The Ten Esoteric Principles Taught by Śrī Caitanya By Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura 

“In the Vedic literature, Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the central point of attraction, and His service is our activity. To attain the platform of love of Kṛṣṇa is life’s ultimate goal. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa , Kṛṣṇa’s service and love of Kṛṣṇa are the three great riches of life. When one accepts Vedic literature by dictionary meaning or even by interpretation, i.e. directly or indirectly, the ultimate declaration of Vedic knowledge points to Lord Kṛṣṇa .”

 The Vedic literature is indeed authentic scripture. Whatever is found in the Veda is the absolute truth. The sole aim of the Veda is to reveal Kṛṣṇa, either directly or indirectly, in some places as the principal topic or in other places as the subordinate topic. Therefore, when discussing the principle of sambandha, the Veda points to Kṛṣṇa alone. Similarly, devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the abhidheya principle and love of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa , is the singular necessity and ultimate objective of the entire Vedic literature, prayojana. In order to delineate the three principles of sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana we must first discuss the ten esoteric principles as enunciated by Śrī Caitanya.

 Kārikā, Explanatory Verse

āmnāyaḥ prāha tattvaṁ harim iha paramaṁ sarva-śaktim rasābdhiṁ
tad bhinnāṁsāṁś ca jīvān prakṛti-kavalitān tad-vimuktāṁś ca bhāvāt
bhedābedha-prakāśaṁ sakalam api hareḥ sādhanaṁ śuddha-bhaktiṁ
sādhyaṁ tat-prītim evety upadiśati janān gaura-candraḥ svayaṁ saḥ

“(1) The Vedas are the principal scriptural evidence, which in turn expound the following nine principles: (2) Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Absolute Truth. (3) Kṛṣṇa is omnipotent. (4) He is the fountainhead of all relationships and love. (5) The living entities are His separated parts and parcels. (6) The living entity, due to his constitutional situation as the marginal energy, may come under the sway of the material energy. (7) Again, due to his marginal nature, the living entity in the liberated condition is free of the influence of material nature. (8) The living entity and everything in this material cosmos is simultaneously one and different from the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa. (9) Pure devotional service is the living entity’s occupation and means. (10) Pure love of Kṛṣṇa is the living entity’s ultimate goal.”

The first principle presents and establishes the evidence, the bona-fide source of information. The second to eighth principles are the concepts of sambandha, as discussed in the Veda. The ninth principle points out the abhidheya principle and the tenth, the prayojana principle. These ten principles are conveniently categorised into pramāṇa (proof, evidence) and prameya (that to be substantiated). The first, the Vedic literature, is pramāṇa. The following nine, i.e. the second to tenth principles, are all in the category of prameya, that to be substantiated. Of that nine, the second, third and fourth elaborate upon the supremacy of Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth. The fifth, sixth and seventh delineate the conditional position of the jīva. The eighth principle discusses the eternal relationship between Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord and the living entity, jiva. This principle of simultaneous oneness and distinction, bhedābheda, must be understood and realized as the inconceivable potency of the Supreme Lord. The ninth principle illustrates bhakti as the activity of the jiva and the tenth gives the goal of such activity, kṛṣṇa-prema. Now each of these principles will be dealt within detail.