astīti nāstīti ca vastu-niṣṭhayor
astīti nāstīti ca vastu-niṣṭhayor
eka-sthayor bhinna-viruddha-dharmaṇoḥ
avekṣitaṁ kiñcana yoga-sāṅkhyayoḥ
samaṁ paraṁ hy anukūlaṁ bṛhat tat
The same supreme Brahman without contradiction is perceived by bhakti and jñāna with contrary qualities because the followers are fixed in a particular faith directed to the same object.
“Why do you criticize the knowers of scripture? They argue because there are different opinions stated in the scriptures.” That is not so. Both bhakti (yoga) and jñāna (sāṅkhya) perceive the same brahman (bṛhat) without disagreement. In studying these two different scriptures there is no disagreement. They seem to have contrary ideas concerning what exists and what does not exist. In the bhakti scriptures the object of worship is described as a person with dark complexion, with yellow cloth, lotus eyes, four arms, holding a bow, club and other weapons. He has forms, qualities, limbs, associates and abodes. In the jñāna scriptures the object of attainment has no name form, qualities, hands, feet, eyes, ears. It alone exists. But there is no contradiction in these two different objects with different qualities. They both exist within one Brahman. Both processes have Brahman as their object of perception. “But how can there be no contradiction or disagreement?” The particular qualities of each realization arise from fixing one’s faith in the same real object. The form with qualities promoted in bhakti scriptures is a real form, not a false object. The form without qualities promoted in jñāna scriptures is a real form. The names and forms of the Lord such as Kṛṣṇa and Rāma described in the bhakti scriptures are not forbidden in the jñāna scriptures even though a person may be fixed in that particular realization of Brahman. Only the material forms are rejected. The bhakti scriptures also do not worship the universal form, which is also forbidden in the jñāna scriptures.
amunī bhagavad-rūpe mayā te hy anuvarṇite |
ubhe api na gṛhṇanti māyā-sṛṣṭe vipaścitaḥ ||
The wise do not accept these two forms of the Lord described by me since they are composed of matter. SB 2.10.25
Meditation on this form is recommended only for some persons in the initial state for purification of the heart, and not for all types of worship. Thus the bhakti and jñāna scriptures are not contradictory. Those who argue over differences in scripture, not knowing the real conclusion, are condemned.
|| 6.4.33 ||
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