 3 That the realm of Vaikuntha cannot be obtained by material activities, pious or otherwise, is confirmed by the Supreme Lord in the following words (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.24.12-14): “Heaven was established as the residence of the demigods. Bhuvarloka as that of the ghostly spirits and the earth system as the place of human beings and other mortal creatures. Those mystics who strive for liberation are promoted beyond these three divisions.”*** 4 “Lord Brahma created the region below the earth for the demons and the Naga snakes. Thus the destinations of the three worlds were all arranged as the corresponding reactions for different kinds of work performed within the three modes of material nature.*** 5 “By mystic yoga, great austerities and the renounced order of life, the pure destinations of Maharloka, Janoloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka are attained. But by devotional yoga, one achieves My transcendental abode.”*** 6 In these verses the Lord says: “Those mystics who strive for liberation (siddhanam) by performance of mystic yoga and other spiritual activities are promoted beyond (param) these three divisions (trtayat) of planetary systems (Bhurloka, Bhuvarloka, and Svarloka). Thus the destinations of the three worlds (trilokyam) were all arranged as the corresponding reactions for different kinds of work (karmanam) performed by those attached to household life. By practicing upakurvana-brahmacarya one attains Maharloka, by naisthika-brahmacarya one attains Janaloka, by vanaprastha life one attains Tapoloka and by sannyasa one attains Satyaloka. In this way the various results of yoga-practice are calculated.” 7 That the Personality of Godhead’s own abode (mad-gatih), known as Vaikunthaloka, can only be attained by the devotional activities of bhakti-yoga (such as hearing and chanting the glories of Vaikuntha and the master of Vaikuntha), and by no other means, is explained in Srimad Bhagavatam (3.15.23): “It is very much regrettable that unfortunate people do not discuss the description of the Vaikuntha planets but engage in topics which are unworthy to hear and which bewilder one’s intelligence. Those who give up topics of Vaikuntha and take to talk of the material world are thrown into the darkest region of ignorance.”* 8 A further description of Vaikunthaloka is found in Srimad Bhagavatam (3.15.20), where Lord Brahma says to the demigods: “The inhabitants of Vaikuntha travel in their airplanes made of lapis lazuli, emerald and gold. Although crowded by their consorts, who have large hips and beautiful smiling faces, they cannot be stimulated to passion by their mirth and beautiful charms.”* 9 Sridhara Svami comments on this verse in the following words: “This verse explains: “The inhabitants of Vaikuntha travel in their airplanes (vimanaih) which they obtained simply by offering obeisances to the lotus feet of Lord Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead (hari-padanati-matra-drstaih).’ Thus they are able to travel in Vaikuntha by means of their devotional activities, and not by any kind of material fruitive activity.” 10 The realm of Vaikuntha is also described in Mundaka Upanisad (1.2.12): “When a person aspiring to advance in spiritual life examines the temporary benefits obtained by performing pious deeds and earning a temporary residence in the upper material planets, he understands that one cannot attain the Personality of Godhead by performing materially pious deeds, and He becomes disinterested in both fruitive Vedic sacrifices and material welfare work.” 11 That the spiritual world of Vaikuntha can be obtained only by devotional service to the Personality of Godhead is also personally confirmed by Lord Krsna in the following words (Bhagavad-gita 18.61-62): “The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine made of the material energy.”* 12 “O scion of Bharata, surrender unto Him utterly. By His grace you will attain transcendental peace and the supreme eternal abode.”*

Bhagavat · Sanskrit §70 · English §62

Source

[७०] नित्यत्वम् -- ग्रीवायां जनलोको ऽस्य तपोलोकः स्तन-द्वयात् मूर्धभिः सत्यलोकस् तु ब्रह्मलोकः सनातनः [भ्प् २.५.३९] टीका च - ब्रह्म-लोकः वैकुण्ठाख्यः सनातनो नित्यः । न तु सृजाप्रपञ्चान्तर्वर्ति इत्य् एष । ब्रह्म-भूतो लोको ब्रह्म-लोकः ॥ ॥ २.५ ॥ श्री-ब्रह्मा श्री-नारदम् ॥७०॥

[70] nityatvam -- grīvāyāṃ janaloko 'sya tapolokaḥ stana-dvayāt mūrdhabhiḥ satyalokas tu brahmalokaḥ sanātanaḥ [BhP 2.5.39] ṭīkā ca - brahma-lokaḥ vaikuṇṭhākhyaḥ sanātano nityaḥ | na tu sṛjāprapañcāntarvarti ity eṣa | brahma-bhūto loko brahma-lokaḥ || || 2.5 || śrī-brahmā śrī-nāradam ||70||

English translation

English witness · section(s) 62

Anuccheda 62

1 That the spiritual Vaikuntha planets are situated beyond the material world is confirmed by Lord Siva in the following words spoken to the Pracetas (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.24.29): “A person who executes his occupational duty properly for one hundred births becomes qualified to occupy the post of Brahma, and if he becomes more qualified, he can approach Lord Siva. A person who is directly surrendered to Lord Krsna, or Visnu, in unalloyed devotional service is immediately promoted to the spiritual planets. Lord Siva and other demigods attain these planets after the destruction of this material world.”* 2 Sridhara Svami comments on this verse in the following words: “In this verse Lord Siva says: ‘One who has accumulated the results of many pious actions may attain My association (mam eti) after he gives up the present body. A devotee of Krsna, however, is immediately promoted to the spiritual planets (vaisnavam padam), which are beyond the boundaries of this material world.’ “That the Supreme Lord and His name, form, attributes and abode are all beyond the boundaries of the matter is confirmed by the Supreme Lord Himself in the following words (Chandogya Upanisad 6.3.32): “Although My name and form are generally not visible in this material world, I shall now reveal them.’ “In the Bhagavatam verse, Lord Siva continues: (Lord Siva), and the other administrative demigods (vibudhah) attain these spiritual planets after the destruction of this material world (kalatyaye).’ This last point is confirmed by the following statement of Vedanta-sutra (3.3.33): “The administrative demigods are appointed to certain terms of office, and they remain in this material world for the duration of those terms. When their terms expire they may enter the spiritual world.”

Bhagavat · Sanskrit §71 · English §63

Source

[७१] मोक्ष-सुख-तिरस्कारि-भक्त्य्-एक-लभ्यत्वम् - यन् न व्रजन्त्य् अघ-भिदो रचनानुवादाच् छृण्वन्ति येऽन्य-विषयाः कुकथा मति-घ्नीः । यास् तु श्रुता हत-भगैर् नृभिर् आत्त-सारास् तांस् तान् क्षिपन्त्य् अशरणेषु तमःसु हन्त ॥ [भ्प् ३.१५.२३] यच् च व्रजन्त्य् अनिमिषाम् ऋषभानुवृत्त्या दूरे यमा ह्य् उपरि नः स्पृहणीय-शीलाः । भर्तुर् मिथः सुयशसः कथनानुराग- वैक्लव्य-बाष्प-कलया पुलकी-कृताङ्गाः ॥ [भ्प् ३.१५.२५] यद् वैकुण्ठं यच् च नोऽस्माकम् उपरि-स्थितं नः स्पृहणीय-शीला इति वा दूरे यमो येषां ते सिद्धत्वेन दूरीकृत-यम-नियमाः सन्तो वा व्रजन्तीति । भर्तुर् मिथः सुयशसः इत्य् अनेन तथाविधाया भक्तेर् मोक्ष-सुख- तिरस्कारित्व-प्रसिद्धिः सूचिता । नात्यन्तिकं विगणयन्त्य् अपीत्य् आदौ येऽङ्ग त्वद्-अङ्घ्रि-शरणा भवतः कथायां कीर्तन्य-तीर्थ-यशसः कुशला रसज्ञा [भ्प् ३.१५.४८] इति सनकाद्य्-उक्तेः । ॥ ३.१५ ॥ श्री-ब्रह्मा देवान् ॥ ७१ ॥

[71] mokṣa-sukha-tiraskāri-bhakty-eka-labhyatvam - yan na vrajanty agha-bhido racanānuvādāc chṛṇvanti ye'nya-viṣayāḥ kukathā mati-ghnīḥ | yās tu śrutā hata-bhagair nṛbhir ātta-sārās tāṃs tān kṣipanty aśaraṇeṣu tamaḥsu hanta || [BhP 3.15.23] yac ca vrajanty animiṣām ṛṣabhānuvṛttyā dūre yamā hy upari naḥ spṛhaṇīya-śīlāḥ | bhartur mithaḥ suyaśasaḥ kathanānurāga- vaiklavya-bāṣpa-kalayā pulakī-kṛtāṅgāḥ || [BhP 3.15.25] yad vaikuṇṭhaṃ yac ca no'smākam upari-sthitaṃ naḥ spṛhaṇīya-śīlā iti vā dūre yamo yeṣāṃ te siddhatvena dūrīkṛta-yama-niyamāḥ santo vā vrajantīti | bhartur mithaḥ suyaśasaḥ ity anena tathāvidhāyā bhakter mokṣa-sukha- tiraskāritva-prasiddhiḥ sūcitā | nātyantikaṃ vigaṇayanty apīty ādau ye'ṅga tvad-aṅghri-śaraṇā bhavataḥ kathāyāṃ kīrtanya-tīrtha-yaśasaḥ kuśalā rasajñā [BhP 3.15.48] iti sanakādy-ukteḥ | || 3.15 || śrī-brahmā devān || 71 ||

