Verse Text
atha uddīpanāḥ –
śrutir mahopaniṣadāṁ vivikta-sthāna-sevanam |
antar-vṛtti-viśeṣo ’sya sphūrtis tattva-vivecanam ||18||
vidyāśakti-pradhānatvaṁ viśva-rūpa-pradarśanam |
jṣāni-bhaktena saṁsargo brahma-satrādayas tathā |
eṣv asādhāraṇāḥ proktā budhair uddīpanā amī ||19||
Translation
Uddīpanas: The learned say that the unique stimuli for śānta-rasa are hearing the principal Upaniṣads, living in a solitary place, the appearance of pure mental functions, contemplating the truth, putting emphasis on jṣāna-śakti (power of knowledge), visualizing the universal form, associating with jṣāna-miśra-bhaktas, and discussing the Upaniṣads with similar persons.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Since the operation of the external senses is forbidden, the internal sense (antaḥkaraṇa) operates as a stimulus. The avidyā-śakti or ignorance is the cause of bondage, and the vidyā-śakti is the cause of liberation. Thus, it becomes prominent for these persons. Brahma-satram means to discuss among themselves the Upaniṣads.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Contemplating the truth, emphasizing the power of knowledge and seeing the universal form should be understood to be the special stimuli for those practicing austerity. The other items in the list are stimuli for both those practicing austerity and for the ātmārāmas. Vidyā-śakti and visualizing the universal form should be understood to be in relation to the Lord. Brahmasatra (sacrifice of brahman) means to deliberate on the Upaniṣads with others of like mind.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
The impulse of a saintly person is to be engaged in the study of the Vedas, especially the Upaniṣadic portions, to live always in a place where there is no disturbance from the common people, to think always of the eternal form of Kṛṣṇa, to be ready to consider and understand the Absolute Truth, to be always prominent in exhibiting knowledge, to see the Supreme Lord in His universal form (viśva-rūpa), to associate always with learned devotees and to discuss the conclusion of the Vedas with similarly elevated persons. All of these qualifications of a saintly person serve to raise him to the status of śānta-rasa.