View source for Sambandha means relationship, and abhidheya means the activities, and prayojana means the ultimate goal of life

<div id="compilation">
<div id="facts">
{{terms|"Sambandha means relationship, and abhidheya means the activities, and prayojana means the ultimate goal of life"|"abhidheya"|"activities"|"goal"|"prayojana"|"relationship"|"sambandha"}}
{{notes|}}
{{compiler|Sahadeva}}
{{complete|ALL}}
{{first|09Mar10}}
{{last|09Mar10}}
{{totals_by_section|BG=0|SB=1|CC=9|OB=0|Lec=12|Con=0|Let=0}}
{{total|22}}
{{toc right}}
[[Category:Sambandha]]
[[Category:Means]]
[[Category:Relationships]]
[[Category:Abhidheya]]
[[Category:Activities]]
[[Category:Prayojana]]
[[Category:Ultimate Goal of Life]]
</div>
<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
</div>
<div id="SB_Canto_101_to_1013" class="sub_section" sec_index="10" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13"><h3>SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13</h3>
</div>
<div id="SB10845_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="336" link="SB 10.8.45" link_text="SB 10.8.45">
<div class="heading">Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained to Sanātana Gosvāmī that there are three purposes in the Vedas. One is to understand our relationship with Kṛṣṇa (sambandha), another is to act according to that relationship (abhidheya), and the third is to reach the ultimate goal (prayojana).
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.8.45|SB 10.8.45, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">The glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are studied through the three Vedas, the Upaniṣads, the literature of Sāṅkhya-yoga, and other Vaiṣṇava literature, yet mother Yaśodā considered that Supreme Person her ordinary child.</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>As stated in Bhagavad-gītā ([[Vanisource:BG 15.15|BG 15.15]]) by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the purpose of studying the Vedas is to understand Him (vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ). Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained to Sanātana Gosvāmī that there are three purposes in the Vedas. One is to understand our relationship with Kṛṣṇa (sambandha), another is to act according to that relationship (abhidheya), and the third is to reach the ultimate goal (prayojana). The word prayojana means "necessities," and the ultimate necessity is explained by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. premā pum-artho mahān: the greatest necessity for a human being is the achievement of love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Here we see that mother Yaśodā is on the highest stage of necessity, for she is completely absorbed in love for Kṛṣṇa.</p>
<p>In the beginning, the Vedic purpose is pursued in three ways (trayī)—by karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa and upāsanā-kāṇḍa. When one reaches the complete, perfect stage of upāsanā-kāṇḍa, one comes to worship Nārāyaṇa, or Lord Viṣṇu. When Pārvatī asked Lord Mahādeva, Lord Śiva, what is the best method of upāsanā, or worship, Lord Śiva answered, ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ viṣṇor ārādhanaṁ param. Viṣṇūpāsanā, or viṣṇv-ārādhana, worship of Lord Viṣṇu, is the highest stage of perfection, as realized by Devakī. But here mother Yaśodā performs no upāsanā, for she has developed transcendental ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. Therefore her position is better than that of Devakī. In order to show this, Śrīla Vyāsadeva enunciates this verse, trayyā copaniṣadbhiḥ etc.</p>
<p>When a human being enters into the study of the Vedas to obtain vidyā, knowledge, he begins to take part in human civilization. Then he advances further to study the Upaniṣads and gain brahma jñāna, impersonal realization of the Absolute Truth, and then he advances still further, to sāṅkhya-yoga, in order to understand the supreme controller, who is indicated in Bhagavad-gītā (paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān/puruṣaṁ śāśvatam ([[Vanisource:BG 10.12|BG 10.12]])). When one understands that puruṣa, the supreme controller, to be Paramātmā, one is engaged in the method of yoga (dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasā paśyanti yaṁ yoginaḥ ([[Vanisource:SB 12.13.1|SB 12.13.1]])). But mother Yaśodā has surpassed all these stages. She has come to the platform of loving Kṛṣṇa as her beloved child, and therefore she is accepted to be on the highest stage of spiritual realization. The Absolute Truth is realized in three features (brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.11|SB 1.2.11]])), but she is in such ecstasy that she does not care to understand what is Brahman, what is Paramātmā or what is Bhagavān. Bhagavān has personally descended to become her beloved child. Therefore there is no comparison to mother Yaśodā's good fortune, as declared by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu (ramyā kācid upāsanā vrajavadhū-vargeṇa yā kalpitā). The Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, may be realized in different stages. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā ([[Vanisource:BG 4.11|BG 4.11]]):</p>
:ye yathā māṁ prapadyante
:tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham
:mama vartmānuvartante
:manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ
<p>"As men surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pṛthā." One may be a karmī, a jñānī, a yogī and then a bhakta or prema-bhakta. But the ultimate stage of realization is prema-bhakti, as actually demonstrated by mother Yaśodā.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" class="section" sec_index="2" parent="compilation" text="Sri Caitanya-caritamrta"><h2>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta</h2>
</div>
<div id="CC_Adi-lila" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" text="CC Adi-lila"><h3>CC Adi-lila</h3>
</div>
<div id="CCAdi773_0" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1019" link="CC Adi 7.73" link_text="CC Adi 7.73">
<div class="heading">According to the Vedic principles, there are three stages of spiritual advancement, namely, sambandha-jñāna, abhidheya and prayojana.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 7.73|CC Adi 7.73, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">According to the Vedic principles, there are three stages of spiritual advancement, namely, sambandha-jñāna, abhidheya and prayojana. Sambandha-jñāna refers to establishing one's original relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, abhidheya refers to acting according to that constitutional relationship, and prayojana is the ultimate goal of life, which is to develop love of Godhead (premā pum-artho mahān). If one adheres to the regulative principles under the order of the spiritual master, he very easily achieves the ultimate goal of his life. A person who is addicted to the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra very easily gets the opportunity to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="CCAdi7106_1" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1050" link="CC Adi 7.106" link_text="CC Adi 7.106">
<div class="heading">The Vedānta-sūtra consists of four chapters describing sambandha-jñāna, abhidheya-jñāna and prayojana-jñāna.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 7.106|CC Adi 7.106, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The Vedānta-sūtra consists of four chapters. The first two chapters discuss the relationship of the living entity with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is known as sambandha-jñāna, or knowledge of the relationship. The third chapter describes how one can act in his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is called abhidheya-jñāna. The relationship of the living entity with the Supreme Lord is described by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu: jīvera "svarūpa" haya kṛṣṇera "nitya-dāsa". "The living entity is an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme God." ([[Vanisource:CC Madhya 20.108|CC Madhya 20.108]]) Therefore, to act in that relationship one must perform sādhana-bhakti, or the prescribed duties of service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is called abhidheya-jñāna. The fourth chapter describes the result of such devotional service (prayojana-jñāna). This ultimate goal of life is to go back home, back to Godhead. The words anāvṛttiḥ śabdāt in the Vedānta-sūtra indicate this ultimate goal.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="CCAdi7142_2" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1086" link="CC Adi 7.142" link_text="CC Adi 7.142">
<div class="heading">When one is convinced about this relationship, which is called sambandha, he then acts accordingly. That is called abhidheya. The next step is prayojana-siddhi, or fulfillment of the ultimate goal of one's life.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 7.142|CC Adi 7.142, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">“By practicing this regulated devotional service under the direction of the spiritual master, certainly one awakens his dormant love of Godhead. This process is called abhidheya.</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>By the practice of devotional service, beginning with hearing and chanting, the impure heart of a conditioned soul is purified, and thus he can understand his eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That eternal relationship is described by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu: jīvera "svarūpa" haya kṛṣṇera "nitya-dāsa." ([[Vanisource:CC Madhya 20.108|CC Madhya 20.108]]). "The living entity is an eternal servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." When one is convinced about this relationship, which is called sambandha, he then acts accordingly. That is called abhidheya. The next step is prayojana-siddhi, or fulfillment of the ultimate goal of one's life. If one can understand his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and act accordingly, automatically his mission in life is fulfilled.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="CCAdi7146_3" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1090" link="CC Adi 7.146" link_text="CC Adi 7.146">