English translation

English witness · section(s) 63

Anuccheda 63

1 That the residents of Vaikunthaloka do not fall down into the material world is described by Lord Kapila (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.37-38): “Thus because he is completely absorbed in thought of Me, the devotee does not desire even the highest benediction obtainable in the upper planetary systems, including Satyaloka. He does not desire the eight material perfections obtained from mystic yoga, nor does he desire to be elevated to the kingdom of God. Yet even without desiring them, the devotee enjoys, even in this life, all the offered benedictions.* 2 “The Lord continued: My dear mother, devotees who receive such transcendental opulences are never bereft of them; neither weapons nor the change of time can destroy such opulences. Because the devotees accept Me as their friend, their relative, their son, preceptor, benefactor and Supreme Deity, they cannot be deprived of their possessions at any time.”* 3 In this verse Lord Kapiladeva says: “Those devotees, who, by My mercy have become free from ignorance, do not desire the greatest opulences and enjoyments available in the material world (vibhutim). They do not desire the eight material perfections (beginning with anima-siddhi) obtained from mystic yoga (aisvaryam astangam anupravrttam). They do not desire opulence equal (sarsti) to that of the Supreme Lord (bhagavatim sriyam). Although the devotees only desire the happiness of devotional service, nevertheless they attain (asnuvate) all these benedictions in the spiritual world of Vaikuntha (me loke).” This statement shows the Supreme Lord’s great affection for His devotees. 4 That although the devotee never prays for material opulence the Supreme Lord nevertheless showers all benedictions on him is seen in the following description of the benedictions granted to Sudama the florist (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.41.51-52): “When the florist was offered benediction, he begged from the Lord that he might remain His servant in devotional service and by such service do good to all living creatures. Being satisfied with the florist, Lord Krsna not only gave him benediction for whatever he wanted, but over and above that, He offered him all material opulences, family prosperity, long duration of life, and whatever else his heart desired within the material world.”* 5 The devotees of the Lord are always unattached to all kinds of opulences. As has already been explained, the devotees do not wish for any spiritual opulence that may be granted by the Lord’s mercy, or any material opulences, up to the opulences Brahmaloka, which may be granted by the Lord’s illusory potency maya. Even though the devotees are granted all kinds of opulence they do not try to enjoy or exploit them, for they consider them very insignificant and not worth their attention. 6 The desirelessness of the devotees is described in Chandogya Upanisad (8.1.6): “The auspicious situation pious deeds grant in this life will eventually be destroyed, and in the same way the auspicious situation pious deeds grant in the next life will also eventually be destroyed. Understanding the temporary nature of these material benedictions, and also understanding the truth about the all-pervading Supersoul, the devotees only desire eternal benefits in relation to the Personality of Godhead. They pass through all kinds of material situations free from all material desires.” 7 At this point someone may object: “Is it not so that in Svargaloka or any other planet both the objects of enjoyment and the enjoyers of those objects will eventually be destroyed? Is this not true also for the devotees and their object of enjoyment? Lord Kapila answers this objection when He says (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.38): “In the changeless (santa-rupe) spiritual world of Vaikuntha My devotees are never bereft (na nanksyanti) of transcendental opulences. My personal weapon (me hetih) the wheel of time (animisah), cannot swallow up (no ledhi) their opulences.” That the residents of Vaikunthaloka are never deprived of their opulences and auspicious condition of life is also confirmed by the following statement of Chandogya Upanisad (8.15.1): “Once having entered the spiritual world of Vaikuntha one never returns to the material world.” 8 That the residents of Vaikunthaloka never return to the material world is confirmed by Lord Krsna Himself in Bhagavad-gita (8.16): “From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again.”* 9 This is also described by Sripada Sankaracarya in these words (Sri-Visnu-sahasra-nama-bhasya, text 75): “In the Supreme (param) abode (ayanam), there is no fear of returning to the material world. The word used here is a bahuvrihi-samasa in the masculine gender.” 10 Lord Kapiladeva’s glorification of the devotee residents of Vaikuntha does not stop here, however, but the Lord continues by explaining that the devotees love only the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is their sole object of love. This explanation does not only apply to the residents of Vaikunthaloka, but it may also be taken to describe the eternal cowherd residents of Goloka Vrndavana, who also consider Lord Krsna to be the sole object of their love. 11 At this point someone may ask: “When the living entities become free from the ignorance of materialism what different varieties of love for the Personality of Godhead do they manifest?” To answer this question Lord Kapila says: “Some devotees (yesam), such as the sages described in Padma Purana Uttara-khanda, desire to approach Me as their dear master, and as a result they meditate on Me as their dear (priya) master. Some devotees, such as the Four Kumaras and others, desire to see Me as the Supreme Brahman (atma), and they meditate on Me in that way. In whatever way the devotee wish to love Me, they may approach Me in that way.” We may note that in this verse the word ‘suhrdah’ (friend and benefactor) is in the plural. This means that there are many different kinds of friends and the Lord is willing to become any one of many different kinds of friends for His devotee. The exchange of friendship between the Lord and the devotees is described by Narada Muni in the following words (Srimad Bhagavatam (4.12.37): 12 “Persons who are peaceful, equipoised, cleansed and purified, and who know the art of pleasing all other living entities, keep friendship only with the Lord and His devotees; they alone can very easily achieve the perfection of going back home, back to Godhead.”*

Bhagavat · Sanskrit §72–73 · English §64

Source

[७२] सच्-चिद्-आनन्द-रूपत्वम् । एवम् एतान् मयादिष्टा ननु तिष्ठन्ति मे पथः । क्षेमं विन्दन्ति मत्-स्थानं तद् ब्रह्म परमं विदुः ॥ [भ्प् ११.२०.३७] मे पथः ज्ञान-कर्म-भक्ति-लक्षणान् मत्-प्राप्त्य्-उपायान्, ज्ञान- कर्मणोर् अपि भक्तेषु भक्तेः प्रथमतः क्वचित् कदाचित् किञ्चित् साहाय्य- कारित्वात् । क्षेमं मद्-भक्ति-मङ्गल-मयं यत् स्थानं परमं ब्रह्मेति विदुर् जानन्ति इत्थम् एवोदाहरिष्यते च इति सञ्चिन्त्य भगवान् महा-कारुणिको विभुः । दर्शयामास लोकं स्वं गोपानां तमसः परम् । सत्यं ज्ञानम् अनन्तं यद् ब्रह्म-ज्योतिः सनातनम् । यद् धि पश्यन्ति मुनयो गुणापायो समाहिता ॥ [भ्प् १०.२८.१४-१५] इति । उभयत्रापि चकाराद्य्-अध्याहारादिना त्व् अर्थान्तरं कष्ठं भवति । तैर् एव च तमसः प्रकृतेः परम् इति वैकुण्ठस्यापि विशेषणत्वेन व्याख्यातम् इति ॥ ॥ ११.२० ॥ श्री-भगवान् ॥७२॥ [७३] तथैव -- न यत्र कालो ऽनिमिषां परः प्रभुः कुतो नु देवा जगतां य ईशिरे । न यत्र सत्त्वं न रजस् तमश् च न वै विकारो न महान् प्रधानम् ॥ परं पदं वैष्णवम् आमनन्ति तद् यन् नेति नेतीत्य् अतद् उत्सिसृक्षवः । विसृज्य दौरात्म्यम् अनन्य-सौहृदा हृदोपगुह्यार्ह-पदं पदे पदे ॥ [भ्प् २.२.१७-१८] अतत् चिद्-व्यतिरिक्तं, नेति नेतीत्य् एवम् उत्स्रष्टुम् इच्छवो दौरात्म्यं भगवद्-आत्मनोर् अभेद-दृष्टिं विसृज्य, अर्हस्य श्री-भगवतः, पदं चरणारविन्दं, पदे पदे प्रतिक्षणं हृदा उपगुह्य आश्लिष्य, नान्यस्मिन् सौहृदं येषां तथाभूताः सन्तो यद् आमनन्ति जानन्ति, तद् वैष्णवं पदं श्री-वैकुण्ठम् इति ब्रह्म-स्वरूपम् एव तद् इति तात्पर्यम् । अनेन प्रेम- लक्षण-साधन-लिङ्गेन निराकार-रूपम् अर्थान्तरं निरस्तम् । अत्र निराकार-परायणस्यापि मुक्ता-फल-टीका-कृतो दैवाभिव्यञ्जिता गीर् यथा - तत् परं पदं वैष्णवम् आमनन्ति । अधिकृताधिष्ठित-राजाधिष्ठितत्ववत् । ब्रह्मादि-पदानाम् अपि । विष्णुनाधिष्ठितत्वात् परम् इत्य् उक्तम् । विष्णुनैवाधिष्ठितम् इत्य् अर्थ इति । अतएव श्रुताव् अपि तस्य स्व-महिमैक- प्रतिष्ठितत्वं स भगवः कस्मिन् प्रतिष्ठित इति स्वे महिम्नि इति [छाउ ७.२४.१]। अतएवोक्तं क इत्था वेद यत्र स इति ॥ ॥ २.२ ॥ श्री-शुकः ॥७३॥

