Shri Gaudiya Kanthahara

by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati | 83,221 words

Shri Gaudiya Kantahara (English translation) was published by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati to train devotees in the philosophy of Krishna-consciousness and to be able to quote the authoritative parts of the Vedas. A collection of over a thousand verses, sorted by tattva, includes general index, alphabetical index of verses. Verses in in Roman tr...

Appendix: Pramāṇa-tattva

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Describes the Four Kinds of Evidence.

Appendix 1

śrutiḥ pratyakṣamaitihyam anumānaṃ catuṣṭhayam
pramāṇesvana-vasthānād vikalpāt sa virajyate

There are four kinds of evidence by which reality may be known: revelation, perception, history and hearsay and inference. (Bhāg. 11.19.17)

Manu-saṃhitā Describes Three Kinds of Evidence.

Appendix 2

pratyakṣaṣ-cānumanañca śāstrañca vividhāgamam
trayaṃ suviditaṃ kāryaṃ dharma-śuddhim-abhisatā

If one wants to understand what is reality, one must consider the three kinds of evidence: Vedic evidence, perception, and inference. (Manu 12.105)

The Ancient Vaiṣṇava Madhvā Muni Explains

the Three Kinds of Evidence.

Appendix 3

pratyakṣe 'ntarbhaved yasmād-atithyaṃ tena deśikah
pramāṇaṃ trividhaṃ prākhyāt tatra mukhyā śrutir-bhavet

Since hearsay is included in perception, Madhvācārya has said that the means of proper knowledge are three, among which śruti, or revelation, is the highest. (Prameya-ratnāvalī 9.2)

Divine Sound is the Best Evidence for Understanding Reality

Appendix 4

yadyapi pratyakṣānumāna-śabdāryopamānārthāpattyabhāva-sambhavaitihya-ceśṭhākhyāni daśa pramāṇāni viditānī, tathāpi bhrama-pramāda-vipralipsā-karaṇāpāṭava-doṣa-rahitavacanātmakaḥ śabda eva mūlaṃ pramāṇam

If one carefully examines the ten kinds of evidence, namely pratyakṣa, anumāna, ārya, upamāna, arthapatti, abhāva, sambhava, aithihya, and ceñṭha, one will find that all of them are contaminated with the four defects of material life: cheating, imperfect senses, illusion, and mistakes. Therefore of all of these, revelation, śruti, is considered to be superior for it is above the four defects. Śruti is, therefore, the root of all evidence. (Tattva-Sandarbha, Sarva-samvādini)

Appendix 5

pramāṇera madhye śruti-pramāṇa pradhāna
śruti ye mukhyārtha kahe, sei se pramāṇa
jīvera asthi-viṣṭhā dui śaṅkha-gomaya
śruti-vākye sei dui mahāpavitra haya
svatah-pramāṇa veda satya yei kaya
"lakṣaṇā" karile svatah-prāmāṇya-hāni haya

[Caitanya Mahāprabhu said] Although there is other evidence, the evidence given in the Vedic version must be taken as foremost. Vedic versions understood directly are first-class evidence. Conchshells and cow dung are nothing but the bones and the stool of certain living entities, but according to the Vedic version they are both considered very pure.

The Vedic statements are self-evident. Whatever they state must be accepted. If we interpret according to our own imagination, the authority of the Vedas is immediately lost. (Cc. Madhya 6.135-137)

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