bowerbird cyberlibrary -- bhagap348.html

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----- bhagap348.html

THE PRAYER TO BRAHMAN BY THE SRUTIS.
SKANDHA X. CHAP. 87.

Raja Parikshit asked:

"O Great Sage, Brahman is undefinable, void of Gunas, beyond
both causes and effects. How can the Srutis, which have the Gunas
for their Vritti (/'. e. which treat of Devas and sacrifices which are full
of attributes), directly cognise Brahman?"

Suka replied:

"The Lord created Buddhi, Indriya, Manas and Prana in Jivas
that they might obtain their objects (Matra), their birth-producing
Karma (Bhava), their transmigration to different Lokas (Atma), and
also their Mukti (Akalpana)." (These four words respectively mean
Artha, Dharma, Kama and Moksha. The Srutis treat of Bhagavat,
of Sat-Chit-Ananda the all-knowing, the all-powerful, the lord of
all, the guide of all, the all-object of Upasana, the Dispenser of all
fruits of Karma, the Resort of all that is good, as one with attributes.
The Srutis begin with attributes, but at last drop these attributes
saying " Not this" " Not this " and end in Brahman. The sayings
about Upasan and Karma treat of things with attributes, as a means
to attain wisdom and thereby indirectly lead to Brahman. This is
the purport. Sridhara.}

"The Upanishad speaks of Brahman. She was accepted as
such by even those that were older than those whom we call old. He
who accepts her with faith attains well-being." (The Bhagavata
tries to refute the idea that the Vedas treat of the Devas only and
not of I'svara and Brahma).

"I shall relate to thee here a conversation between Narada and
Narayana.

Once upon a time Narada went to see the great Rishi Nara-
yana. For the well-being of Bharatavarsha, for the good of all men,
he remains in his Asrama, fixed in Tapas, since the beginning of this
Kalpa. The Rishis of Kalapa sat round him. N^rada saluted him
and asked this very question.

Narayana said:

"In Jana Loka, the Manas, born Rishis of that place performed
Brahma Yajna (Yajna, in which " What is Brahman" is ascertained,
some one becoming the speaker and others forming the audience).
You had gone to Sveta Dvipa at the time. This very question was
raised in the assembly. Sanandan became the speaker. He said:

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