
LESSON 10  SAMBANDHA, ABHIDEYA, PRAYOJANA


Introduction:
-------------

C.C. Mad 20.124

veda-sastra kahe  sambandha abhidheya prayojana
krsna prapya sambandha bhakti  praptyera sadhana

TRANSLATION:
"The Vedic literatures give information about the living entity's eternal
relationship with Krsna, which is called sambandha. The living entity's
understanding of this relationship and acting accordingly is called abhidheya.
Returning home, back to Godhead, is the ultimate goal of life and is called
prayojana."

C.C. Mad 20.125

abhidheya-nama bhakti  prema prayojana
purusartha-siromani  prema maha-dhana

TRANSLATION:
"Devotional service, or sense activity for the satisfaction of the Lord, is
called abhidheya because it can develop one's original love of Godhead, which is
the goal of life. This goal is the living entity's topmost interest and greatest
wealth. Thus one attains the platform of transcendental loving service unto
the Lord."

PURPORT:
The conditioned soul is bewildered by the external material energy, which fully
engages him in a variety of sense gratification. Due to engagement in material
activities, one's original Krsna consciousness is covered. However, as
the supreme father of all living entities, Krsna wants His sons to return home,
back to Godhead; therefore He personally comes to deliver Vedic literatures like
Bhagavad-gita. He engages His confidential servants who serve as spiritual
masters and enlighten the conditioned living entities. Being present in
everyone's heart, the Lord gives the living entities the conscience whereby they
can accept the Vedas and the spiritual master. In this way the living entity can
understand his constitutional position and his relationship with the Supreme
Lord. As personally enunciated by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (15.15),
vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah: through the study of Vedanta, one may become
fully aware of his relationship with the Supreme Lord and act accordingly. In
this way one may ultimately attain the platform of loving service to the Lord.
It is in the living entity's best interest to understand the Supreme Lord.
Unfortunately, the living entities have forgotten; therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam
says: na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum (Bhag 7.5.31).
Everyone wants to achieve life's ultimate goal, but due to being absorbed in the
material energy, we waste our time with sense gratification. Through the study
of Vedic literatures - of which the essence is Bhagavad-gita - one comes to
Krsna consciousness. Thus one engagaes in devotional service, called abhidheya.
When actually developed, love of Godhead is called prayojana, the living
entity's ultimate goal. When one becomes fully Krsna conscious, he has attained
the perfection of life.


Sambandha
---------

C.C. Mad 25.114

aham eva-sloke aham--tina-bara
purnaisvarya sri-vigraha-sthitira nirdhara

TRANSLATION:
"In the beginning "aham eva," the word "aham" is expressed three times. In the
beginning there are the words "aham eva." In the second line there are the
words "pascad aham." At the end are the words "sosmy aham." This "aham"
indicates the Supreme Person. By the repetition of "aham," the transcendental
personality who is complete with six opulences is confirmed."

C.C. Mad 25.115

ye vigraha nahi mane,  nirakara mane
tare tiraskaribare  karila nirdharane

TRANSLATION:
"Impersonalists do not accept the personal feature of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. The Personality of Godhead is stressed in this verse in order to
impress upon them the necessity of accepting Him. Therefore the word "aham" is
mentioned three times. To stress something important, one repeats it three
times."

C.C. Mad 25.116

ei saba sabde haya -- jnana-vijnana-viveka
maya-karya maya haite  ami vyatireka

TRANSLATION:
"Actual spiritual knowledge and its practical application are considered in all
these sound vibrations. Although the external energy comes from Me, I am
different from it."

C.C. Mad 25.117

yaiche suryera sthane  bhasaye abhasa
surya vina svatantra tara  na haya prakasa

TRANSLATION:
"Sometimes a reflection of the sun is experienced in place of the sun, but its
illumination is never possible independent of the sun."

C.C. Mad 25.118

mayatita haile haya  amara anubhava
ei sambandha-tattva kahilun  suna ara saba

TRANSLATION:
"When one is transcendentally situated, he can perceive Me. This perception is
the basis of one's relationship with the Supreme Lord. Now let Me further
explain this subject matter."

C.C.Mad 25.119

rte rtham yat pratiyeta  na pratiyeta catmani
tad vidyad atmano mayam  yathabhaso yatha tamah

TRANSLATION:
"What appears to be truth without Me, is certainly My illusory energy, for
nothing can exist without Me. It is like a reflection of a real light in the
shadows, for in the light there are neither shadows nor reflections."

C.C.Mad 25.132

vadanti tat tattva-vidas  tattvam yaj jnanam advayam
brahmeti paramatmeti  bhagavan iti sabdyate

TRANSLATION:
"The absolute Truth is known by the self-realized souls as a unified indentity
known by different names-impersonal Brahman, localized Paramatma, and Bhagavan,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

C.C. Mad 25.133

bhagavan eka asedam  agra atmatmanam vibhuh
atmecchanugatav atma  ananamaty-upalaksanah

TRANSLATION:
"Before the cosmic manifestation was created, the creative propensity was
merged in His person. At that time all potencies and manifestations were
preserved in the personality of the Supreme Lord. The Lord is the cause of all
causes, and He is the all-pervading, self-sufficient person. Before the
creation, He existed with His spiritual potency in the spiritual world, wherein
various Vaikuntha planets are manifest."

