siddhÄnta-Å›Ästra nÄhi 'brahma-saá¹hitÄ'ra sama
govinda-mahimÄ jñÄnera parama kÄraṇa
alpÄká¹£are kahe siddhÄnta apÄra
sakala-vaiṣṇava-Å›Ästra-madhye ati sÄra

 siddhÄnta-Å›Ästra - conclusive scripture; nÄhi - there is not; brahma-saá¹hitÄra sama - like the scripture Brahma-saá¹hitÄ; govinda-mahimÄ - of the glories of Lord Govinda; jñÄnera - of knowledge; parama - final; kÄraṇa - cause; alpa-aká¹£are - briefly; kahe - expresses; siddhÄnta - conclusion; apÄra - unlimited; sakala - all; vaiṣṇava-Å›Ästra - devotional scriptures; madhye - among; ati sÄra - very essential.


Text

There is no scripture equal to the Brahma-saá¹hitÄ as far as the final spiritual conclusion is concerned. Indeed, that scripture is the supreme revelation of the glories of Lord Govinda, for it reveals the topmost knowledge about Him. Since all conclusions are briefly presented in the Brahma-saá¹hitÄ, it is essential among all the Vaiṣṇava literatures.

Purport

The Brahma-saá¹hitÄ is a very important scripture. ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu acquired the fifth chapter from the Ä€di-keÅ›ava temple. In that fifth chapter, the philosophical conclusion of acintya-bhedÄbheda-tattva (simultaneous oneness and difference) is presented. The chapter also presents methods of devotional service, the eighteen-syllable Vedic hymn, discourses on the soul, the Supersoul and fruitive activity, an explanation of KÄma-gÄyatrÄ«, kÄma-bÄ«ja and the original MahÄ-Viṣṇu, and a detailed description of the spiritual world, specifically Goloka Vá¹›ndÄvana. The Brahma-saá¹hitÄ also explains the demigod GaṇeÅ›a, GarbhodakaÅ›ÄyÄ« Viṣṇu, the origin of the GÄyatrÄ« mantra, the form of Govinda and His transcendental position and abode, the living entities, the highest goal, the goddess DurgÄ, the meaning of austerity, the five gross elements, love of Godhead, impersonal Brahman, the initiation of Lord BrahmÄ, and the vision of transcendental love enabling one to see the Lord. The steps of devotional service are also explained. The mind, yoga-nidrÄ, the goddess of fortune, devotional service in spontaneous ecstasy, incarnations beginning with Lord RÄmacandra, Deities, the conditioned soul and its duties, the truth about Lord Viṣṇu, prayers, Vedic hymns, Lord Åšiva, the Vedic literature, personalism and impersonalism, good behavior, and many other subjects are also discussed. There is also a description of the sun and the universal form of the Lord. All these subjects are conclusively explained in a nutshell in the Brahma-saá¹hitÄ.