गोविन्द भाष्य (श्रील बलदेव विद्याभूषण - अचिन्त्यभेदाभेद वेदान्त ब्रह्मसूत्र भाष्य सटीक)

Introduction by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa True knowledge is defined as the scriptures' description of devotional service. That knowledge leads to liberation. Here begins an elaborate description of that truth. In the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (3.8) it is said: tam eva viditvāti mṛtyum eti nānyaḥ panthā nvidyate 'yanāya "I know the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is transcendental to all material conceptions of darkness. Only he who knows Him can transcend the bonds of birth and death. There is no way for liberation other than this knowledge of that Supreme Person."* In the Puruṣa-sūkta prayers of the Ṛg Veda it is said: tam eva vidvān amṛta iha bhavati "A person who knows the Supreme attains liberation." Saṁśaya (doubt) Is liberation caused by the performance of Vedic rituals (karma), by spiritual knowledge (vidyā), or by rituals and knowledge together? Pūrvapakṣa (the opponent speaks): How is liberation attained? It is attained by performing Vedic rituals. This is proved in sūtras 3.4.2-7. Or, if there must be some knowledge, then Vedic rituals and knowledge should be combined together to bring liberation. In the Śruti-śāstra it is said: tad-dhetor na tu tayor ekataraṁ taṁ vidyā-karmaṇī "Vedic rituals and spiritual knowledge must be combined together to bring liberation. Either of them alone is not enough." It is also said: ubhābhyām eva pakṣābhyāṁ yathā khe pakṣiṇo gatiḥ tathaiva karma-jñānābhyāṁ mukto bhavati mānavaḥ