Paramatma Sandarbha This is the third book in the series of six treatises called Sat Sandarbhas or Bhagavata Sandarbha. It is an elaborate essay on the nature of Paramatma. The distinction between Absolute Reality’s manifestations as Paramatma and Bhagavan is relatively unknown, even to specialists in the field of Vedanta. These two specific designations are often used synonymously to refer to a single aspect of the tattva. It was Sri JIva Gosvaml’s genius to clearly define them and enumerate their characteris­ tics and functions in detail. There is no other work in the entire gamut of Indian theological and philosophical literature that throws light on this subject so lucidly. Paramatma, also called Purusa, is akin to what people usually conceive of as God, the creator and overseer of the cosmos, whereas Bhagavan is God in His supreme transcendence, without reference to the phenomenal world — God in His own intrinsic being. Paramatma is the regulator of the intermedia­ ry potency (tatastha-sakti) and the extrinsic potency (bahirahga-sakti), otherwise known as may a. He is never influenced by this extrinsic potency, even while present in the midst of it. SatyanarayanaDasa Born in 1954, he was drawn to the spiritual traditions of his home country India since his childhood. After receiving a postgraduate degree in 1978 from iit Delhi, he then worked in the United States for four years. After this period, he returned to India to begin formal study of the orthodox systems of Indian philosophy known as sad-darsana under the direct guidance of his guru Sri Haridasa Sastrl Maharaja and Svami Syama Sarana Maharaja. This education was pursued in the traditional manner for more than 25 years as he dedicated himself to the practice of bhakti-yoga. In 1991 he accepted the traditional Vaisnava order of renounced life, babaji-vesa. His main focus has been on the works of Jiva Gosvami, particularly the Sat Sandarbhas, providing English translation and commentary. He also earned four sastric degrees, and received both a law degree and a PhD in Sanskrit from Agra University. Satyanarayana Dasa is the director of the Jiva Institute of Vaishnava Studies in Vrindavan, India. In 2013 he was honored by the president of India, Pranab Mukherjee, for his extraordi­ nary contribution in presenting Vedic culture and philosophy to students and audiences within India and internationally. MfcHt'Llui nftmfd hastamalakavat-tattvam srimad-bhagavatasya yah darsayamasajivebhyas tarn sri-jlva-prabhum numah We bow down to Srlla JIva GosvamI Prabhupada who revealed the essential meaning of Srimad Bhagavatam to the people of the world just as plainly as one would display an amalaki fruit kept on one’s palm. sandarbha yena nadhltas tasya bhagavate sramah sandarbha yena cadhlta nasti bhagavate bhramah One whojias not undergone comprehensive study of SatSandarbhas must struggle to assimilate the message of Srimad Bhagavatam. One who has studied Sat Sandarbhas, however, will have no misgivings about the essential meaning of Srimad Bhagavatam. Sat Sandarbha Tattva Sandarbha BhagavatSandarbha Paramatma Sandarbha Krsna Sandarbha Bhakti Sandarbha Priti Sandarbha SRI PARAMATMA SANDARBHA The Living Being, Its Bondage, and the Im m anent Absolute Srlla Jiva GosvamI Sanskrit Text with English Translation and JIva-tosani Commentary SATYANARAYANA DASA # JIV A Jiva Institute of Vaishnava Studies Vrindavan Paramatma Sandarbha: The Living Being, Its Bondage, and the Immanent Absolute. Translation and Commentary Satyanarayana Dasa This book is published and distributed by Jiva Institute of Vaishnava Studies. For further information on Jiva books, please contact Jiva Institute of Vaishnava Studies Sheetal Chaya 1, Raman Reti Vrindavan, up 281x21 India or visit www.jiva.org To learn more about Sat Sandarbha, please go to sandarbhas.jiva. org To report errors, please send a note to [email protected] Copyright © 2016 by Satyanarayana Dasa Print Kbsel GmbH & Co. KG, Altusried-Krugzell Notice of Rights All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. For in­ formation on getting permission for reprints and excerpts, contact [email protected]. ISBN-13: 978-81-87153-46-7 isbn-io: 81-87153-46-6 First edition, 2016 Printed in Germany on non-aging, acid-free, Fsc-certified wood-free book paper Contents at a Glance Introduction and Dedication............................................ xxi I The Ontology of Paramatma — The Suprem e Im m anent Self 1 Anucchedas 1-18................................................................................ 7 II The Ontology of the JIva — Tatastha-sakti 149 Anucchedas 19-47.............................................................................. 153 III The Ontology of M aya — Bahiranga-sakti 315 Anucchedas 48-104 . 319 IV Determ ination of Bhagavan as the Subject of Bhagavata Purana 673 Anucchedas 105-110........................................................................... 677 References Editors’ Notes.................................................................... 785 The Language of Transcendence — Key Terms and Concepts...................................................................... 787 Paramatma Sandarbha at a Glance................................... 801 Glossary and Abbreviations............................................... 803 Subject Index, Verse Index, Bibliography, and Contributors............................................................... 827 1 vii