4.4i. A Tribute to Veda Vyāsa

Svāminārāyaṇa’s faith in the scriptures is clearly echoed when he paid tribute to Veda Vyāsa, the ādi ācārya. Vyāsa is revered as the Kṛṣṇā Dvaipāyana, the great ācārya. He arranged the mantras and codified the Vedas.

He is the author of the Vedanta Sūtras, the Nyāya Prasthāna for the Vedanta. Svāminārāyaṇa says:

“There is no ācārya (teacher) greater than Vyāsa and all other ācāryas have flourished their saṃpradāyas by following the words of Vyāsa. Thus, the words of Vyāsa have the highest testimony than the words of any other ācārya.” (Vacanāmṛta Gadhadā III/10, p. 598).

Further, He acknowledges that He has attentively listened to all of the scriptures which Vyāsajī has written regarding the attainment of liberation. He shall be convinced if one supports an argument by the words of Vyāsa, for He has firm faith in his words.^[1] From the incalculable supply of scripture literature, eight are the most acceptable to Svāminārāyaṇa. Amongst them, all are of (Vedas are codified by him not authored) Vyāsajī except Yājñavalkya smṛti.^[2]

They are–

1. Vedas (all four Vedas) together with Upaniṣad.

2. The Vedanta sūtras are composed by Veda Vyāsa.

3. Śrīmada Bhāgavatam

4. Viṣṇu Sahasranāmam from Anuśāṣana parva of Mahābhārata

5. Bhagavad Gītā from Bhīṣma parva of Mahābhārata

6. Vidurniti

7. Śrī Vāsudeva Māhātmyam section of Viṣṇu Khaṇḍa from Skaṃda Purāṇa

8. Yājñavalkya Smṛti with Mitākṣarā notes and annotations.

Thus, Svāminārāyaṇa put all three Prasthānas in his most favorable and acceptable list of scriptures.

The Bhāṣyakara also confirms this fact while commencing the Brahmasūtra:

“bhagavāna pārāśaryastaddivyapreraṇāpariplāvitāntaḥkaraṇaḥsaṃstatpreritasiddhāntairevā'jñāna bodhayituṃ, sandigdhān niṣṭhāpayituṃ, niṣṭhitāṃśca dṛḍhayitumabhikāṅkṣamāṇo vedāntatattvarahasyātmakā'kṣarabrahmaparabrahmaviṣaya-brahmavidyāvicāralakṣaṇaṃ śāstraṃ satrarūpeṇā'vatārayāmāsa |” (Brahmasūtra 1/1/1, p.2)

“By the divine inspiration of Akṣarapuruṣottama, Lord Veda Vyāsa composed the Brahmasūtras for the purpose to grant wisdom to those who are ignorant and, to eradicate the doubts of those who do not possess faithful conviction of Parabrahman. Moreover, he wanted to make adamant those who are already firm. To fulfill his purpose, he composed this scripture which reflects the secret essence of the Veda in the form of Akṣarabrahnam and Parabrahman.”

In this way, the Vacanāmṛta and the Svāminārāyaṇa Bhāṣya both felicitate Vyāsa.

After Vedic literature, according to the Bhāṣyakāra, the samradayika authentic scriptures are:

vacanāmṛtaśāstraṃ hi vārtāśca svāminaḥ śubhāḥ |
gurucaritragranthāśca prasthanatrayamucyate ||^[3]

1. The Vedas with its for parts: Saṃhitā, Brahmana, Araṇyak and Upaniṣad

2. Itihāsa-Purāṇa-Smṛtiśāstra if they follow the meaning of the Vedas.

3. The Vacanāmṛta, Guṇatitanand Svāmī’s verses, Brahmasvarūpa Gurus’ biographies.

4. Siddhānta Patra, written by Pramukha Svāmī Mahārāja.

5. Vacanāmṛta Rahsya (Gujarati), Svāminārāyaṇa Charita Mānasa (Vraja).

6. Akṣara-Puruṣottama Māhātmyam (Sanskrit) .

The scriptures mentioned above hold the foremost authority in Svāminārāyaṇa Darśana. They are all sāṃpradāyika prasthānas. However, at any type of contention, the final authority as an interpreter holds the Brahmasvarūpa Guru only.^[4] Thus, the Bhāṣyakāra accepts all the scriptures authored by Vyāsajī.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Vacanāmṛta Gadhadā I/39, 2/21

[2]:

Vacanāmṛta Vartāl 18

[3]:

Svāminārāyaṇa Siddhāntasudhā Kārikā 261

[4]:

SSS, p.171