<div class="heading">A human being should be inquisitive to know who he is, what the universe is, what God is, and what the relationship is between himself, God and the material world.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 7.146|CC Adi 7.146, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">“One's relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, activities in terms of that relationship, and the ultimate goal of life (to develop love of God)—these three subjects are explained in every aphorism of the Vedānta-sūtra, for they form the culmination of the entire Vedānta philosophy.”</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 5.5.5|SB 5.5.5]]) it is said:</p>
:parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto
:yāvan na jijñāsata ātma-tattvam
<p>"A human being is defeated in all his activities as long as he does not know the goal of life, which can be understood when one is inquisitive about Brahman." It is such inquiry that begins the Vedānta-sūtra: athāto brahma jijñāsā. A human being should be inquisitive to know who he is, what the universe is, what God is, and what the relationship is between himself, God and the material world. Such questions cannot be asked by cats and dogs, but they must arise in the heart of a real human being. Knowledge of these four items—namely oneself, the universe, God, and their internal relationship—is called sambandha-jñāna, or the knowledge of one's relationship. When one's relationship with the Supreme Lord is established, the next program is to act in that relationship. This is called abhidheya, or activity in relationship with the Lord. After executing such prescribed duties, when one attains the highest goal of life, love of Godhead, he achieves prayojana-siddhi, or the fulfillment of his human mission. In the Brahma-sūtra, or Vedānta-sūtra, these subjects are very carefully explained. Therefore one who does not understand the Vedānta-sūtra in terms of these principles is simply wasting his time. This is the version of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.8|SB 1.2.8]]):</p>
:dharmaḥ sv-anuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ
:notpādayed yadi ratiṁ śrama eva hi kevalam
<p>One may be a very learned scholar and execute his prescribed duty very nicely, but if he does not ultimately become inquisitive about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is indifferent to śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam (hearing and chanting) ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.23|SB 7.5.23]]), all that he has done is but a waste of time. Māyāvādī philosophers, who do not understand the relationship between themselves, the cosmic manifestation and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are simply wasting their time, and their philosophical speculation has no value.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="CCAdi7147_4" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1091" link="CC Adi 7.147" link_text="CC Adi 7.147">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 7.147|CC Adi 7.147, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">When all the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs thus heard the explanation of Caitanya Mahāprabhu on the basis of sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana, they spoke very humbly.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="CC_Madhya-lila" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" text="CC Madhya-lila"><h3>CC Madhya-lila</h3>
</div>
<div id="CCMadhya20124_0" class="quote" parent="CC_Madhya-lila" book="CC" index="4613" link="CC Madhya 20.124" link_text="CC Madhya 20.124">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 20.124|CC Madhya 20.124, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">“The Vedic literatures give information about the living entity's eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa, which is called sambandha. The living entity's understanding of this relationship and his acting accordingly is called abhidheya. Returning home, back to Godhead, is the ultimate goal of life and is called prayojana.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="CCMadhya22103_2" class="quote" parent="CC_Madhya-lila" book="CC" index="5140" link="CC Madhya 22.103" link_text="CC Madhya 22.103">
<div class="heading">Kṛṣṇa was advising His most confidential servant, Uddhava, about sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 22.103|CC Madhya 22.103, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">“"The living entity who is subjected to birth and death attains immortality when he gives up all material activities, dedicates his life to the execution of My order, and acts according to My directions. In this way he becomes fit to enjoy the spiritual bliss derived from exchanging loving mellows with Me."</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ([[Vanisource:SB 11.29.34|SB 11.29.34]]). Kṛṣṇa was advising His most confidential servant, Uddhava, about sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana. These concern one's relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the activities of that relationship, as well as the perfection of life. The Lord also described the characteristics of confidential devotees.