Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c9.s4.3

c9.s4.3

The scope and object of the work are indicated by the author himself in the Tattva-samdarbha, which informs us that they are identical with those of the Śrīmad-bhāgavata, of which his own work is merely an exposition. He states accordingly that the main Tattva or principle to which his work, like the Bhāgavata, is related (Sambandha) is Kṛṣṇa-tattva, which is higher than any other Tattva; that its subject-matter (Abhidheya) is Bhakti or the devotional attitude by which alone that Tattva is attainable; and that its motive (Prayojana) consists of Priti, or love for Kṛṣṇa as a means of worship. The six Samdarbhas are consequently arranged on this Śāstric plan. The first four are devoted to the Sambandha-tattva and are intended to establish Kṛṣṇa as the highest deity and the most exclusive object of worship; the Bhakti-samdarbha deals with the Abhidheya-tattva which is Bhakti; while the last Priti-samdarbha is concerned with the Prayojana-tattva, which is Priti considered as the best way of divine worship. In other words, Jiva Gosvāmin is concerned in the first Samdarbha, with a theory of knowledge (Pramāṇas) which leads on, in the next three Samdarbhas, to a theory of ultimate reality (Tattva), while the last two Samdarbhas are devoted to a theory of summum bonum (Niḥśreyasa or Puruṣārtha) and the means of attaining it. In the survey we propose to make in the following pages we shall generally follow this order of treatment, and give a brief résumé of the successive works with a view to setting forth the main doctrines in the general outline; but for convenience and continuity of treatment we shall occasionally have to gather together and deal in one place our author's remarks on various topics which are sometimes scattered over the different books. The method which Jiva Gosvāmin follows of laying down principles by the explication of texts naturally involves a great deal repetition and digression. We shall try to avoid them as far as possible, although in any faithful account of his works they are to a certain extent unavoidable.