Introduction

The original introduction was written by me on August 2, 1995. Today, more than 25 years after the first publication, I explain some points more clearly.

 

In the early 90s, as far as I knew, there were no translations or explanations of Jiva Gosvami’s Bhagavata Sandarbha, of which Tattva Sandarbha is the first chapter. During one of my visits to a bookstore in New Delhi, I found an English edition of Tattva Sandarbha and bought it. This edition contained the original Sanskrit verses with ideas taken from Baladeva Vidyabhusana. After reading it, I came to the conclusion that both the verses and the translations and commentaries seemed suspicious of forgeries or errors of various kinds. For this reason this is a study on the Tattva Sandarbha with my commentaries, and not a literary translation of the verses and explanations verse by verse. Today there are good translations and explanations about the Tattva Sandarbha. If I had had them at that time, this book would have been different and much more complete.

However, I assure readers that none of the topics dealt with by the great Teacher have been overlooked.

 

Vaishnava philosophy is among the most fascinating precisely because of the characteristic of being perfectly compatible for both monastic and everyday life, that is, everyone can apply it and appreciate the results. Every thought, every action, and every word can become a devotional act. Even the things of the material world, so dangerous and opposed by ascetics, become instruments of devotional service (bhakti-yoga). As the Bhagavad-gita (9.27 and 28) says:

“Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerity you perform, do it, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me.”

“In this way you will free yourself from the captivity of labor and its favorable and unfavorable results. With your mind fixed on Me, and following this principle of renunciation, you will be set free and come to Me.”

 

Therefore, the devotional principle is superior even to that of renunciation.

 

Reading this Tattva-sandarbha is an act of yoga, since it deals with the principles of truth expounded by great spiritual masters such as Jiva Gosvami, Baladeva Vidyabhusana and Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, from whom we have extracted the necessary elements for the realization of our work.

 

The explanations found here were written by me, Manonatha Dasa, disciple of Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and are based on the teachings of Sri Jiva Gosvami, Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana, Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and all the Acarya Vaisnavas. 

We thank several devotees who have collaborated in various ways in the elaboration of this book, such as Isvara Dasa, Yamuna Devi Dasi, Isvari Devi Dasi and Madhavendra Puri Dasa.  

 

Translation from Italian: Manonatha Dasa

Final correction: Yamuna Devi Dasi

First edition: 1995

Second edition: 2017

Third edition: 2022

 

Now I just have to wish you a good read.

 

– Manonatha Dasa (ACBSP)

 

Library: www.isvara.org

Bookstore: store.isvara.org

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

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