Chapter 36 - The Validity of Śrī Pañcarātra

371.Śrī Pāñcarātra is accepted as self-valid because it is manifested by the grace of God for the welfare of the Universe.

372. There is no contradiction between the Vedas and the Pāñcarātra when they explain the tattvas. But they may differ in the practical usages (karmānstānas). Both Vedas and Pāñcarātra may differ in their anuṣṭāna in the statement of the acceptance and non-acceptance of ṣoḍaśa (ṣoḍaśa grahaṇa).

373. The Pāñcarātra texts are treated as self-valid. The contents of the Pāñcarātra are not contradictory to the Vedas. It is self-valid because it is revealed by the Supreme Lord Himself, whose knowledge is unlike the knowledge of the seers.

374. When there is a contradiction between the Pāñcarātra and smṛti texts, only the statements of the Pāñcarātra text should be taken as valid. On the basis of the statement “virodhe tu anapekṣyam syāt”.

375-376. The author of the brahmasūtra, while critically examined and finally rejected the views of Sāṅkhya, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Bauddha, Jaina and Pāśupata in the second adhyāya, second quarter, finally discusses the validity of the Pāñcarātra. There he clearly establishes the validity of the Pāñcarātra.^[1] Therefore, the statements of the Lord in the Gīta and the Pāñcarātra are self-valid.

377. So, they cannot be treated as invalid in any aspect. Therefore, in the non-vedic statements, it is only the statements of a trustworthy person become valid.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See Śrī Bhāṣya, Vol-II, II, (ii)-39, pp.323 ff.