ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Bhrijana Prabhu, who gave me his sanskt copy of the Gt-bhaa and urged me to translate it. I would like to also thank Vijaygovind das for the cover design and printing, Sumithra-ka ds for arranging the proof reading and layout assistance, and Trin-rdh dev ds and rdhara-hym dsa for their prompt work in proof reading the translation.

About the Author Sri Baladeva Vidybhaa

Baladeva Vidybhaa was born in Balasor district of Orissa near Remua in the eighteenth century. He studied sanskt grammar, literature and logic at a school on the shore of Cilka lake, and then went to Mysore to study the Vedas. At that time he became a follower of the Madhva sampradya. After taking sannysa, he won a debate with scholars on scripture at Puri, and settled in the Madhva Maha there. After studying the a-sandarbhas under Rdh-dmodara, a disciple of Nayannda, the grandson of Rasiknanda, he became attracted to the depth of Gauiya philosophy and became Rdhadmodaras disciple. Later he moved to Vndvana. It is said he studied the rmad Bhgavatam under Vivantha Cakravarti hkura. He also established a ymasundara deity in Vndvana. His two prominent disciples were Uddhava-ds and Nandamira. News came to Vndvana that the Bengali priests were forbidden to worship the Govinda and Gopintha deites in Jaipur because the scriptural authenticity of the Gauiya sampradya was in doubt, since Gauiya followers were giving preferential treatment to Govinda over Viu in their worship. Vivantha, because of his old age, sent Baladeva there to defend the Gauiya line. Baladeva defeated the opponents of the Gauiya philosophy at a place called Galata, and established Vijaya-gopla deity there. At that time he also wrote the Govinda Bhya, a commentary on the Vednta Stras. Sri Baladeva Vidybhaa disappeared in the Christian year 1768.

The following is a partial list of his works. Siddhnta-ratna Vednta-yamantaka Prameya-ratnval Siddhnta-darpaa Kvya-kaustubha Vykaraa-kaumud Aivarya-kdambin Pada-kaustubha Govinda-bhya: commentary on Vednta-stras Vaiava-nandin-tk: commentary of rmad-Bhgavatam Gt-bhaa-bhya: a commentary on Bhagavad-gt Commentaries on the Iopaniad, Gopla Tpan Upaniad, Viusahasra-nma, Jva Gosvs Tattva-sandarbha, Rpa Gosvms Stavamla and Laghu-bhagavatmta, and Jayadeva Gosvms Candrloka

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Other books translated by His Holiness Bhnu Swm: rla Kavi-karapra Gosvm Khnika-kaumud nanda-vndvana-campu rla Bhaktivinoda Thkur Mdhurya Kadambin Hari-nma-cintmai Navadvpa-dhma-prama-khaa Navadvpa-mahtmya ri Caitanya-ikmta rla Vivantha Cakravarti Thkur Srrtha Varii (commentary on the Bhagavad-gita) Srrtha Darii (Tenth canto commentary of rmad-Bhgavatham) rla Jva Gosvm r Mdhava Mahotsava rla Rpa Gosvm Bhakti-rasmta-sindhu

With care, Vidybhaa has attended upon this commentary called rmad Gt Bhaa. O devotees who are greedy for the sweetness of prema of r Govinda and who are filled with mercy, please purify this work. rla Baladeva Vidybhaa In rla Baladeva Vidybhaas commentary, we will find the influence of both Rmnujcarya in particular verses and Madhvcarya in the general philosophy. In his refutation of impersonal interpretations of the Gt, he takes some of the arguments from r Rmnujcaryas commentary on the Gt. He takes the concept of viea, the power by which particulars inhere in an object, from Madhvcarya, in order to explain the non-difference of God from His qualities. rla Prabhupda Lecture - Seattle, October 18, 1968