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="CCMadhya25102_3" class="quote" parent="CC_Madhya-lila" book="CC" index="5774" link="CC Madhya 25.102" link_text="CC Madhya 25.102">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 25.102|CC Madhya 25.102, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">“The essence of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam—our relationship with the Supreme Lord, our activities in that connection and the goal of life—is manifest in the four verses of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam known as the catuḥ-ślokī. Everything is explained in those verses.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="CCMadhya25131_4" class="quote" parent="CC_Madhya-lila" book="CC" index="5803" link="CC Madhya 25.131" link_text="CC Madhya 25.131">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 25.131|CC Madhya 25.131, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “Thus one's relationship with the Lord, activities in devotional service, and the attainment of the highest goal of life, love of Godhead, are the subject matters of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
</div>
<div id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Lectures" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures"><h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
</div><div id="LectureonBG43BombayMarch231974_0" class="quote qod_candidate" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="137" link="Lecture on BG 4.3 -- Bombay, March 23, 1974" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.3 -- Bombay, March 23, 1974">
<div class="heading">In the human form of life, here there is a prerogative, there is a chance to know what is God and what is my relationship with Him. That is called sambandha-jñāna. Sambandha, abhidheya. Then execution of the duty.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.3 -- Bombay, March 23, 1974|Lecture on BG 4.3 -- Bombay, March 23, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">By gradual evolution, we are coming to the human form of life. So in the human form of life, here there is a prerogative, there is a chance to know what is God and what is my relationship with Him. That is called sambandha-jñāna. Sambandha, abhidheya. Then execution of the duty. Just like sambandha. We can understand. An unmarried girl and unmarried boy, there is first of all sambandha: the father, mother makes the relationship. Then there is function between husband and wife. That is called abhidheya. And why? Because there is a necessity. What is that? To get children. Sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana. Prayojana. Every sambandha, every relationship is made, every action is done with an aim, the goal, the prayojana. So Vedic literature means sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana. That is to be studied in the human form of life. Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 15.15|BG 15.15]]). To study Vedas means to understand what is my relation, what is Kṛṣṇa, what I am, and what is my relationship, and how to act in that relationship, and what is the aim of life.</p>
<p>The aim of life is to go back to home, back to Godhead. That is the aim of life. We are fallen in this material conditional life. We are suffering. But we do not know. We are so fool. Just like animals. We do not know what is the aim of life. Aim of life, that is also described in the Bhagavad-gītā: janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam ([[Vanisource:BG 13.9|BG 13.9]]).</p>
</div>
</div><div id="LectureonBG418BombayApril71974_1" class="quote qod_candidate" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="178" link="Lecture on BG 4.18 -- Bombay, April 7, 1974" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.18 -- Bombay, April 7, 1974">
<div class="heading">We must know what is our relationship with God. And if we act according to that relationship, then our aim of life is fulfilled. Sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana. Sambandha means relationship, and abhidheya means the activities, and prayojana means the ultimate goal of life.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.18 -- Bombay, April 7, 1974|Lecture on BG 4.18 -- Bombay, April 7, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So the first question was that, "What is the method of progress in human life?" Sādhya-sādhana. So Rāmānanda Rāya gave Him the information,</p>
:varṇāśramācāravatā
:puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān
:viṣṇur ārādhyate panthā
:nānyat tat-toṣa-kāraṇam
:([[Vanisource:CC Madhya 8.58|CC Madhya 8.58]])
<p>Because human life is meant for understanding position of Viṣṇu, and his position, what is the relationship with Viṣṇu, and how to achieve the highest success of life. Sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana. These things are there.</p>
<p>The whole subject matter of Vedas, are these three things, what is our relationship with God... First of all we must know what is God. Then we must know what is our relationship with God. And if we act according to that relationship, then our aim of life is fulfilled. Sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana. Sambandha means relationship, and abhidheya means the activities, and prayojana means the ultimate goal of life. So the ultimate goal of life is to understand Viṣṇu.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB1524VrndavanaAugust51975_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="146" link="Lecture on SB 1.5.24 -- Vrndavana, August 5, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.5.24 -- Vrndavana, August 5, 1975">
