Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Antya 2.89
Recognize the commentary behind philosophical study
“Bhagavān Ācārya’s brother, whose name was Gopāla Bhaṭṭācārya, had studied Vedānta philosophy at Benares and had then returned to Bhagavān Ācārya’s home.”
What the purport teaches
- Gopāla Bhaṭṭācārya, Bhagavān Ācārya’s younger brother, returned home after studying Vedānta philosophy at Benares.
- The purport explains that Vedānta was commonly understood through Śaṅkarācārya’s commentary, the Śārīraka-bhāṣya, both then and at the time of its writing.
- It therefore appears that Gopāla Bhaṭṭācārya studied according to the Śārīraka-bhāṣya. This commentary expounds the Māyāvāda philosophy of the impersonalists.
Try this today
Note the name Śārīraka-bhāṣya, its author, and the philosophy it expounds.
Ask yourself
Why is it helpful to know which commentary guides someone’s study of Vedānta?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.