[72] sac-cid-ānanda-rūpatvam | evam etān mayādiṣṭā nanu tiṣṭhanti me pathaḥ | kṣemaṃ vindanti mat-sthānaṃ tad brahma paramaṃ viduḥ || [BhP 11.20.37] me pathaḥ jñāna-karma-bhakti-lakṣaṇān mat-prāpty-upāyān, jñāna- karmaṇor api bhakteṣu bhakteḥ prathamataḥ kvacit kadācit kiñcit sāhāyya- kāritvāt | kṣemaṃ mad-bhakti-maṅgala-mayaṃ yat sthānaṃ paramaṃ brahmeti vidur jānanti ittham evodāhariṣyate ca iti sañcintya bhagavān mahā-kāruṇiko vibhuḥ | darśayāmāsa lokaṃ svaṃ gopānāṃ tamasaḥ param | satyaṃ jñānam anantaṃ yad brahma-jyotiḥ sanātanam | yad dhi paśyanti munayo guṇāpāyo samāhitā || [BhP 10.28.14-15] iti | ubhayatrāpi cakārādy-adhyāhārādinā tv arthāntaraṃ kaṣṭhaṃ bhavati | tair eva ca tamasaḥ prakṛteḥ param iti vaikuṇṭhasyāpi viśeṣaṇatvena vyākhyātam iti || || 11.20 || śrī-bhagavān ||72|| [73] tathaiva -- na yatra kālo 'nimiṣāṃ paraḥ prabhuḥ kuto nu devā jagatāṃ ya īśire | na yatra sattvaṃ na rajas tamaś ca na vai vikāro na mahān pradhānam || paraṃ padaṃ vaiṣṇavam āmananti tad yan neti netīty atad utsisṛkṣavaḥ | visṛjya daurātmyam ananya-sauhṛdā hṛdopaguhyārha-padaṃ pade pade || [BhP 2.2.17-18] atat cid-vyatiriktaṃ, neti netīty evam utsraṣṭum icchavo daurātmyaṃ bhagavad-ātmanor abheda-dṛṣṭiṃ visṛjya, arhasya śrī-bhagavataḥ, padaṃ caraṇāravindaṃ, pade pade pratikṣaṇaṃ hṛdā upaguhya āśliṣya, nānyasmin sauhṛdaṃ yeṣāṃ tathābhūtāḥ santo yad āmananti jānanti, tad vaiṣṇavaṃ padaṃ śrī-vaikuṇṭham iti brahma-svarūpam eva tad iti tātparyam | anena prema- lakṣaṇa-sādhana-liṅgena nirākāra-rūpam arthāntaraṃ nirastam | atra nirākāra-parāyaṇasyāpi muktā-phala-ṭīkā-kṛto daivābhivyañjitā gīr yathā - tat paraṃ padaṃ vaiṣṇavam āmananti | adhikṛtādhiṣṭhita-rājādhiṣṭhitatvavat | brahmādi-padānām api | viṣṇunādhiṣṭhitatvāt param ity uktam | viṣṇunaivādhiṣṭhitam ity artha iti | ataeva śrutāv api tasya sva-mahimaika- pratiṣṭhitatvaṃ sa bhagavaḥ kasmin pratiṣṭhita iti sve mahimni iti [ChāU 7.24.1]| ataevoktaṃ ka itthā veda yatra sa iti || || 2.2 || śrī-śukaḥ ||73||

English translation

English witness · section(s) 64

Anuccheda 64

That Vaikunthaloka is beyond the material cosmos, and that no one falls from Vaikuntha to the material world, are both described by Srila Suta Gosvami in Srimad Bhagavatam (12.11.19): “O Brahmanas, the realm of Vaikuntha is a great umbrella that gives protection from all kinds of fear.”

Bhagavat · Sanskrit §74 · English §65

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[७४] क इत्थेत्यादि-श्रुतेर् अर्थत्वेनापि स्पष्टम् आह - स्वं लोकं न विदुस् ते वै यत्र देवो जनार्दनः । आहुर् धूम्र-धियो वेदं सकर्मकम् अतद्-विदः ॥ [भ्प् ४.२९.४८] ये धूम्र-धियो वेदं सकर्मकं कर्म-मात्र-प्रतिपादकम् आहुस् ते जनार्दनस्य स्वं स्वरूपं लोकं न विदुः किन्तु स्वर्गादिकम् एव विदुः । यत्र लोके ॥ ४.२९ ॥ श्री-नारदः प्राचीन-बर्हिषम् ॥७४॥

[74] ka itthetyādi-śruter arthatvenāpi spaṣṭam āha - svaṃ lokaṃ na vidus te vai yatra devo janārdanaḥ | āhur dhūmra-dhiyo vedaṃ sakarmakam atad-vidaḥ || [BhP 4.29.48] ye dhūmra-dhiyo vedaṃ sakarmakaṃ karma-mātra-pratipādakam āhus te janārdanasya svaṃ svarūpaṃ lokaṃ na viduḥ kintu svargādikam eva viduḥ | yatra loke || 4.29 || śrī-nāradaḥ prācīna-barhiṣam ||74||

English translation

English witness · section(s) 65

Anuccheda 65

By becoming free from the influence of the three modes of material nature only may enter the spiritual world of Vaikuntha. The Supreme Personality of Godhead confirms this by saying (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.25.22): “Those immersed in the mode of goodness go to the higher planets known as Svarloka, those immersed in the mode of passion enter human society in the middle planetary systems, those immersed in the mode of ignorance go to the hellish worlds, and those who are free from the grip of the three modes attain Me.” We may note that instead of saying ‘they attain My planet’, the Lord says ‘they attain Me’. The Lord speaks in this way in order to proclaim that He is not different from His transcendental abode.

Bhagavat · Sanskrit §75 · English §66

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[७५] एवं च -- ॐ नमस् ते ऽस्तु भगवन् इत्य् आदि गद्ये परमहंस-परिव्राजकैः परमेणात्म-योग-समाधिना परिभावित-परिस्फुट-पारमहंस्य- धर्मेणोद्घाटित-तमः-कपाट-द्वारे चित्ते ऽपावृत आत्म-लोके स्वयम् उपलब्ध-निज-सुखानुभवो भवान् ॥ [भ्प् ६.९.३३] तमः प्रकृतिर् अज्ञानं वा । आत्मलोके स्व-स्वरूपे लोके । एष आत्म-लोक एष ब्रह्म-लोक इति । दिव्ये ब्रह्म-पुरे ह्य् एष परमात्मा प्रतिष्ठित इत्य्-आदि- श्रुतौ[*एन्द्नोते #२०] ॥ यत् तत् सूक्ष्मं परमं वेदितव्यं नित्यं पदं वैभवम् आमनन्ति । एतल् लोका न विदुर् लोक-सारं विदन्ति तत् कवयो योग-निष्ठा इति पिप्पलाद- शाखायाम् । परेण नाकं निहितं गुहायां बिभ्राजते यद् यतयो विशन्ति इति परस्याम् । तद् वा एतत् परं धाम मन्त्र-राजाध्यापकस्य यत्र न दुःखादि न सूर्यो भाति यत्र न मृत्युः प्रविशति यत्र न दोषस् तद् आनन्दं शाश्वतं शान्तं सदा-शिवं ब्रह्मादि-वन्दितं योगि-ध्येयं यत्र गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते योगिनः[*एन्द्नोते #२१] तद् एतद् ऋचाभ्युक्तं तद् विष्णोः परमं पदं सदा पश्यन्ति सूरयः दिवीव चक्षुर् आततम् । तद्-विप्रासो विपन्यवो जागृवांसः समिन्धते । विष्णोर् यत् परमं पदम् इति श्री-नृसिंह-तापन्याम् [५.१०] । न त्व् इयम् अपि ब्रह्म-पुरत्वे नैव व्याख्येया, वन्दितत्वेन यत्र गत्वेत्य् अनेन च तद्-अनङ्गीकरोत् । यतः श्री-विष्णु-पुराणे च श्री-विष्णु-लोकम् उद्दिश्य ऋग् इयम् अनुस्मृता, यथा ऊर्ध्वोत्तरम् ऋषिभ्यस् तु ध्रुवो यत्र व्यवस्थितः ॥ निर्धूत-दोष-पङ्कानां यतीनां संयतात्मनाम् । स्थानं तत् परमं विप्र पुण्य-पाप-परिक्षये ॥ अपुण्य-पुण्योपरमे क्षीणाशोषाप्ति-हेतवः । यत्र गत्वा न शोचन्ति तद् विष्णोः परमं पदम् ॥ धर्मं ध्रुवाद्यास् तिष्ठन्ति यत्र ते लोक-साक्षिणः । तत्-सार्ष्ट्योत्पन्न-योगेद्धस् तद्-विष्णोः परमं पदम् ॥ यत्रैतद् ओतं प्रोतं च यद् भूतं सचराचरम् । भाव्यं च विश्वं मैत्रेय तद्-विष्णोः परमं पदम् ॥ [विप् २.८.९८-१०२] तापनी-श्रुतौ[*एन्द्नोते #२२] च यत्र न वायुर् वाती इत्य् आदिकं प्राकृत तत्-तन्-मात्र-निषेधात्मकं तत्रापि तत्-तच्-छ्रवणात् । यत् तु मातुः सपत्न्या वाग्-वाणैर् हृदि बिद्धस् तु तान् स्मरन् । नैच्छन् मुक्ति-पतेर् मुक्तिं पश्चात् तापम् उपेयिवान् इति [भ्प् ४.९.२९] । तथा -- अहो बत ममानात्म्यं मन्द-भाग्यस्य पश्यत । भव-च्छिदः पाद-मूलं गत्वा याचे यद् अन्तवत् ॥ इति [भ्प् ४.९.३१] श्री-ध्रुवस्यापूर्णंमन्यता श्रूयते तद्-उच्चपद-कामनयैव तत् प्रार्थितवता तेन लब्ध-मनोरथातीत- वरेणापि स्व-सङ्कल्पम् एव तिरस्कर्तुम् उक्तम् इति घटते । तत्र ह्य् एवोक्तं श्री-विदुरेण -- सुदुर्लभं यत् परमं पदं हरेर् [भ्प् ४.९.२८] इति । स्वयं श्री-ध्रुव-प्रियेण -- ततो गन्तासि मत्-स्थानं सर्व-लोक-नमस्कृतम् । उपरिष्टाद् ऋषिभ्यस् त्वं यतो नावर्तते गतः ॥ इति [भ्प् ४.९.२५] श्री-पार्षदाभ्याम् अपि -- आतिष्ठ जगतां वन्द्यं तद् विष्णोः परमं पदम् इति [भ्प् ४.१२.२६] । श्री-सुतेन च - ध्रुवस्य वैकुण्ठ- पदाधिरोहणम् इति [भ्प् ४.१०.१] । पञ्चमे ज्योतिश्-चक्र-वर्णने च - विष्णोर् यत् परमं पदं प्रदक्षिणं प्रक्रामन्ति इति [भ्प् ५.२२.१७] । यद् विष्णोः परमं पदम् अभिवदन्तीति च [भ्प् ५.२३.१] । प्रपञ्चान्तर्गतत्वेऽपि तद् धर्मम् उक्तत्वं विकारावर्ति च तथा हि स्थितिम् आह इति न्यायेन । अतोऽस्मिन् लोके प्रापञ्चिकस्य बहिर्-अंशस्यैव प्रलयो ज्ञेयः । तस्य तु तदानीम् अन्तर्धानम् एव । एतद् आलम्ब्यैव हिरण्यकशिपुनोक्तम् - किम् अन्यैः काल- निर्धूतैः कल्पान्ते वैष्णवादिभिर् इति [भ्प् ७.३.११] । अतोऽद्यापि ये तथा वदन्ति तेऽपि तत्-तुल्या इति भावः । अथ श्री-महावैकुण्ठस्य तादृशत्वं तु सुतराम् एव । यथा नाना-श्रुति- पथोत्थापनेन पाद्मोत्तर-खण्डेऽपि[*एन्द्नोते #२३] प्रकृत्य्-अन्तर्गत- विभूति-वर्णनान्तरं तादृशत्वम् अभिव्यञ्जितं श्री-शिवेन -- एवं प्राकृत-रूपाया विभूते रूपम् उत्तमम् । त्रिपाद्-विभूति-रूपं तु शृणु भूधर-नन्दिनि ॥ प्रधान-परम-व्योम्नोर् अन्तरे विरजा नदी । वेदाङ्गस्वेद-जनित-तोयैः प्रस्राविता शुभा ॥ तस्याः पारे पर-व्योम त्रिपाद्-भुतं सनातनम् । अमृतं शाश्वतं नित्यम् अनन्तं परमं पदम् ॥ शुद्ध-सत्त्व-मयं दिव्यम् अक्षरं ब्रह्मणः पदम् । अनेक-कोटि-सूर्याग्नि-तुल्य-वर्चसम् अव्ययम् ॥ सर्व-वेदमयं शुभ्रं सर्व-प्रलय-वर्जितम् । हिरण्मयं मोक्षपदं ब्रह्मानन्द-सुखाह्वयम् ॥ समानाधिक्य-रहितम् आद्य्-अन्त-रहितं शुभम् ॥ तेजसात्य्-अद्भुतं रम्यं नित्यम् आनन्द-सागरम् । एवम् आदि-गुणोपेतं तद् विष्णोः परमं पदम् ॥ न तद् भासयते सूर्यो न शशाङ्को न पावकः । यद् गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते तद् धाम परमं हरेः ॥ तद् विष्णोः परमं धाम शाश्वतं नित्यम् अच्युतम् । न हि वर्णयितुं शक्यं कल्प-कोटि-शतैर् अपि ॥ (पद्मप् ६.२२७.५७- ६५)[*एन्द्नोते #२४] हरेः पदं वर्णयितुं न शक्यं मया च धात्रा च मुनीन्द्र-वर्यैः । यस्मिन् पदे अच्युत ईश्वरो यः सो अङ्ग वेद यदि वा न वेद ॥ यद् अक्षरं वेद-गुह्यं यस्मिन् देवा अधि विश्वे निषेदुः । यस् तं न वेद किम् ऋचा करिष्यति य उ तद् विदुस् त इमे समासते ॥ तद् विष्णोः परमं पदं सदा पश्यन्ति सूरयः । अक्षरं शाश्वतं नित्यं दिवीव चक्षुर् आततम् ॥ आ प्रवेष्टुम् अशक्यं तद् ब्रह्म-रुद्रादि-दैवतैः । ज्ञानेन शास्त्र-मार्गेण वीक्ष्यते योगि-पुङ्गवैः ॥ अहं ब्रह्मा च देवाश् च न जानन्ति महर्षयः । सर्वोपनिषदाम् अर्थं दृष्ट्वा वक्ष्यामि सुव्रते ॥ विष्णोः पदे परमे तु मध्य उत्सः शुभाह्वयः । यत्र गावो भूरि-शृङ्गा आसते स्व-सुखं प्रजाः ॥ अत्राहि तत् परं धाम गीयमानस्य शार्ङ्गिणः । तद् भाति परमं धाम गोभिर् गेयैः शुभाह्वयैः ॥ आदित्य-वर्णं तमसः परस्तात् ज्योतिर् उत्तमम् । आधारो ब्रह्मणो लोकः शुद्धः स ह सनातनः ॥ सामान्यावियुते दूरे अन्तेऽस्मिन् शाश्वते पदे । तस्थजुर् जागरुकेऽस्मिन् युवानौ श्री-सनातनौ ॥ यतः स्वसारा युवती भूलीले विष्णु-वल्लभे । अत्र पूर्वे ये च साध्या विश्व-देवाः सनातनाः ॥ ते ह नाकं महिमानः सचन्तः शुभ-दर्शनाः । तत्-पदं ज्ञानिनो विप्रा जातृवांसः समिन्धते ॥ तद् विष्णोः परमं पदं मोक्ष इत्य् अभिधीयते । तस्मिन् बन्ध-विनिर्मुक्ताः प्राप्यन्ते स्व-मुखं पदम् ॥ यं प्राप्य न निवर्तन्ते तस्मान् मोक्स उदाहृतः । मोक्षः परं पदं लिङ्गम् अमृतं विष्णु-मन्दिरम् ॥ अक्षरं परमं धाम वैकुण्ठं शाश्वतं परम् । नित्यं च परम-व्योम सर्वोत्कृष्टं सनातनम् ॥ पर्याय-वाचकन्य् अस्य परं धाम्नोऽच्युतस्य हि । तस्य त्रिपाद्-विभूतेस् तु रूपं वक्ष्यामि विस्तरात् ॥ इत्य् आदि ॥ एतद् रीइतिक-श्रुतयो वैदिकेषु प्रायः प्रसिद्धा इति नोदह्रियन्ते । श्री-नारद- पञ्चरात्रे च श्री-ब्रह्म-नारद-संवादे जितं ते स्तोत्रे च - लोकं वैकुण्ठ-नामानं दिव्य-षड्-गुण-संयुतम् । अवैष्णवानाम् अप्राप्यं गुण-त्रय-विवर्जितम् ॥ नित्य-सिद्धेः समाकीर्णं तन्-मयैः पाञ्च-कालिकैः । सभा-प्रासाद-जक्तं वनैश् चोपवनैः शुभम् ॥ वापी-कूप-तडागैश् च वृक्ष-षण्डैः सुमण्डितम् । अप्राकृतं सुरैर् वन्द्यम् अयुतार्क-सम-प्रभम् ॥ इति ॥ ब्रह्माण्ड-पुराणे - तम् अनन्त-गुणावासं महत्-तेजो दुरासदम् । अप्रत्यक्षं निरुपमं परानन्दम् अतीन्द्रियम् ॥ इति ॥ इतिहास-समुच्चये मुद्गलोपख्याने -- ब्रह्मणः सदनाद् ऊर्ध्वं तद् विष्णोः परमं पदम् । शुद्धं सनातनं ज्योतिः परं ब्रह्मेति यद् विदुः ॥ निर्ममा निरहङ्कारा निर्द्वन्द्वा ये जितेन्द्रियाः । ध्यान-योग-पराश् चैव तत्र गच्छन्ति साधवः ॥ येऽर्चयन्ति हरिं विष्णुं कृष्णं जिष्णुं सनातनम् । नारायणम् अजं देवं विष्वक्सेनं चतुर्भुजम् ॥ ध्यायन्ति पुरुषं दिव्यम् अच्युतं च स्मरन्ति ये । लभन्ते तेऽच्युत-स्थानं श्रुतिर् एषा सनातनी ॥ इति ॥ स्कान्दे श्री-सनत्-कुमार-मार्कण्डेय-संवादे - यो विष्णु-भक्तो विप्रेन्द्र शुद्ध-चक्रादि-चिह्नितः । स याति विष्णु-लोकं वै दाह-प्रलय-वर्जितम् ॥ इति । अत्र पद-धामादि-शब्देन स्थान-वाचकेन स्वरूपं त्व् अरूढेन यदि कश्चित् कथञ्चित् स्वरूपम् एव वाचयति । तर्ह्य् अन्यत्र तत्-प्रसङ्गे तेऽभिगच्छन्ति मत्-स्थानं यद् ब्रह्म परमं विदुर् इत्य् आदौ साक्षाद् एव स्थान-शब्द-निगदेन तन् निरसनीयम् । यदि तत्रापि चकाराद्य्-अध्याहारादि- दैन्येन पूर्व-दर्शितेतिहास-समुच्चयस्य परं ब्रह्मेति यद् विदुर् इति विशेषण-विरुद्धं वाक्य-भेदम् एवाङ्गीकरोति तर्हि स्वमते तत्र तत्रोक्त- लोक-शब्दः सहायीकर्तव्यः । ततश् च पद-धाम-स्थान-लोक-रूपाणां तेषां शब्दानां एकत्र वस्तुनि प्रयोगात् परस्परम् अन्यार्थं दूरीकुर्वन्तस् ते कं वा न बोधयन्ति स्वम् अर्थं, यथा भगवान् हरिर् विष्णुर् अयम् इति । अथ हन्त तत्रापि चेत्, स्वरूप-मात्र-वाचकतां भिक्षते तर्हि स्फुटम् एव पाद्म-वैष्णवादि-वचनैः विपक्षो ह्रेपणीयः । कर्माद्य्-अप्राप्यत्वादि- प्रतिपादक-वाक्यानि तु विशेषतो वेत्र-पाणि-रूपाणि सन्त्य् एवेति वक्तव्यम् । तस्मात् ॐ नमस् ते [भ्प् ६.९.३३] इत्य् आदि-पद्यम् अपि साध्व् एव व्याख्यातम् ॥ ॥ ६.९ ॥ देवाः श्री-हरिम् ॥७५॥