C.C. Mad 25.134

ete camsa-kalah pumsah  krsnas tu bhagavan svayam
indrari-vyakulam lokam  mrdayanti yuge yuge

TRANSLATION:
"All these incarnation of Godhead are either plenary portions or parts of the
plenary portions of the purusa-avataras. But Krsna is the Supreme Personality
of Godhead Himself. In every age He protects the world through His different
features when the world is disturbed by the enemies of Indra."

C.C.Mad 25.135

eita sambandha suna  abhidheya bhakti
bhagavate prati-sloke  vyape yara sthiti

TRANSLATION:
"This is one's eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Now
please hear about the execution of devotional service. This principle pervades
practically all the verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam."


Abhideya
--------

C.C. Mad 25.120

abhidheya sadhana bhaktira  sunaha vicara
sarva-jana-desa-kala-dasate  vyapti yara

TRANSLATION:
"Now please hear from Me about the process of devotional service, which is
applicable in any country, for any person, at all times and in all
circumstances."

C.C. Mad 25.121

dharmadi visaye yaiche  e cari vicara
sadhana-bhakti--ei cari  vicarera para

TRANSLATION:
"As far as religious principles are concerned, there is a consideration of the
person, the country, the time and the circumstances. In devotional service,
however, there are no such considerations. Devotional service is transcendental
to all considerations."

PURPORT:
On the spiritual platform, the four principles are jnana, vijnana, tad-anga and
tad-rahasya. Rules, regulations and restrictions are on the material platform,
but on the spiritual platform one has to be equipped with transcendental
knowledge, which is above the principles of religious rituals.

C.C. Mad 25.122

sarva-desa-kala-dasaya  janera kartavya
guru-pase sei bhakti  prastavya srotavya

TRANSLATION:
"It is therefore the duty of every man - in every country, in every
circumstance and at all times - to approach the bona fide spiritual master,
question him about devotional service and listen to him explain the process."

C.C. Mad 25.123

etavad eva jijnasyam  tattvam-jijnasunatmanah
anvaya-vyatirekabhyam  yat syat sarvatra sarvada

TRANSLATION:
"A person interested in transcendental knowledge must therefore always directly
and indirectly inquire about it to know about the all-pervading truth."

C.C. Mad 25.136

bhaktyaham ekaya grahyah  sraddhayatma priyah satam
bhaktih punati man-nistha  sva-pakan api sambhavat

TRANSLATION:
"Being very dear to the devotees and sadhus, I am attained through unflinching
faith and devotional service. This bhakti-yoga system, which gradually increases
atttachment for Me, purifies even a human being born among dog-eaters. That is
to say, everyone can be elevated to the spiritual platform by the process of
bhakti-yoga."

C.C. Mad 25.137

na sadhayati mam yogo  na sankhyam dharma uddhava
na svadhyayas tapas tyago  yatha bhaktir mamorjita

TRANSLATION:
"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, said `My dear Uddhava, neither
through astanga-yoga [the mystic yoga system to control the senses], nor
through impersonalism or an analytical study of the Absolute Truth, nor through
study of the Vedas, nor through practice of austerities, nor through charity,
nor throught acceptance of sannyasa, can one satisfy Me as much as one can by
developing unalloyed devotional service unto Me."

C.C. Mad 25.138

bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad
isad apetasya viparyayo smrtih
tan-mayayato budha abhajet
tam bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma

TRANSLATION:
"When the living entity is attraced by the material energy, which is separate
from Krsna, he is overpowered by fear. Because he is separated from the Supreme
Personality of Godhead by the material energy, his conception of life is
reversed. In other words, instead of being the eternal servant of Krsna, he
becomes Krsna's competitor. This is called viparyayo smrtih. To nullify this
mistake, one who is actually learned and advanced worships the Supreme
Personality of Godhead as his spiritual master, worshipful Deity and source of
life. He thus worships the Lord by the process of unalloyed devotional
service."


Prayojana
---------

C.C. Mad 25.124

amate ye priti sei  prema--prayojana
karya-dvare kahi tara  svarupa-laksana

TRANSLATION:
"Supreme affection for Me is called love of Godhead, and that is the ultimate
goal of life. Let Me explain by practical example the natural characteristics
of such love."

C.C. Mad 25.125

panca-bhuta yaiche bhutera  bhitare-bahire
bhakta-gane sphuri ami  bahire-antare

TRANSLATION:
"The five material elements are existing inside and outside of every living
entity. Similarly, I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, am manifest within
the heart of the devotee as well as outside his body."

C.C. Mad 25.126

yatha mahanti bhutani bhutesuccavacesv anu
pravistany apravistani tatha tesu na tesv aham

TRANSLATION:
"As the material elements enter the bodies of all living beings and yet remain
outside them all, I exist within all material creations and yet am not within
them."

