Tattva Sandarbha. the first book of the Ṣaṭ Sandarbhas, is the smallest in size but not in importance. As its name suggests, it discusses the Reality (Tattva) that is the ultimate subject to be understood and realized. Tattva also means “essence,” and thus Tattva Sandarbha provides the essence of what is to be elaborated upon in the rest of the Sandarbhas. Thus, it serves as an introduction to them and lays the foundation for entry into the subject matter of Bhāgavata Purāṇa, which Jīva Gosvāmī first establishes as the supreme authority in the matter of the self-disclosure of the Absolute Reality, Bhagavān.
Language: English translation and commentary with Sanskrit verses
Page count: 1188 (print)
Revised electronic edition, 2020
Bhagavat Sandarbha is the second book of this anthology. In this volume, Śrī Jīva builds on the overview provided in Tattva Sandarbha to elucidate on, in explicit detail, the nature of that nondual Reality. He covers the topic of ontology, or sambandha-jñāna, knowledge of Reality as the nondual Absolute, which finds its highest completion exclusively in Bhagavān, the transcendent personal Absolute. The one indivisible total Reality is referred to primarily by the names Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān.
The book describes Bhagavān, the Supreme Person, as the most complete manifestation of nondual Reality, inclusive of Brahman and Paramātmā. It also describes His diverse energies, qualities, name, form, associates, and abode as intrinsic aspects of His essential being.
Language: English translation and commentary with Sanskrit verses
Page count: 610 (print)
Revised electronic edition, 2020
Paramātma Sandarbha is the third book in the series of six treatises called Ṣaṭ Sandarbhas. It is an elaborate essay on the nature of Paramātmā and provides a clear and accessible distinction between Absolute Reality’s manifestation as Paramātmā and Bhagavān, which is relatively unknown even to specialists of Vedanta. Among the four Sandarbhas that delineate the knowledge of sambandha,Paramātma Sandarbha is the most important because it analyzes the nature of the self and its conditioning by māyā.
The text has four parts to it. It commences by establishing the ontological nature of Paramātmā – Bhagavān’s manifestation in His capacity of upholding the jivas and the entire cosmos. It then proceeds to the discussion on the nature of the jiva and its bondage in the material world (second part) and further to the ontology of māyā (third part). It ends with the foundational principle of Śrīmad Bhāgavata Purāṇa that Bhagavān, not Brahman or Paramātmā, is the highest manifestation of Tattva.
Paramātma Sandarbha is the most philosophical of all the Sandarbhas and renders a profound exposition of Absolute Reality as Supreme Regulator, Paramātmā. There is no other work in the entire gamut of Indian theological and philosophical literature that throws light on this subject so lucidly.
Language: English translation and commentary with Sanskrit verses
Page count: 959 (print)
Revised electronic edition, 2020
Kṛṣṇa Sandarbha: Within the entire gamut of Vedic literature, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Sandarbha stands out as a unique and brilliant investigation into the constitutional being of Svayaṁ Bhagavān. Who or what Bhagavān actually is in His own identity is not at all clear to people in general and also to the majority of spiritual practitioners.
Establishing Kṛṣṇa as Svayaṁ Bhagavān is the principal theme of Kṛṣṇa Sandarbha. This is also one of the chief distinctive features of the Gauḍīya School of Vaiṣṇavism. Although it contravenes the popular belief of Hindu indologists, this understanding is crucial for the highest type of devotion, uttamā-bhakti, known as rāgānugā. Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī thus endeavors to dispel any doubts in this regard. This is his unique contribution to Hindu theology.
Language: English translation and commentary with Sanskrit verses
Page count: 1456 (print)
Revised electronic edition, 2020
Bhakti Sandarbha is the fifth volume in the Sandarbha anthology and deals with abhidheya, the prescribed method to actualize our relation with Bhagavān.
Bhakti Sandarbha stands out as the center of all the Sandarbhas. The first four provide the theoretical underpinnings that lead to it, and the last one elucidates its outcome in the form of divine love (prīti).
Bhakti Sandarbha is also the most practically oriented out of the complete set, because it provides the method to be followed in one’s life. As far as a sādhaka is concerned, the other five offer only a theoretical understanding, which is however essential for authentic practice.
Thus, although each of the other Sandarbhas have their own specific role and importance, ultimately it is only Bhakti Sandarbha that is the beacon light in one’s day-to-day life.
Therefore, anyone who is serious about becoming a pure devotee of Bhagavān, especially of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, should study Bhakti Sandarbha thoroughly.
Language: English translation and commentary with Sanskrit verses
Page count (Volume I): 1327 (print)
Page count (Volume II): 1105 (print)
Revised electronic edition, 2022
These electronic editions include the full text and figures available in the print book. Additionally, they contain all forewords, introductions, and appendices except the verse and subject indices. They do not contain transliteration and Devanāgarī - these are available in the print copies only.
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Why are people taking drugs these days? Because there is no love or happiness in relations. The nature of the human mind is to always be looking for happiness. You can find happiness in only two ways – either a person becomes spiritual, or a person becomes an animal by dulling one’s awareness by consuming drugs and alcohol.