[75] evaṃ ca -- oṃ namas te 'stu bhagavan ity ādi gadye paramahaṃsa-parivrājakaiḥ parameṇātma-yoga-samādhinā paribhāvita-parisphuṭa-pāramahaṃsya- dharmeṇodghāṭita-tamaḥ-kapāṭa-dvāre citte 'pāvṛta ātma-loke svayam upalabdha-nija-sukhānubhavo bhavān || [BhP 6.9.33] tamaḥ prakṛtir ajñānaṃ vā | ātmaloke sva-svarūpe loke | eṣa ātma-loka eṣa brahma-loka iti | divye brahma-pure hy eṣa paramātmā pratiṣṭhita ity-ādi- śrutau[*ENDNOTE #20] || yat tat sūkṣmaṃ paramaṃ veditavyaṃ nityaṃ padaṃ vaibhavam āmananti | etal lokā na vidur loka-sāraṃ vidanti tat kavayo yoga-niṣṭhā iti pippalāda- śākhāyām | pareṇa nākaṃ nihitaṃ guhāyāṃ bibhrājate yad yatayo viśanti iti parasyām | tad vā etat paraṃ dhāma mantra-rājādhyāpakasya yatra na duḥkhādi na sūryo bhāti yatra na mṛtyuḥ praviśati yatra na doṣas tad ānandaṃ śāśvataṃ śāntaṃ sadā-śivaṃ brahmādi-vanditaṃ yogi-dhyeyaṃ yatra gatvā na nivartante yoginaḥ[*ENDNOTE #21] tad etad ṛcābhyuktaṃ tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padaṃ sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ divīva cakṣur ātatam | tad-viprāso vipanyavo jāgṛvāṃsaḥ samindhate | viṣṇor yat paramaṃ padam iti śrī-nṛsiṃha-tāpanyām [5.10] | na tv iyam api brahma-puratve naiva vyākhyeyā, vanditatvena yatra gatvety anena ca tad-anaṅgīkarot | yataḥ śrī-viṣṇu-purāṇe ca śrī-viṣṇu-lokam uddiśya ṛg iyam anusmṛtā, yathā ūrdhvottaram ṛṣibhyas tu dhruvo yatra vyavasthitaḥ || nirdhūta-doṣa-paṅkānāṃ yatīnāṃ saṃyatātmanām | sthānaṃ tat paramaṃ vipra puṇya-pāpa-parikṣaye || apuṇya-puṇyoparame kṣīṇāśoṣāpti-hetavaḥ | yatra gatvā na śocanti tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam || dharmaṃ dhruvādyās tiṣṭhanti yatra te loka-sākṣiṇaḥ | tat-sārṣṭyotpanna-yogeddhas tad-viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam || yatraitad otaṃ protaṃ ca yad bhūtaṃ sacarācaram | bhāvyaṃ ca viśvaṃ maitreya tad-viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam || [ViP 2.8.98-102] tāpanī-śrutau[*ENDNOTE #22] ca yatra na vāyur vātī ity ādikaṃ prākṛta tat-tan-mātra-niṣedhātmakaṃ tatrāpi tat-tac-chravaṇāt | yat tu mātuḥ sapatnyā vāg-vāṇair hṛdi biddhas tu tān smaran | naicchan mukti-pater muktiṃ paścāt tāpam upeyivān iti [BhP 4.9.29] | tathā -- aho bata mamānātmyaṃ manda-bhāgyasya paśyata | bhava-cchidaḥ pāda-mūlaṃ gatvā yāce yad antavat || iti [BhP 4.9.31] śrī-dhruvasyāpūrṇaṃmanyatā śrūyate tad-uccapada-kāmanayaiva tat prārthitavatā tena labdha-manorathātīta- vareṇāpi sva-saṅkalpam eva tiraskartum uktam iti ghaṭate | tatra hy evoktaṃ śrī-vidureṇa -- sudurlabhaṃ yat paramaṃ padaṃ harer [BhP 4.9.28] iti | svayaṃ śrī-dhruva-priyeṇa -- tato gantāsi mat-sthānaṃ sarva-loka-namaskṛtam | upariṣṭād ṛṣibhyas tvaṃ yato nāvartate gataḥ || iti [BhP 4.9.25] śrī-pārṣadābhyām api -- ātiṣṭha jagatāṃ vandyaṃ tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam iti [BhP 4.12.26] | śrī-sutena ca - dhruvasya vaikuṇṭha- padādhirohaṇam iti [BhP 4.10.1] | pañcame jyotiś-cakra-varṇane ca - viṣṇor yat paramaṃ padaṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ prakrāmanti iti [BhP 5.22.17] | yad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam abhivadantīti ca [BhP 5.23.1] | prapañcāntargatatve'pi tad dharmam uktatvaṃ vikārāvarti ca tathā hi sthitim āha iti nyāyena | ato'smin loke prāpañcikasya bahir-aṃśasyaiva pralayo jñeyaḥ | tasya tu tadānīm antardhānam eva | etad ālambyaiva hiraṇyakaśipunoktam - kim anyaiḥ kāla- nirdhūtaiḥ kalpānte vaiṣṇavādibhir iti [BhP 7.3.11] | ato'dyāpi ye tathā vadanti te'pi tat-tulyā iti bhāvaḥ | atha śrī-mahāvaikuṇṭhasya tādṛśatvaṃ tu sutarām eva | yathā nānā-śruti- pathotthāpanena pādmottara-khaṇḍe'pi[*ENDNOTE #23] prakṛty-antargata- vibhūti-varṇanāntaraṃ tādṛśatvam abhivyañjitaṃ śrī-śivena -- evaṃ prākṛta-rūpāyā vibhūte rūpam uttamam | tripād-vibhūti-rūpaṃ tu śṛṇu bhūdhara-nandini || pradhāna-parama-vyomnor antare virajā nadī | vedāṅgasveda-janita-toyaiḥ prasrāvitā śubhā || tasyāḥ pāre para-vyoma tripād-bhutaṃ sanātanam | amṛtaṃ śāśvataṃ nityam anantaṃ paramaṃ padam || śuddha-sattva-mayaṃ divyam akṣaraṃ brahmaṇaḥ padam | aneka-koṭi-sūryāgni-tulya-varcasam avyayam || sarva-vedamayaṃ śubhraṃ sarva-pralaya-varjitam | hiraṇmayaṃ mokṣapadaṃ brahmānanda-sukhāhvayam || samānādhikya-rahitam ādy-anta-rahitaṃ śubham || tejasāty-adbhutaṃ ramyaṃ nityam ānanda-sāgaram | evam ādi-guṇopetaṃ tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam || na tad bhāsayate sūryo na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ | yad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṃ hareḥ || tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ dhāma śāśvataṃ nityam acyutam | na hi varṇayituṃ śakyaṃ kalpa-koṭi-śatair api || (PadmaP 6.227.57- 65)[*ENDNOTE #24] hareḥ padaṃ varṇayituṃ na śakyaṃ mayā ca dhātrā ca munīndra-varyaiḥ | yasmin pade acyuta īśvaro yaḥ so aṅga veda yadi vā na veda || yad akṣaraṃ veda-guhyaṃ yasmin devā adhi viśve niṣeduḥ | yas taṃ na veda kim ṛcā kariṣyati ya u tad vidus ta ime samāsate || tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padaṃ sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ | akṣaraṃ śāśvataṃ nityaṃ divīva cakṣur ātatam || ā praveṣṭum aśakyaṃ tad brahma-rudrādi-daivataiḥ | jñānena śāstra-mārgeṇa vīkṣyate yogi-puṅgavaiḥ || ahaṃ brahmā ca devāś ca na jānanti maharṣayaḥ | sarvopaniṣadām arthaṃ dṛṣṭvā vakṣyāmi suvrate || viṣṇoḥ pade parame tu madhya utsaḥ śubhāhvayaḥ | yatra gāvo bhūri-śṛṅgā āsate sva-sukhaṃ prajāḥ || atrāhi tat paraṃ dhāma gīyamānasya śārṅgiṇaḥ | tad bhāti paramaṃ dhāma gobhir geyaiḥ śubhāhvayaiḥ || āditya-varṇaṃ tamasaḥ parastāt jyotir uttamam | ādhāro brahmaṇo lokaḥ śuddhaḥ sa ha sanātanaḥ || sāmānyāviyute dūre ante'smin śāśvate pade | tasthajur jāgaruke'smin yuvānau śrī-sanātanau || yataḥ svasārā yuvatī bhūlīle viṣṇu-vallabhe | atra pūrve ye ca sādhyā viśva-devāḥ sanātanāḥ || te ha nākaṃ mahimānaḥ sacantaḥ śubha-darśanāḥ | tat-padaṃ jñānino viprā jātṛvāṃsaḥ samindhate || tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padaṃ mokṣa ity abhidhīyate | tasmin bandha-vinirmuktāḥ prāpyante sva-mukhaṃ padam || yaṃ prāpya na nivartante tasmān moksa udāhṛtaḥ | mokṣaḥ paraṃ padaṃ liṅgam amṛtaṃ viṣṇu-mandiram || akṣaraṃ paramaṃ dhāma vaikuṇṭhaṃ śāśvataṃ param | nityaṃ ca parama-vyoma sarvotkṛṣṭaṃ sanātanam || paryāya-vācakany asya paraṃ dhāmno'cyutasya hi | tasya tripād-vibhūtes tu rūpaṃ vakṣyāmi vistarāt || ity ādi || etad rīitika-śrutayo vaidikeṣu prāyaḥ prasiddhā iti nodahriyante | śrī-nārada- pañcarātre ca śrī-brahma-nārada-saṃvāde jitaṃ te stotre ca - lokaṃ vaikuṇṭha-nāmānaṃ divya-ṣaḍ-guṇa-saṃyutam | avaiṣṇavānām aprāpyaṃ guṇa-traya-vivarjitam || nitya-siddheḥ samākīrṇaṃ tan-mayaiḥ pāñca-kālikaiḥ | sabhā-prāsāda-jaktaṃ vanaiś copavanaiḥ śubham || vāpī-kūpa-taḍāgaiś ca vṛkṣa-ṣaṇḍaiḥ sumaṇḍitam | aprākṛtaṃ surair vandyam ayutārka-sama-prabham || iti || brahmāṇḍa-purāṇe - tam ananta-guṇāvāsaṃ mahat-tejo durāsadam | apratyakṣaṃ nirupamaṃ parānandam atīndriyam || iti || itihāsa-samuccaye mudgalopakhyāne -- brahmaṇaḥ sadanād ūrdhvaṃ tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam | śuddhaṃ sanātanaṃ jyotiḥ paraṃ brahmeti yad viduḥ || nirmamā nirahaṅkārā nirdvandvā ye jitendriyāḥ | dhyāna-yoga-parāś caiva tatra gacchanti sādhavaḥ || ye'rcayanti hariṃ viṣṇuṃ kṛṣṇaṃ jiṣṇuṃ sanātanam | nārāyaṇam ajaṃ devaṃ viṣvaksenaṃ caturbhujam || dhyāyanti puruṣaṃ divyam acyutaṃ ca smaranti ye | labhante te'cyuta-sthānaṃ śrutir eṣā sanātanī || iti || skānde śrī-sanat-kumāra-mārkaṇḍeya-saṃvāde - yo viṣṇu-bhakto viprendra śuddha-cakrādi-cihnitaḥ | sa yāti viṣṇu-lokaṃ vai dāha-pralaya-varjitam || iti | atra pada-dhāmādi-śabdena sthāna-vācakena svarūpaṃ tv arūḍhena yadi kaścit kathañcit svarūpam eva vācayati | tarhy anyatra tat-prasaṅge te'bhigacchanti mat-sthānaṃ yad brahma paramaṃ vidur ity ādau sākṣād eva sthāna-śabda-nigadena tan nirasanīyam | yadi tatrāpi cakārādy-adhyāhārādi- dainyena pūrva-darśitetihāsa-samuccayasya paraṃ brahmeti yad vidur iti viśeṣaṇa-viruddhaṃ vākya-bhedam evāṅgīkaroti tarhi svamate tatra tatrokta- loka-śabdaḥ sahāyīkartavyaḥ | tataś ca pada-dhāma-sthāna-loka-rūpāṇāṃ teṣāṃ śabdānāṃ ekatra vastuni prayogāt parasparam anyārthaṃ dūrīkurvantas te kaṃ vā na bodhayanti svam arthaṃ, yathā bhagavān harir viṣṇur ayam iti | atha hanta tatrāpi cet, svarūpa-mātra-vācakatāṃ bhikṣate tarhi sphuṭam eva pādma-vaiṣṇavādi-vacanaiḥ vipakṣo hrepaṇīyaḥ | karmādy-aprāpyatvādi- pratipādaka-vākyāni tu viśeṣato vetra-pāṇi-rūpāṇi santy eveti vaktavyam | tasmāt oṃ namas te [BhP 6.9.33] ity ādi-padyam api sādhv eva vyākhyātam || || 6.9 || devāḥ śrī-harim ||75||

English translation

English witness · section(s) 66

Anuccheda 66

1 That the spiritual world of Vaikuntha is beyond the touch of the three modes of material nature is confirmed by Lord Krsna Himself in the following words (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.25.25): “Residential quarters within the forest are in the mode of goodness, residential quarters in big cities, towns and villages are in the mode of passion, and residential quarters in an atmosphere wherein indulgence in the four sinful activities of illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating, and gambling predominate are in the mode of ignorance, but My abode is free from the material modes.”* 2 That the spiritual world of Vaikuntha is superior to the material world is confirmed by Lord Krsna in Srimad Bhagavatam (10.88.25-26): “Lord Siva finally entered the splendid world of Svetadvipa Vaikuntha, where Lord Narayana personally resides, and which is beyond the darkness of matter. In Svetadvipa there are great saintly persons who are completely freed from the envious nature of the material world and are beyond the jurisdiction of the four principles of material activities, namely religiousness, economic development, sense-gratification and liberation. Anyone who enters into that Vaikuntha planet never comes back again to this material world.”*

Bhagavat · Sanskrit §76 · English §67

Source

[७६] तद् एत्च् छ्री-वैकुण्ठ-स्वरूपं निरूपितम् । तच् च यथा श्री-भगवान् एव क्वचित् पूर्णत्वेन क्वचिद् अंशत्वेन च वर्तते तथैवेति । बहवस् तस्यापि भेदाः पाद्मोत्तर-खण्डादौ द्रष्टव्याः । येषु श्री-मत्स्य-देवादीनाम् अपि पदानि वक्ष्यन्ते । तद् एव सूचयति - एवं हिरण्याक्षम् असह्य-विक्रमं स सादयित्वा हरिर् आदि-सूकरः । जगाम लोकं स्वम् अखण्डितोत्सवं समीडितः पुष्कर-विष्टरादिभिः ॥ [भ्प् ३.१९.२८] सादयित्वा हत्वा । पवित्रारोप-प्रसङ्गे चैवम् आह बोधायनः - एवं यः कुरुते विद्वान् वर्षे वर्षे न संशयः । स याति परमं स्थानं यत्र देवो नृकेशरी ॥ इति । वायु-पुराणे तु शिव-पुरम् अपि तद्वत् श्रूयते, यथा - अन्तौघस्य समन्तात् तु सन्निविष्टो घनोदधिः । समन्ताद् येन तोयेन धार्यमानः स तिष्ठति ॥ बाह्यतो घन-तोयस्य तिर्यग् ऊर्ध्वं च मण्डलम् । धारयमाणं समन्तात् तु तिष्ठते घन-तेजसा ॥ अयोगुडनिभो वह्निः समन्तात् मण्डलाकृतिः । समन्ताद् घन-वातेन धार्यमाणः स तिष्ठति ॥ भूतादिश् च तथाकाशं भूतादिं च तथा महान् । महान् व्याप्तो ह्य् अनन्तेन अव्यक्तेन तु धार्यते ॥ अनन्तम् अपरिव्यक्तम् अनादि-निधनं च तत् । तम एव निरालोकम् अमर्यादम् अदेशिकम् ॥ तमसोऽन्ते च विख्यातम् आकाशान्ते च भास्वरम् । यर्यान्तायाम् अतस् तस्य शिवस्यायतनं महत् । त्रिदशानाम् अगम्यं तु स्थानं दिव्यम् इति श्रुतिर् ॥ इति ॥ ॥ ३.१९ ॥ श्री-मैत्रेयः ॥७६॥

[76] tad etc chrī-vaikuṇṭha-svarūpaṃ nirūpitam | tac ca yathā śrī-bhagavān eva kvacit pūrṇatvena kvacid aṃśatvena ca vartate tathaiveti | bahavas tasyāpi bhedāḥ pādmottara-khaṇḍādau draṣṭavyāḥ | yeṣu śrī-matsya-devādīnām api padāni vakṣyante | tad eva sūcayati - evaṃ hiraṇyākṣam asahya-vikramaṃ sa sādayitvā harir ādi-sūkaraḥ | jagāma lokaṃ svam akhaṇḍitotsavaṃ samīḍitaḥ puṣkara-viṣṭarādibhiḥ || [BhP 3.19.28] sādayitvā hatvā | pavitrāropa-prasaṅge caivam āha bodhāyanaḥ - evaṃ yaḥ kurute vidvān varṣe varṣe na saṃśayaḥ | sa yāti paramaṃ sthānaṃ yatra devo nṛkeśarī || iti | vāyu-purāṇe tu śiva-puram api tadvat śrūyate, yathā - antaughasya samantāt tu sanniviṣṭo ghanodadhiḥ | samantād yena toyena dhāryamānaḥ sa tiṣṭhati || bāhyato ghana-toyasya tiryag ūrdhvaṃ ca maṇḍalam | dhārayamāṇaṃ samantāt tu tiṣṭhate ghana-tejasā || ayoguḍanibho vahniḥ samantāt maṇḍalākṛtiḥ | samantād ghana-vātena dhāryamāṇaḥ sa tiṣṭhati || bhūtādiś ca tathākāśaṃ bhūtādiṃ ca tathā mahān | mahān vyāpto hy anantena avyaktena tu dhāryate || anantam aparivyaktam anādi-nidhanaṃ ca tat | tama eva nirālokam amaryādam adeśikam || tamaso'nte ca vikhyātam ākāśānte ca bhāsvaram | yaryāntāyām atas tasya śivasyāyatanaṃ mahat | tridaśānām agamyaṃ tu sthānaṃ divyam iti śrutir || iti || || 3.19 || śrī-maitreyaḥ ||76||

English translation

English witness · section(s) 67

Anuccheda 67

1 Speaking to Narada, Lord brahma describes the eternality of Vaikunthaloka in the following words (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.5.39): “From the forefront of the chest up to the neck of the universal form of the Lord are situated the planetary systems named Janaloka and Tapoloka, whereas Satyaloka, the topmost planetary system is, situated on the head of the form. The spiritual planets, however, are eternal.”* 2 Srila Sridhara Svami comments on this verse: “In this verse the word ‘brahmaloka’ refers to the eternal (sanatana) Vaikuntha planets. Here the word ‘brahmaloka; does not refer to any planet within the created material universe’. Here the word ‘brahmaloka’ means ‘spiritual (brahma) planet (loka)’.

Bhagavat · Sanskrit §77 · English §68

Source

[७७] एवं च यथा श्री-भगवद्-वपुर्-आविर्भवति लोके तथैव क्वचित् कस्यचित् तत् पदस्याविर्भावः श्रूयते - पत्नी विकुण्ठा शुभ्रस्य वैकुण्ठैः सुर-सत्तमैः । तयोः स्व-कलया जज्ञे वैकुण्ठो भगवान् स्वयम् ॥ वैकुण्ठः कल्पितो येन लोको लोक-नमस्कृतः । रमया प्रार्थ्यमानेन देव्या तत्-प्रिय-काम्यया ॥ [भ्प् ५.८.४५] यथा भगवत आविर्भाव-मात्रं जन्मेति भण्यते । तथैव वैकुण्ठस्यापि कल्पनम् आविर्भावनम् एव न तु प्राकृतवत् कृत्रिमत्वम् । उभयत्रापि नित्यत्वाद् इत्य् अभिप्रायेण तत्-साम्येनाह, जज्ञ इति । श्री- विकुण्ठासुतस्यैवेदं वैकुण्ठम् । मूल-वैकुण्ठं तु सृष्टेः प्राक् श्री- ब्रह्मणा दृष्टम् इति द्वितीये प्रसिद्धम् एव । स तन्-निकेतं परिमृश्य शून्यम् अपश्यमानः कुपितो ननाद इत्य् [भ्प् ८.१९.११] उक्तम् । तत्-स्थानं तु स्वर्गादि-गतम् एव ज्ञेयम् ॥ ॥ ८.५ ॥ श्री-शुकः ॥७७॥

