New Perspectives on the Brahmasūtra—An English Translation of the Brahmasūtra-Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya’s Exposition of “Athāto Brahmajijñāsā”

Abstract

Within the darśanic world, the Brahmasūtra is a seminal text that provides key insights into Upaniṣadic revelation. The recent creation of Mahāmahopādhyāya Bhadresh Swami’s Brahmasūtra-Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya, a comprehensive Sanskrit commentary on the Brahmasūtra, presents unique readings of the text according to the teachings of the Akṣara-Puruṣottama Darśana as revealed by Bhagavān Svāminārāyaṇa. The commentary’s recent reception encourages further inquiry into its distinctive insights on Vedānta thought and the principles of the Akṣara-Puruṣottama Darśana. This article presents an English translation of the Brahmasūtra-Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya’s exposition on the first aphorism: “athāto brahmajijñāsā,” in an effort to make the commentary’s expositions more accessible. In doing so, it highlights distinctive principles of the darśana, including its unique understanding of the nature and form of Akṣarabrahman and Parabrahman. To further contextualize the commentary, this article also presents an introduction to the darśanic commentarial tradition, focusing on the role, features, and significance of the Brahmasūtra commentaries and the Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya.