Great Authorities Accept Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead
In the presentation of Vedic knowledge, Śrīla Prabhupāda rigorously adheres to the principle of paramparā, or disciplic succession, asserting that one cannot understand the Absolute Truth through mental speculation. This article explores the overwhelming historical and scriptural consensus regarding Lord Kṛṣṇa's position as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda marshals evidence from the greatest spiritual authorities of India's history—including the twelve mahājanas, the founders of the four Vaiṣṇava sampradāyas, and even the impersonalist philosophers—to demonstrate that Kṛṣṇa's supremacy is an established fact accepted by all genuine seekers of truth.
Arjuna's Acceptance and the Ancient Sages
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when Arjuna accepted Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Brahman in the Bhagavad-gītā, he did not do so merely out of sentiment or friendship. Rather, Arjuna substantiated his acceptance by citing the authority of ancient, realized sages such as Nārada, Asita, Devala, and Vyāsadeva, establishing that the conclusion of the Gītā is supported by the great ṛṣis.
- Arjuna says that Krsna is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead not only by himself but by authorities like the sage Narada, Asita, Devala, Vyasadeva and so on. These are great personalities who distribute the Vedic knowledge.
- Arjuna has accepted Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the supreme abode of all living entities, not only because of his personal experience but also because of the evidences of great authorities like Narada, Asita, Devala and Vyasa.
- People may say, to satisfy his friend, Arjuna has accepted Him (Krsna) as param brahma. But that is not the fact. Arjuna gives evidences that, Not only I, but the great authorities like Vyasa, Narada, Asita, Devala, they have also accepted You as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Verdict of the Great Ācāryas
To protect the integrity of Vedic knowledge, Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently lists the great ācāryas who head the bona fide spiritual lineages. He points out that despite minor philosophical differences, Rāmānuja, Madhva, Viṣṇu Svāmī, Nimbārka, and Lord Caitanya are unanimous in their conclusion that Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- All acaryas - Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Visnu Svami, Nimbarka, and latest, Sri Caitanya, and before that, other acaryas like Vyasadeva, Narada, Asita, Devala, and before that, the original acarya, Lord Brahma, Lord Siva - everyone accepted Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Recently, within, two thousand years, there have been many acaryas like Sankaracarya, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka, Ramanujacarya. They have all accepted Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Krsna is the supreme authority, accepted by all acaryas. In our India the acaryas are Ramanujacarya, Sankaracarya, Madhvacarya. They all accepted Krsna, the Supreme.
Śaṅkarācārya's Admission
Śrīla Prabhupāda often uses the testimony of Śaṅkarācārya, the chief proponent of impersonalism, to prove Kṛṣṇa's supremacy. He notes that although Śaṅkarācārya preached the philosophy of oneness, he specifically singled out Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa, distinguishing Him from the material creation.
- Acaryopasanam. The Sankaracarya even, although he is impersonalist, he has accepted Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and what to speak of others.
- In his commentation on the Bhagavad-gita, Sripada Sankaracarya accepted Lord Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but later on he commented from the impersonalist's view.
- Sankaracarya, the Mayavadi impersonalist philosopher, accepts Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead - sa bhagavan svayam krsnah.
Standard for Understanding Bhagavad-gītā
According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, the Bhagavad-gītā remains a mystery to those who refuse to follow the path of the mahājanas. He asserts that one must approach the text with the same submissive spirit as Arjuna, accepting Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Person, otherwise the reading becomes a useless exercise in mental speculation.
- Bhagavad-gita should be explained to persons who are ready to accept Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is a subject matter for the devotees only and not for philosophical speculators.
- Arjuna accepts Sri Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and any commentary on the Gita following in the footsteps of Arjuna is real devotional service to the cause of this great science.
- If we can keep our faith in an ordinary bank or a traveling agent, can we cannot keep our faith Krsna, who is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by all other big authorities. So we have to follow the footprints of great authorities.
Conclusion
The overwhelming conclusion presented by Śrīla Prabhupāda is that the acceptance of Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not a matter of opinion but the established verdict of all Vedic authorities. Whether one looks to the ancient ṛṣis, the founding ācāryas, or the text of the Bhagavad-gītā itself, the directive is clear. To achieve the perfection of life, one must set aside mental concoctions and walk the path trodden by the mahājanas, accepting Lord Kṛṣṇa as the ultimate source and the Supreme Lord.
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