Madhusuudana Sarasvatii's introduction to the Giitaa (3)

[anand hudli]

  sachchidaanandaruupaM tatpuurNaM vishhNoH paraM padaM |
  yatpraaptaye samaarabdhaaH vedaaH kaaNDatrayaatmkaaH || 3 ||

   Word for word meaning:

  sachchidaanandaruupaM - whose nature is existence, consciousness,
                           and bliss

  tat.h - that
  puurNaM - infinite (literally complete)
  vishhNoH - of VishhNu, the all-pervading
  paraM padaM - the highest state
  yatpraaptaye - for the attainment of which
  samaarabdhaaH - are undertaken
  vedaaH - the Vedas
  kaaNDatrayaatmakaaH - characterized by the three sections, ie.
                       karma, upaasana, and jnaana


        Translation:

  The (study of ) the three portions of the Vedas is undertaken for the
  attainment of the highest state of VishhNu which is existence,
  consciousness, and Bliss,  is infinite, and is Brahman (tat).

   Notes:

  1) The word puurNaM, literally complete, means the infinite according
     to Shankara's commentary on the puurNamadaH mantra of the
     bR^ihadaaraNyaka upanishhad:

      AUM puurNamadaH puurNamidaM puurNaatpuurNamudachyate |
          puurNasya puurNamaadaaya puurNamevaavashishhyate ||

          That (Brahman) is infinite. This (universe) is infinite.
          This infinite emanates from that infinite. Taking the infinity
          of the infinite, what remains is infinite only.

   2) The word "tat", that, indicates the Supreme Brahman of the
      upanishhads.

   3) Shankara gives some excellent definitions of the word VishhNu
     in his commentary on the VishhNu sahasra naama.
     One such definition is:

      veveshhTi vyaapnotiiti vishhNuH

      One who pervades is VishhNu.

      vishhervyaaptyabhidhaayino nukpratyayaantasya ruupaM |

      It is the combination of vishh, meaning to pervade, with the
      suffix nu.

     deshakaalavastuparichchhedashuunya ityarthaH |

    (VishhNu) means One who is devoid of the limitations of
    (belonging to) a specific place, time or object.

    "antarbahishcha tatsarvaM vyaapya naaraayaNaH sthitaH "

    naaraayaNa pervades the whole (world) inside and outside,
    ie. everywhere. (mahaanaaraayaNa upanishhad, naaraayaNa suukta)


  4) The VishhNu suukta of the Rg Veda, which is appended at the
    end of the Purushha suukta recitation by Rg Vedins, contains
    the expression "vishhNoH paramaM padaM".

 Anand