Fifth Theme: The gravity of the manipulation of sacred texts

In section six, the study of this book is discouraged for those who have no devotion. Only those who have the firm intention of attaining the lotus feet of Sri Krishna can profitably enter the labyrinth of the philosophical and spiritual implications of the Bhagavata-sandarbha. Thus, Jiva Gosvami says, ‘sapatho’rpitah’, a phrase that sounds almost like a curse. There is no doubt that Krishna-katha is extremely pleasurable when performed in the company of other devotees. Materialists of various kinds cannot delve too deeply into the realm of pure devotion.

Sri Baladeva explains that this curse refers not to ordinary people who approach the work with the desire to learn, but to those who do so with the idea of then manipulating the text to spread ideas contrary to siddhanta, which in this case is prema-bhakti, pure love for Krishna, the ultimate goal of human life.

This is a section of the book “Tattva Sandarbha”, in English.

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