“One’s relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, activities in terms of that relationship, and the ultimate goal of life [to develop love of God]—these three subjects are explained in every aphorism of the Vedänta-sütra, for they form the culmination of the entire Vedänta philosophy.” Caitanya-caritämåta, Adi-lila 7.146
PURPORT: ‘In Çrémad-Bhägavatam (5.5.5) it is said: paräbhavas tävad abodha-jäto yävan na jijïäsata ätma-tattvam: “A human being is defeated in all his activities as long as he does not know the goal of life, which can be understood when one is inquisitive about Brahman.” It is such inquiry that begins the Vedänta-sütra: athäto brahma jijïäsä. A human being should be inquisitive to know who he is, what the universe is, what God is, and what the relationship is between himself, God and the material world. Such questions cannot be asked by cats and dogs, but they must arise in the heart of a real human being. Knowledge of these four items—namely oneself, the universe, God, and their internal relationship—is called sambandha- jïäna , or the knowledge of one’s relationship. When one’s relationship with the Supreme Lord is established, the next program is to act in that relationship. This is called abhidheya , or activity in relationship with the Lord. After executing such prescribed duties, when one attains the highest goal of life, love of Godhead, he achieves prayojana-siddhi , or the fulfillment of his human mission. In the Brahma-sütra, or Vedänta- sütra, these subjects are very carefully explained.
Therefore one who does not understand the Vedänta-sütra in terms of these principles is simply wasting his time. This is the version of Çrémad-Bhägavatam (1.2.8): dharmaù sv-anuñöhitaù puàsäà viñvaksena-kathäsu yaù notpädayed yadi ratià çrama eva hi kevalam One may be a very learned scholar and execute his prescribed duty very nicely, but if he does not ultimately become inquisitive about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is indifferent to çravaëaà kértanam (hearing and chanting) [SB 7.5.23], all that he has done is but a waste of time. Mäyävädé philosophers, who do not understand the relationship between themselves, the cosmic manifestation and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are simply wasting their time, and their philosophical speculation has no value.’
The Vedänta-sütra consists of four chapters. The first two chapters are sambandha , discussing the relationship of the living entity with God. The third chapter is abhidheya describing how one can act in his relationship with Him and the fourth chapter describes the result of such action – prayojana.
The Vedänta-sütra is also known by the following different names: (1) Brahma-sutra, (2) Saririka-sutra, (3) Vyäsa-sutra, (4) Badaräyana- sutra, (5) Uttara-mimamsa, (6) Vedänta-darsana. Five great äcäryas explained Vedänta-sütra’s codes and wrote profound theistic commentaries, bhasyas: Viñëu Svämé – suddhädvaita (purified oneness) Rämänujäcärya – visistädvaita (specific oneness) Madhväcärya – dvaita (differentiation) Nimbärka Svämé – dvaitädvaita (oneness and differentiation) Çréla Baladeva Vidyäbhüñaëa – acintya-bhedäbheda (inconceivable oneness and difference) In each of these commentaries, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is established as the cause of all causes, the cosmic manifestation as transformation of His inconceivable energies, and devotional service is described very explicitly.
“Vedänta means “the end of knowledge.” The ultimate end of knowledge is knowledge of Kåñëa, who is identical with His holy name” Çré Caitanya-caritämåta, Ädi-lélä 7.68-72
“Vedänta philosophy is served by inoffensively chanting the holy name of the Lord. Vedänta is the last word in Vedic wisdom, and the author and knower of the Vedänta philosophy is Lord Kåñëa; and the highest Vedäntist is the great soul who takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord. That is the ultimate purpose of all Vedic mysticism.” Bhagavad-gétä As It Is 2.46 p.
“So some of the Vaiñëavas selected me to get this title Bhaktivedanta. Vedänta means bhakti, understanding bhakti.” Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.5.24, Våndävana, August 5th 1975