<div class="heading">In the Vedānta or Vedas there are three things only: sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana. All śāstras. In the Bhagavad-gītā also the same three things are there: sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.5.24 -- Vrndavana, August 5, 1975|Lecture on SB 1.5.24 -- Vrndavana, August 5, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Veda-vādī means actually one who knows what is the objective of Vedas, they take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And when Caitanya Mahāprabhu discussed Vedānta philosophy with Sarvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, he said that in the Vedānta or Vedas there are three things only: sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana. He de... All śāstras. In the Bhagavad-gītā also the same three things are there: sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana.</p>
<p>Sambandha means "First of all, what is my relationship with God." That is called sambandha. Just like first of all a boy or a girl is to be married. So... That is the Vedic system. The father, mother, selects. That is called sambandha. When they fixed up that "This boy will be married with that girl," that is called sambandha. So relationship. Then when the sambandha is established by marriage, when the boy or girl is married, then the sambandha is done. "Now... Now the boy and the girl may remain separately in their respective homes." No. That is abhidheya. Abhidheya. When they are united by the marriage there must be dealings between them. That is called abhidheya. Abhidheya. Abhidheya means not that "Our now marriage ceremony, relationship is established. Now you Mr. such and such, you go home, I go home." No. There must be actual activities. The wife should take care of serving the husband, and the husband should take care of the wife. Then the relationship... Why this relationship? Why these are activities? Now, there is prayojana.</p>
</div>
</div><div id="LectureonSB175VrndavanaSeptember41976_1" class="quote qod_candidate" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="157" link="Lecture on SB 1.7.5 -- Vrndavana, September 4, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.7.5 -- Vrndavana, September 4, 1976">
<div class="heading">The animal has no information, neither he has got capacity to understand what he is, what is his relationship with God, what he has to do. Sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.7.5 -- Vrndavana, September 4, 1976|Lecture on SB 1.7.5 -- Vrndavana, September 4, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Our life is meant for understanding God. This is human life: athāto brahma jijñāsā. Human life is meant for this purpose. The animals, they are jijñāsā. Their jijñāsā, inquiry, there are many, many inquiries. And answers also. Just like we see in the newspaper so many news, unlimited number of news. But there is no news of how to understand God. There is no news. This is anartha. So lokasyājānata, they have no information. Because they are animals... The animal has no information, neither he has got capacity to understand what he is, what is his relationship with God, what he has to do. Sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana. The whole Vedic principles are based on these three principles. Sambandha. Sambandha means relationship. Everyone says there is God, but what is God and what is our relationship with God, that is to be understood. Sambandha. Then as soon as relationship is understood, then our real activity begins. That real activities is called bhakti, and the material activities, which is not bhakti, that is māyā. Therefore in the Bhāgavata it is said,</p>
:dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ
:viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ
:notpādayed yadi ratiṁ
:śrama eva hi kevalam
:([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.8|SB 1.2.8]])
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB1842LosAngelesMay41973_2" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="244" link="Lecture on SB 1.8.42 -- Los Angeles, May 4, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.8.42 -- Los Angeles, May 4, 1973">