[77] evaṃ ca yathā śrī-bhagavad-vapur-āvirbhavati loke tathaiva kvacit kasyacit tat padasyāvirbhāvaḥ śrūyate - patnī vikuṇṭhā śubhrasya vaikuṇṭhaiḥ sura-sattamaiḥ | tayoḥ sva-kalayā jajñe vaikuṇṭho bhagavān svayam || vaikuṇṭhaḥ kalpito yena loko loka-namaskṛtaḥ | ramayā prārthyamānena devyā tat-priya-kāmyayā || [BhP 5.8.45] yathā bhagavata āvirbhāva-mātraṃ janmeti bhaṇyate | tathaiva vaikuṇṭhasyāpi kalpanam āvirbhāvanam eva na tu prākṛtavat kṛtrimatvam | ubhayatrāpi nityatvād ity abhiprāyeṇa tat-sāmyenāha, jajña iti | śrī- vikuṇṭhāsutasyaivedaṃ vaikuṇṭham | mūla-vaikuṇṭhaṃ tu sṛṣṭeḥ prāk śrī- brahmaṇā dṛṣṭam iti dvitīye prasiddham eva | sa tan-niketaṃ parimṛśya śūnyam apaśyamānaḥ kupito nanāda ity [BhP 8.19.11] uktam | tat-sthānaṃ tu svargādi-gatam eva jñeyam || || 8.5 || śrī-śukaḥ ||77||

English translation

English witness · section(s) 68

Anuccheda 68

1 That Vaikunthaloka may be obtained only by the practice of intense devotional service, which makes the happiness of liberation seem insignificant in comparison, is explained by the Four Kumaras in Srimad Bhagavatam (3.15.23 and 25): “It is very much regrettable that unfortunate people do not discuss the description of the Vaikuntha planets but engage in topics which are unworthy to hear and which bewilder one’s intelligence. Those who give up the topics of Vaikuntha and take to talk of the material world are thrown into the darkest region of ignorance.* 2 “Persons whose bodily features change in ecstasy and who breathe heavily and perspire due to hearing the glories of the Lord are promoted to the kingdom of God, even though they do not care for meditation and other austerities. The kingdom of God is above the material universes, and it is desired by Brahma and other demigods.”* 3 The first part of this verse may be interpreted ‘yac ca nah’ (Vaikunthaloka is situated above us), or ‘nah sprhaniya-silah’ (we desire to attain the good qualities possessed by the great devotees). The great devotees are described in the following words: ‘dure yamah’ (Because they have already attained all spiritual perfection, these great devotees do not care for meditation and other austerities), and ‘bhartu mithah su-yasasah’ (These great devotees are constantly engaged in hearing the glories of the Lord). These great devotees are promoted (vrajanti) to the kingdom of God on the strength of their intense devotional service, which makes even the happiness of liberation seem insignificant by comparison. 4 That devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead makes the happiness of liberation seem insignificant is also confirmed by the following statement of Srimad Bhagavatam (3.15.48): “Persons who are very expert and most intelligent in understanding things as they are engage in hearing narrations of the auspicious activities and pastimes of the Lord, which are worth chanting and worth hearing. Such persons do not care even for the highest material benediction, namely liberation, to say nothing of other less important benedictions like the material happiness of the heavenly kingdom.”*

Bhagavat · Sanskrit §78 · English §69

Source

[७८] देहेन्द्रियासु-हीनानां वैकुण्ठ-पुर-वासिनाम् । [भ्प् ७.१.३४] जन्म-हेतु-भूतैः प्राकृतैर् देहेन्द्रियासुभिर् हीनानां शुद्ध-सत्त्व-मय- देहानाम् इत्य् अर्थः ॥ ॥ ७.१ ॥ युधिष्ठिरः श्री-नारदम् ॥ ७८ ॥

[78] dehendriyāsu-hīnānāṃ vaikuṇṭha-pura-vāsinām | [BhP 7.1.34] janma-hetu-bhūtaiḥ prākṛtair dehendriyāsubhir hīnānāṃ śuddha-sattva-maya- dehānām ity arthaḥ || || 7.1 || yudhiṣṭhiraḥ śrī-nāradam || 78 ||

English translation

English witness · section(s) 69

Anuccheda 69

1 That the spiritual world of Vaikuntha is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss is confirmed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself in the following words (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.20.37): “Those who seriously follow the methods of achieving Me that I have personally taught attain freedom from illusion and upon reaching My personal abode can at last perfectly understand the Absolute Truth.”*** 2 “Jnana-yoga, karma-yoga and bhakti-yoga are the spiritual paths (me pathah) mentioned here by the Lord. Because it is the most practical and effective at all times, places and circumstances, the devotees consider bhakti-yoga the best of all spiritual paths. The word ‘ksemam’ in this verse indicates that the Vaikunthaslokas are filled with the supreme auspiciousness of pure devotional service, and the words ‘mat-sthanam paramam brahma viduh’ indicate that the great sages understand that the spiritual abode of the Lord is non different from the Lord Himself. 3 The spiritual world of Vaikunthaloka is described in the following statement of Srimad Bhagavatam (10.28.15-16): “Reflecting in this way, the merciful and all-powerful Personality of Godhead showed His own planet, which is above the darkness of material existence, to the cowherd men of Vrndavana.* 4 “Thus Krsna showed them the effulgent, eternal, ever-existing spiritual sky, which is unlimited and full of knowledge. Great sages and saintly persons who have already surpassed the influence of the three material modes of nature are able to directly see that spiritual world.”* 5 Both these quotations (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.20.37 and 10.28.14-15) clearly explain that the spiritual abode of Lord Krsna is beyond the influence of the material energy. The supposition that the word ‘ca’ (also) is understood, although not expressed in these verses, and that therefore these verses mean ‘the abode of Lord Krsna and the spiritual world’, and that therefore the abode of Lord Krsna is different from the eternal spiritual world, is an extremely forced and illogical misinterpretation of what is clearly said in these verses. That this abode of Lord Krsna is non different from the spiritual world of Vaikuntha is also confirmed by Srila Sridhara Svami, who explains in his commentary on this verse: “The words ‘tamasah param’ in this verse indicate that the abode of Lord Krsna is beyond the darkness of material existence.”

Bhagavat · Sanskrit §79 · English §70

Source

[७९] तथा - आत्म-तुल्यैः षोडशभिर् विना श्रीवत्स-कौस्तुभौ । पर्युपासितम् उन्निद्र- शरद्-अम्बुरुहेक्षणम् ॥ [भ्प् ६.९.२९] षोडशभिः श्री-सुनन्दादिभिः ॥ ६.९ ॥ श्री-शुकः ॥

[79] tathā - ātma-tulyaiḥ ṣoḍaśabhir vinā śrīvatsa-kaustubhau | paryupāsitam unnidra- śarad-amburuhekṣaṇam || [BhP 6.9.29] ṣoḍaśabhiḥ śrī-sunandādibhiḥ || 6.9 || śrī-śukaḥ ||

English translation

English witness · section(s) 70

Anuccheda 70

1 The spiritual abode of Lord Krsna is further described by Srila Sukadeva Gosvami in these words (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.17-18): “In that transcendental state of labdopasanti, there is no supremacy of devastating time, which controls even the celestial demigods who are empowered to rule over mundane creatures. (And what to speak of the demigods themselves?) Nor is there the mode of material goodness, nor passion, nor ignorance, nor even the false ego, nor the material Causal Ocean, nor the material nature.* 2 “The transcendentalists desire to avoid everything godless, for they know that supreme situation in which everything is related with the Supreme Lord Visnu. Therefore a pure devotee who is in absolute harmony with the Lord does not create perplexities, but worships the lotus feet of the Lord at every moment, taking them into His heart.”* 3 In this verse Srila Sukadeva Gosvami says: ‘The transcendentalists desire to avoid (icchavah) everything godless (atat, dauratmyam), such as the useless speculations of the nyaya-logicians (neti neti), and the impersonalist fallacy that the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the individual jiva living entities are identical in all respects. Abandoning all these misconceptions, they embrace (upaguhya) the lotus feet (padam) of the supremely worshipable (arha) Personality of Godhead within their hearts (hrda) at every moment (pade pade). In this way the saintly devotees repose all their love in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and in no one else. Such devotees understand (amananti) the truth about the spiritual abode of the Supreme Lord Visnu (yat tad vaisnavam padam)”. By explaining that the devotees repose all their love in the Supreme Lord, this verse clearly refutes the misconception that the Absolute Truth is formless and impersonal, for it is not possible to love a formless non person. 4 The impersonalists’ idea that God is formless is clearly rejected by the author of the Mukta-phala-tika in his explanation of this verse, where he explains the relation between the demigods and the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the following words: “As a king establishes places of residence for his different subjects, while He reserves the best residence for himself, so the Supreme Personality of Godhead establishes the residence of Brahma and all the other living entities within the universe, while His own residence is the best, for it is above (param) the influence of the material energy.” 5 That the Supreme Personality of Godhead remains in His own glorious realm, the world of Vaikuntha, is confirmed by the following statements of the Sruti-sastra: “Where does the Supreme Personality of Godhead reside? He resides in His own glorious abode.” Chandogya Upanisad 7.24.1 “Who can properly understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead who resides in His own transcendental abode?” Katha Upanisad 1.2.25