Śrīmad-Bhāgavata Vidyāpīṭham

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī’s Six Sandarbhas comprise the most important explanation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Much of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Bhāgavatam purports is derived from them. The Sandarbhas are different from the standard kind of Bhāgavatam commentary, which elucidates one verse after another. Instead Śrīla Jīva has chosen to reveal the message of the Bhāgavatam in topical sequence. Verses are cited and explained from all parts of the Bhāgavatam to explain the ideas as they come up in this sequence. Thus, because the Bhāgavatam verses are gathered from here and there and tied together into a systematic discussion, the author has called this work a Sandarbha (literally, “the stringing together of a garland”).

First, in the Tattva-sandarbha, the authority of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is proven and then accordingly what the Bhāgavatam says is the Absolute Truth is identified in general terms. The concept of Bhagavān, the Personality of Godhead, is fully explained according to statements of the Bhāgavatam in the Bhagavat-sandarbha. God as the controller of all His energies, or in other words, as the Supersoul, is discussed in the Paramātma-sandarbha. That Kṛṣṇa is the original Personality of Godhead is proven in the Kṛṣṇa-sandarbha. With these first four Sandarbhas the complete understanding of the identity of the Absolute Truth is presented. The Bhakti-sandarbha then explains regulated devotional practice according to the Bhāgavatam, and the Prīti-sandarbha explains spontaneous loving service.

This seminar is conducted by Gopīparāṇadhana Prabhu, who is currently translating and commenting on the Six Sandarbhas for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Each day he gives the students a translation of the part of the text being discussed and his own explanation. To keep the class from getting diverted, students are asked to submit their questions overnight for discussion at the beginning of the next day’s class.