<div class="heading">In this life we have to understand our relationship with God, sambandha, and, according to that relationship, we have to chalk our plan of working. Because we must fulfill that relationship. This is called in Sanskrit sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.8.42 -- Los Angeles, May 4, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.8.42 -- Los Angeles, May 4, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">This is our ultimate goal of life. Human form of life is meant for that purpose, that in this life we have to understand our relationship with God, sambandha, and, according to that relationship, we have to chalk our plan of working. Because we must fulfill that relationship. This is called in Sanskrit sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana. Sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana. Just like in ordinary dealings, one businessman is going to do business with another man. So, first of all, the relationship is established by some agreement. Then the transaction takes place. One is supplier, one is purchaser. Then the result is profit. Three things are there. In husband and wife, the same thing. First of all sambandha, the relationship, who will I marry, which girl, which boy. First of all plan... In the beginning... Formerly it was settled up by the parents. Still in India it is settled up by the parents. That is called sambandha. Then the marriage takes place. Then husband and wife relationship, they live together. Then there is the profit, a child. Similarly the human life is meant for reestablishing our relationship with God.</p>
</div>
</div><div id="LectureonSB215DelhiNovember81973_3" class="quote qod_candidate" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="367" link="Lecture on SB 2.1.5 -- Delhi, November 8, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 2.1.5 -- Delhi, November 8, 1973">
<div class="heading">Sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana. Caitanya Mahāprabhu prescribes this. The whole Vedic civilization is based on this, that you must know what is your relationship with God.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 2.1.5 -- Delhi, November 8, 1973|Lecture on SB 2.1.5 -- Delhi, November 8, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">At the end of life, at the time of death, one must do it, but not only at the end of life. One must practice from the beginning of life. Just like Prahlāda Mahārāja said, kaumāra ācaret prājño dharmān bhāgavatān iha ([[Vanisource:SB 7.6.1|SB 7.6.1]]). This prescription given by Śukadeva Gosvāmī:</p>
:tasmād bhārata sarvātmā
:bhagavān īśvaro hariḥ
:śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaś ca
:smartavyaś cecchatābhayam
:([[Vanisource:SB 2.1.5|SB 2.1.5]])
<p>This is bhāgavata-dharma. This is bhāgavata-dharma, everything in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Dharma means bhāgavata-dharma. Otherwise that is not dharma. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam ([[Vanisource:SB 6.3.19|SB 6.3.19]]). Dharma means to understand God, our relationship with God, and how to work in that relation. That is dharma. Sambandha, prayojana. Sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana. Caitanya Mahāprabhu prescribes this. The whole Vedic civilization is based on this, that you must know what is your relationship with God.</p>
</div>
</div><div id="LectureonSB751PandalLectureBombayJanuary121973_4" class="quote qod_candidate" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="727" link="Lecture on SB 7.5.1, Pandal Lecture -- Bombay, January 12, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.5.1, Pandal Lecture -- Bombay, January 12, 1973">
<div class="heading">The Bhagavad-gītā is giving us directly information about our relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa personally giving instruction that is His position and what is our position, what is our relationship with Him and what is the ultimate goal of life. These are called in Sanskrit language, sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.5.1, Pandal Lecture -- Bombay, January 12, 1973|Lecture on SB 7.5.1, Pandal Lecture -- Bombay, January 12, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">These Vedas and the Purāṇas, they are meant for reminding us, to give us information that "You are not this material body. You are not Indian, you are not American, you are not brāhmaṇa, you are not śūdra. You are eternally part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. So your business is to serve Kṛṣṇa." This is the purpose of all Vedic literature. Vedaiṣ ca sarvair aham eva vedyam ([[Vanisource:BG 15.15|BG 15.15]]).</p>
<p>So the Bhagavad-gītā is giving us directly information about our relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa personally giving instruction that is His position and what is our position, what is our relationship with Him and what is the ultimate goal of life. These are called in Sanskrit language, sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana. Sambandha means we must know what is our relationship with God, Kṛṣṇa. That is called sambandha. Everyone is speaking about God. That is human nature. Any civilized form of human society has some sort of religious principles, to understand God. That is a fact. So in the human form of life, this is the main question. This is called brahma-jijñāsā. "What is my relationship with God? What I am? Why I am suffering in this material world? Is there a solution?" This is the business of human form of life, not to imitate the animals, how to eat nicely, how to live nicely, how to have sexual intercourse nicely and how to defend. These are animal propensities.</p>
</div>
</div><div id="LectureonSB761MadrasJanuary21976_5" class="quote qod_candidate" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="743" link="Lecture on SB 7.6.1 -- Madras, January 2, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.6.1 -- Madras, January 2, 1976">
