Sri Vedanta-sutra, Part 112
BY: SUN STAFF
Jun 28, 2021 — CANADA (SUN) — Sri Vedanta-sutra - Volume Six by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana, Translated by Sriman Kusakratha dasa.
Adhikarana 16
Transcendental Knowledge and Liberation
Introduction by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
Now will be shown the truth that liberation inevitably follows the attainment of transcendental knowledge. In the Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad (4.4.17) it is said:
tam eva vidvan amrita iha bhavati
"He who understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes immortal."
In the Svetasvatara Upanishad (3.8) it is said:
tam eva viditvati mrityum eti
"Only he who knows the Supreme Personality of Godhead can transcend the bonds of birth and death."*
Samsaya (doubt): Does a person situated in transcendental knowledge attain liberation when he leaves his material body, or must he take another birth and then become liberated?
Purvapaksha (the opponent speaks): Because the effect must follow the cause, such a person attains liberation the moment he leaves his material body.
Siddhanta (conclusion): In the following words the author of the sutras gives His conclusion.
Sutra 52
evam mukti-phalaniyamas tad-avasthavadhrtes tad-avasthavadhriteh
In the same way there is no specific rule about liberation, for it depends on the circumstances.
Purport by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
As there is no rule about transcendental knowledge, so there is no rule that a person situated in transcendental knowledge and striving for liberation must attain liberation in the same lifetime. When there are no longer any obstacles, then a person situated in transcendental knowledge attains liberation when he dies. This means when there are no longer any past karmic reactions. When there are no karmic reactions remaining, then one attains liberation at the moment of death. When there are karmic reactions remaining one does not attain liberation at the moment of death. Why is that? The sutra explains, "tad-avasthavadhriteh" (for it depends on the circumstances). In the Chandogya Upanishad (6.14.2) it is said:
acaryavan purusho veda tasya tavad eva ciram yavan na vimokshye atha sampatsye
"One who approaches a bona fide spiritual master can understand everything about spiritual realization.* When his past karmic reactions are exhausted he at once attains liberation."
In this way the Chandogya Upanishad affirms that one attains liberation when his past karmic reactions are exhausted. In the Narayanadhyatma it is said:
vidvan amritam apnoti
natra karya vicarana
avasannam yadarabdham
karma tatraiva gacchati
na ced bahuni janmani
prapyaivante na samsayah
"A person situated in transcendental knowledge attains liberation. Of this there is no doubt. But if his past karmic reactions are not destroyed, many births may pass before he finally attains liberation at the end. Of this there is no doubt."
Although transcendental knowledge certainly destroys all past karmic reactions, still, by the Supreme Lord's will a certain portion of past karmic reactions may remain. This will be explained later in this book. The last word of the sutra is repeated to indicate the end of the chapter.
Epilogue
janayitva vairagyam
gunair nibadhnati modayan bhaktan
yais tair baddho 'pi gunair
anurajyati so 'stu me harih preyan
May Lord Hari, who gives renunciation of the world to His devotees and delights by binding them with the ropes of His glorious qualities and who is Himself bound with the ropes of His devotees' glorious qualities, be the object of my love and devotion.
