Namaste,
Some zealous Vaishnavs believe and preach that Krishna is even above Brahman. This can be noticed in the discussions taking place on this forum too. In all Upanishads and Veda-samhitAs, Brahman is stated to be Supreme and essence of all that is. If we accept this version that Krishna has a higher status than Brahman ... it negates what Shruti says.
This understanding finds its support in translation of this verse of Bhagwad Gita :
BrahmaNo hi pratishthAham Amritasya Avyayasya cha |
Shashvatsya cha Dharmasya sukhasyaikantimeva cha || BG 14.27||
This translation is found as this in many places which has caused this problem of irreconcilability of Bhagwad Gita with Shruti :
For, I am the substratum of the imperishable Brahman, of immortality, of the eternal Dharma and of unending immutable bliss.
There are some other translations too with slight variations but the message of Lord Krishna declaring Himself being substratum of Brahman appears and creates all this confusion. It is to be noted that Lord Krishna declares Himself as both Saguna and Nirguna Brahman and therefore, this translation poses no threat to violating Shruti if it means that Nirguna Brahman is the substratum of SaguNa Brahman. This cannot have any issues as both saguna and Nirguna are aspects of the same Brahman. But as for Vaishnavas, Krishna in saguna form alone is supreme ... it creates a problem when it is given a meaning that Saguna Brahman i.e. Lord Krishna is substratum of Nirguna BrahmaNa i.e. Brahman in that verse.
However, if we examine closely, the translation should be a little different which leaves no scope of manipulating the meaning of the verse. How ? Let's see :
Brahmano means Brahman and not "of Brahman". If the verse intended to say, "of Brahman", there should have been seventh vibhakti in Brahman i.e. Brahmanasya instead of BrahmaNo. If we consider that translation, the meaning appears as given below :
Brahmano = Brahman
hi = alone
PratishThAham = I Am + PratishTha = I am support/base/substratum/source
Amritasya = of Immortality
Avyayasya = of the Imperishable
Shashvatasya = of the Eternal
cha = and
Dharmasya = of Dharma
sukhasyaikantimeva cha = sukhasya + ekAntim + eva + cha = of happiness/bliss + unending + alone/too + and
So, it translates into :
I alone am Brahman (Brahmano hi) and source of Immortality and of the Imperishable and eternal dharma and unending bliss too.
... Needless to say that this translation doesn't contradict Shruti.
OM
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