<div class="heading">Dharma means God and our relationship with God and acting according to that relationship so that we may attain the ultimate goal of life. That is dharma, sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana, these three things.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.6.1 -- Madras, January 2, 1976|Lecture on SB 7.6.1 -- Madras, January 2, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prahlāda Mahārāja said, kaumāra ācaret prājño dharmān bhāgavatān iha ([[Vanisource:SB 7.6.1|SB 7.6.1]]). Actually dharma means God and our relationship with God and acting according to that relationship so that we may attain the ultimate goal of life. That is dharma, sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana, these three things.</p>
<p>The whole Vedas are divided into three states. Sambandha, what is our connection God. That is called sambandha. And then abhidheya. According to that relationship we have to act. That is called abhidheya. And why do we act? Because we have got the goal of life, to achieve the goal of life. So what is the goal of life? The goal of life is that, to go back to home, back to Godhead. That is goal of life. We are part and parcel of God. God is sanātana and He has His own abode, sanātana. Paras tasmāt tu bhāvo 'nyo 'vyakto 'vyaktāt sanātanaḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 8.20|BG 8.20]]). There is a place ever-existing. This material world, it will not exist forever. It is bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate ([[Vanisource:BG 8.19|BG 8.19]]).</p>
</div>
</div><div id="LectureonSB762VrndavanaDecember31975_6" class="quote qod_candidate" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="746" link="Lecture on SB 7.6.2 -- Vrndavana, December 3, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.6.2 -- Vrndavana, December 3, 1975">
<div class="heading">Any Vedic literature, it is dealing with three things—sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.6.2 -- Vrndavana, December 3, 1975|Lecture on SB 7.6.2 -- Vrndavana, December 3, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><dd>Yathā hi puruṣasyeha</dd>
<dd>viṣṇoḥ pādopasarpaṇam</dd>
<dd>yad eṣa sarva-bhūtānāṁ</dd>
<dd>priya ātmeśvaraḥ suhṛt</dd>
<dd>([[Vanisource:SB 7.6.2|SB 7.6.2]])</dd>
<p>This is called sambandha-jñāna. (bells ring, Deities open) There are three things—sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana. Sambandha means first of all we have to establish what is our relationship with God. This is called sambandha-jñāna. Any Vedic literature, it is dealing with three things—sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana. Everywhere... In our relationship with mundane world... You are American. So American means the sambandha, the relationship. You have got intimate relationship with the country known as America. This is called sambandha. Unless you know what is your relationship with America there is no question of fighting for America, because the relationship is there. Similarly, in any country... This is, of course, artificial, man-made sambandha, externally. But the principle, to know first of all our relationship, then act accordingly and then the purpose for which we establish relationship, that is obtained. A businessman, he enters into business contract with another businessman. The agreement is there, that "We shall transact business as purchaser or seller, as agent or as principle." This is called sambandha-jñāna. If we do not know what is our sambandha, relationship with God, then why one should be interested to worship God? There is no question. Therefore sambandha-jñāna is the first principle to understand.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Lectures" text="Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures"><h3>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureonCCAdilila115MayapurApril81975_0" class="quote" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta_Lectures" book="Lec" index="16" link="Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.15 -- Mayapur, April 8, 1975" link_text="Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.15 -- Mayapur, April 8, 1975">
<div class="heading">At the present moment, in our conditioned stage of life, we have forgotten our relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.15 -- Mayapur, April 8, 1975|Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.15 -- Mayapur, April 8, 1975]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Devotee: "Glory to the all-merciful Rādhā and Madana-mohana! I am lame and ill-advised, yet They are my directors, and Their lotus feet are everything to me."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda:</p>
:jayatāṁ suratau paṅgor
:mama manda-mater gatī
:mat-sarvasva-padāmbhojau
:rādhā-madana-mohanau
:([[Vanisource:CC Adi 1.15|CC Adi 1.15]])
