What is the essence of all the Shastras, the Brahma Sutra, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, etc.

Nama Article - 13th July 2007

 

While speaking of perceiving God only through the Shastrãs (Scriptures), we find that the Shastrãs are limitless ('anantham') - The Vedas are four. The 'sãgai' (the various branches in the Vedas) that have come down in Kali are very few. There are 18 Purãnãs, several Dharma Shastrãs, thousands of Smritiis, innumerable Upanishads - How is it possible to attain God after learning and comprehending the essence of all these?

 

No one doubts that it is Veda Vyasa who has given us the Vedas, the Upanishads, the 18 Purãnãs, the Brahma Sutra, etc.

 

What does this Veda Vyasa say in the Mahabhãrata? He says, "I repeatedly read through all the 'Grantãs' (Holy Texts) that I have blessed the world with ('Ãlokya sarva Shastrãni vichãrasccha punah punah! idam ekam sunishpannam devo Naryana sadha!')

 

आलोङ्य सर्व शास्त्राणि विचार्यच पुनः पुनः ।

इदमेकं सुनिष्पन्नं   ध्येयो नारायण सदा ॥

 

" What is the essence of all the Shastras, the Brahma Sutra, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, etc. that I have offered (to the world)? Worship Narayana with Nãmasankirtan!" One cannot counter this if none other than Veda Vyasa has declared it.

 

This is the reason that we find several Mahans, incarnated in this Bharata desa, showing the path of Nãmasankirtan to us, by vouchsafing it to be one supported by the Shastrãs, the Dharma, as also adopted by Mahans.

 

Chant the Mahãmantra

 

"Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!"