Brahma Sutras (Govinda Bhashya)
by Kusakratha das Brahmacari | 2010 | 343,161 words | ISBN-10: 8175050063
This is the English translation of the Brahma-sutras including the Govinda Bhashya commentary of Baladeva Vidyabhushana鈥攁n Indian spiritual teacher (Acharya) of the Gaudiya branch of Vaishnavam from the 18th century. This Govinda Bhasya aims to apply Vedantic principles to address universal human concerns, such as suffering and death, rather than m...
Adhikarana 10: The Lord is Neither Partial nor Cruel
Adhy膩ya 2: No Conflict Between 痴别诲腻苍迟补 and Other Vedic Scriptures;
P膩da 1: Refutation of Opposing Views;
痴颈峁测补 [thesis or statement]: We see that some people are born into favorable situations, while others are born into difficult situations. We also observe that sometimes an apparently innocent person is punished, or a blameworthy person prospers. Some philosophers and theologians interpret this to mean that God is either not omnipotent or is partial and unfair. If God were equal to everyone, then He is not omnipotent, because He is incapable of creating a situation where everyone is offered an equal opportunity to prosper and enjoy life; and if He is omnipotent then He is unfair, because although all souls are inherently equal, we see that some are more fortunate and others less fortunate, and sometimes there is injustice.
厂补峁兣沘测补 [arisal of doubt]: The author raises this objection and then goes on to remove the doubt.
笔奴谤惫补辫补办峁 [antithesis]: The theory that Brahman is the omnipotent creator is open to the objection that the Lord is either partial or cruel; for He creates devas and men, some of whom enjoy happiness and others suffer misery. This theory is therefore not congruous, for the texts say that the Lord is neither partial nor cruel. How then can such a Lord be the creator?
厂颈诲诲丑腻苍迟补 [Vedic conclusion]: The author answers this objection with the following 蝉奴迟谤补: