PARABRAHMA SUTRAS (1-3)

1. Athaatah Parabrahma Vyakhyaasyaamah. – Sutra

Translation: Then and therefore, we will discuss about Parabrahman

Explanation: The word Brahman is used for God and for non-God items also, which are greatest among their categories. Hence, confusion about the meaning of the word Brahman arose, which led to a number of splits in the arguments. After this confusion (then) and since the confusion is to be solved (therefore), the word Parabrahman is introduced by the author of these sutras, Shri Datta Swami, to mean God only and not the other non-God items.

2. Praamanikaabhyaam Prayujyate.

Translation: The word Parabrahman is used by two authorities i.e., Krishna and Shankara.

Explanation: Krishna used this word in Gita (Anaadimat Param Brahma…) and Shankara also used in His prayer (Maunavyaakhyaa Prakatita Parabrahma…) and hence this word is quite ancient. You need not reject this word because it is used by a modern person like Datta Swami. Generally, people give value to the ancient sages and not to the modern preachers. However, this is not correct. We should analyze the concept and decide its value. A modern preacher like Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa is a good authority. The ancient sage, Charvaka, is not an authority, who propagated atheism. The author tries to satisfy the blind psychology of people regarding their taste for ancient sages through this Sutra, though analysis of the concept is the real ultimatum.

3. Param Bhede Shreshthapunarukteh.

Translation: The word Param in Gita means different and not great, since the latter results in the mistake of repetition

Explanation: The word Param in Gita is generally interpreted to mean great. But this interpretation is not correct, because the word Brahman already means greatest among the category. If you say that the word param again means great, it results in the mistake of repetition of same sense of the word Brahman. Brahman means greatest according to its root word. Hence, here, the word param means different. Param has both the meanings. Here the word Brahman is restricted to imaginable greatest items in their respective categories. The word Parabrahman means the unimaginable greatest God, who is different from the imaginable greatest items, which are represented by the word Brahman. The word Parabrahman is also a combination of two words- Param and Brahman. Both these words combined become the single word Parabrahman. Hence, in Gita the two words are separately represented which can be combined to give the word Parabrahman.