C.C. Mad 25.127

bhakta ama preme bandhiyache  hrdaya-bhitare
yahan netra pade tahan  dekhaye amare

TRANSLATION:
"A highly elevated devotee can bind Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in
his heart by love. Wherever he lokks, he sees Me and nothing else."

C.C. Mad 25.128

visrjati hrdayam na yasya saksad  dharir avasabhihito py aghaugha-nasah
pranaya-rasanaya dhrtanghri-padmah  sa bhavati bhagavata-pradhana uktah

TRANSLATION:
"Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who destroys everything inauspicious
for His devotees, does not leave the hearts of His devotees even if they
remember Him and chant about Him inattentively. This is because the rope of
love always binds the Lord within the devotees hearts. Such devotees should be
accepted as most elevated."

C.C. Mad 25.129

sarva-bhutesu yah pasyed  bhagavad-bhavam stmanah
bhutani bhagavaty atmany  esa bhagavatottamah

TRANSLATION:
"A person advanced in devotional service sees within everything the soul of
souls, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. Consequently he always
sees the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the cause of all causes
and understands that all things are situated in Him."

C.C. Mad 25.130

gayanta uccair amum eva samhatah  vickyur unmattakavad vanad vanam
papracchur akasavad antaram bahir  bhutesu santam purusam vanaspatin

TRANSLATION:
"All the gopis assembled to chant the transcendental qualities of Krsna very
loudly, and they began to wander from one forest to another like mad-women.
They began to inquire about the Lord, who is situated in all living entities
internally and externally. Indeed, they even asked all the plants and vegetables
about Him, the Supreme Person."

C.C. Mad 25.139

ebe suna prema yei--mula prayojana
pulakasru-nrtya-gita--yahara laksana

TRANSLATION:
"Now hear from Me what actual love of Godhead is. It is the prime object of
life and is symptomized by bodily trembling, tears in the eyes, chanting and
dancing."

C.C. Mad 25.140

smarantah smarayas ca   mitho ghaugha-haram harim
bhaktya sanjataya bhaktya  bibhraty utpulakam tanum

TRANSLATION:
"Pure devotees develop a spiritual body and symptoms of ecstatic love simply by
remembering and reminding others of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari,
who takes away everything inauspicious from the devotee. This position is
attained by rendering devotional service according to the regulative principles
and then rising to the platform of spontaneous love."

C.C. Mad 25.141

evam-vratah sva-priya-nama-kirtya  jatanurago druta-citta uccaih
hastay atho roditi rauti gayaty  unmadavan nrtyati loka-bahyah

TRANSLATION:
"When a person is actually advanced and takes pleasure in chanting the holy
name of the Lord, who is very dear to him, he is agitated and loudly chants the
holy name. He also laughs, cries, becomes agitated and chants like a madman,
not caring for outsiders."


Conclusion
----------

C.C. Mad 25.131

ataeva bhagavate ei tina kaya
sambandha-abhidheya-prayojana-maya

TRANSLATION:
"Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, `One's relationship with the Lord,
activities and devotional service, and the attainment of the highest goal of
life, love of Godhead, are the subject matters of Srimad-Bhagavatam."

C.C. Mad 25.146

sarva-vedanta-saram hi srimad-bhagavatam isyate
tad-rasamrta-trptasya nanyatra syad ratih kvacit

TRANSLATION:
"Srimad-Bhagavatam is accepted as the essence of all Vedic literature and
Vedanta philosophy. Whoever tastes the transcendental mellow of Srimad-
Bhagavatam is never attracted to any other literature."

C.C. Mad 25.147

gayatrira arthe ei grantha-arambhana
satyam param--sambandha, dhimahi--sadhana-prayojana

TRANSLATION:
"In the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam there is an explanation of the
Brahma-gayatri mantra. The Absolute Truth [satyam param] indicates the
relationship, and we meditate [dhimahi] on Him indicates the execution of
devotional service and the ultimate goal of life."

C.C. Mad 25.150

krsna-bhakti-rasa-svarupa  sri-bhagavata
tate veda-sastra haite  parama mahattva

TRANSLATION:
"Srimad-Bhagavatam gives direct information of the mellow derived from service
to Krsna. Therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam is above all other Vedic literatures."

C.C. Mad 25.153

ataeva bhagavata  karaha vicara
iha haite pabe sutra-srutira artha-sara

TRANSLATION:
"Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised Prakasananda Sarasvati, "Study Srimad-
Bhagavatam very scrutinizingly. Then you will understand the actual meaning of
Brahma-sutra."

C.C. Mad 25.154

nirantara kara krsna-nama-sankirtana
helaya mukti pabe pabe prema-dhana

TRANSLATION:
"Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, 'Always discuss Srimad-Bhagavatam and
constantly chant the holy name of Lord Krsna. In this way you will be able to
attain liberation very easily, and you will be elevated to the enjoyment of
love of Godhead.'"

PURPORT:
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura states that without studying
Srimad-Bhagavatam, one cannot understand the purport of Brahma-sutra (Vedanta-
sutra) or the Upanisads. If one tries to understand Vedanta philosophy and
the Upanisads without studying Srimad-Bhagavatam, he will be bewildered and,
construing a different meaning, will gradually become an atheist or
an impersonalist.