<p>That is sambandha. Sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana. At the present moment, in our conditioned stage of life, we have forgotten our relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is our conditional life.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonCCMadhyalila20121124NewYorkNovember251966_1" class="quote" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta_Lectures" book="Lec" index="72" link="Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.121-124 -- New York, November 25, 1966" link_text="Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.121-124 -- New York, November 25, 1966">
<div class="heading">Now, what is the subject matter of these Vedic scriptures? That is summarily summarized by Lord Caitanya. Veda-śāstra kahe-'sambandha', 'abhidheya', 'prayojana'.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.121-124 -- New York, November 25, 1966|Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.121-124 -- New York, November 25, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><dd>Veda-śāstra kahe-'sambandha', 'abhidheya', 'prayojana',</dd>
<dd>'kṛṣṇa'-prāpya sambandha, 'bhakti'-prāptyera sādhana</dd>
<p>Now, what is the subject matter of these Vedic scriptures? That is summarily summarized, summarized by Lord Caitanya. Veda-śāstra kahe-'sambandha', 'abhidheya', 'prayojana'. There are three things in the Vedic scriptures. What is that? The first thing is: "What is my relationship with God?" Or: "What is my relationship with this world?" Or: "What is my relationship with this nature?" These three is described. Then, as soon as you understand your relationship, then your action begins according to... Just like two businessmen, two. They want to do some business. They wanted to do... Mutually, they want to do some business. And what is the aim of business? To make some profit. Both of them are interested in making some profit. Without profit, there is no question of business. So first, if the profit is aim, then the two business first come to a contract, or agreement. This is called sambandha, relationship. "Yes, you are supplier; I am purchaser. And you shall supply in this way, and I shall purchase in this way." Agreement. This is called relationship. And after the sign of the agreement, when actually the activities begin, supply and purchase, that is called abhidheya. And abhidheya means why they are doing this business? Now, some profit. So the profit there must be. Otherwise nobody's interested. Same thing is there also in the Vedas. First of all you have to understand, "What is my relationship with God, or with this world, or the nature?" We must understand first this. And when we understand this, "This is my relationship," then my actual work will begin. That is abhidheya. And after executing that prescribed duty, the result is that I'll get my relationship with the Supreme Lord revived. These three things are described in the Vedas. There is no other thing.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonCCMadhyalila20124125NewYorkNovember261966_2" class="quote" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta_Lectures" book="Lec" index="73" link="Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.124-125 -- New York, November 26, 1966" link_text="Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.124-125 -- New York, November 26, 1966">
<div class="heading">Bhakti, devotional service, means to undergo a disciplinary system of our life so that automatically we can revive our lost relationship with Lord, God, and we become happy. This is called bhakti. Abhidheya-nāma 'bhakti', 'prema'-prayojana.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.124-125 -- New York, November 26, 1966|Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.124-125 -- New York, November 26, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">One who takes shelter of Kṛṣṇa, he'll not be put into danger. Rest assured. So 'kṛṣṇa'-sambandha, 'bhakti'-prāptyera sādhana. So I have to revive my relationship. Relationship is there; simply I have forgotten. So I have to revive it, or remember it, that "Oh, I am such and such." Vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 7.19|BG 7.19]]). I have to become a great soul by surrendering unto God. So that surrendering process is bhakti, or devotional service. My relationship is eternal with the Supreme. I have forgotten it. Now, that relationship is that He is the original father of everything, and we are all sons. So we have to become... We have... So long we have been disobedient. Now we have to become obedient. That's all. This obedience means that... What is called? Obedience, the first law of discipline. So as soon as the people of this world, so-called advanced world, they become obedient to God, then there will be discipline and there will be peace. There is no discipline now. They are not agreeable to follow any rules and regulation. Everyone is God. Everyone is dog. Everyone can do anything, whatever he likes. So there is no discipline. So bhakti, bhakti, devotional service, means to undergo a, a disciplinary system of our life so that automatically we can revive our lost relationship with Lord, God, and we become happy. This is called bhakti. Abhidheya-nāma 'bhakti', 'prema'-prayojana. And why? What is the use? Suppose we don't revive our relationship? Then you'll be disturbed. You are after peace and prosperity.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>