Specialization Seminar in

Srimad BhagavatamCantos One and Two

Pada-padmaThe Lotus Feet of Krishna

Summary of First Two Cantos

CANTO IPrefaceIntroduction12345678910111213141516171819

Suta to the Sages

Narada to Vyasa

Disappearance of Sri Krsna

And His associates

Appearance of Srimad Bhagavatam

We divide the First Canto into four parts

CANTO IPrefaceIntroduction12345678910111213141516171819

Suta to the Sages

Narada to Vyasa

Disappearance of Sri Krsna

And His associates

Appearance of Srimad Bhagavatam

CANTO I

Canto One is a Preface to the Srimad Bhagavatam.

In a Preface we find:

1) Purpose of the book,

2) Qualifications of the Speaker,

3) Qualifications of the Listener and

4) Circumstances under which the book was

produced.

CANTO I

Who is the principal Speaker of the Bhagavatam?

Sukadeva Goswami.

Who is the principal listener?

Maharaja Pariksit.

Under what circumstances was it produced?

Arrival of the era of Kali.

What is the purpose of Srimad Bhagavatam?

Give shelter in Kali-yuga.

CANTO IPreface

Srila Prabhupada’s Preface to Srimad

Bhagavatam, although just two pages, is a

very intense document. You can study it in

great detail with great profit and utility.

Since the Srimad Bhagavatam was his life’s

work its Preface is also a preface to his life

and institutions such as ISKCON.

CANTO IPrefaceIntroduction

The Introduction to the Srimad

Bhagavatam is primarily a 35-page

biography of the life of Lord

Caitanya, the ideal preacher of Srimad

Bhagavatam. Without His mercy it is

very difficult to understand the

Bhagavatam

CANTO IPrefaceIntroduction123

Chapters One to Three are

Questions by the Sages of

Naimisaranya to Suta

Goswami and his subsequent

answers.

This is the complete Srimad

Bhagavatam

CANTO IPrefaceIntroduction123

456

Chapters Four to Six are the meeting of

Vyasadeva and Narada Muni. Vyasadeva

was unhappy even after compliling all

the Vedas, but Narada instructed him to

compile Srimad Bhagavatam and that

would satisfy his hankerings.

CANTO IPrefaceIntroduction123

456

789101112131415

Chapters Seven to Fifteen are the disappearance of Krsna and His associates and the Appearance of Srimad Bhagavatam and Its associates. Krsna’s mission of incarnation was finished with the battle of Kuruksetra. So He enjoys some pastimes and then He and His associates disappear: Disappearance of the Pandavas, disappearance of Dhrtarastra, Bhismadeva, Kuntidevi and - appearance of Maharaja Parikshit.

CANTO IPrefaceIntroduction123456789101112131415

16171819

Chapters Sixteen to Nineteen are the meeting of Maharaja Parikshit, the personality of Kali and Sukadeva Goswami, setting the scene for the birth of Srimad Bhagavatam

CANTO IPrefaceIntroduction12345678910111213141516171819

Suta to the Sages

Narada to Vyasa

Disappearance of Sri Krsna

And His associates

Appearance of Srimad Bhagavatam

CANTO II

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Sukadeva to Pariksit

Brahma to Narada

Visnu to Brahma

We divide the Second Canto into three parts

CANTO II123

In the Second Canto Sukadeva Goswami starts his instructions to Maharaja Parikshit: Om Namo bhagavate vasudevaya.

In three chapters he explains Pantheism, Mysticism, Mono-theism, or Sat-cit-ananda, or Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan, the complete science of God.

CANTO II123

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After hearing the complete science of God, Maharaja Prakshit was very satisfied, but he wanted to hear more, especially science, how God creates, maintains and anhilates this material world.

Sukadeva Goswami agreed to his request and after offering preliminary prayers in Chapter Four, in Chapters Five through Seven he explains how Brahma spoke Srimad Bhagavatam to Narada, his son.

CANTO II12345678910

After hearing the Bhagavatam that Brahma spoke to Narada, Maharaja Parikshit is even more enlivened but he asks to hear even more of the science of God. Sukadeva Goswami then explains the original Srimad Bhagavatam as Visnu spoke it personally to Lord Brahma.

The Canto ends with the Sages asking about the meeting of Vidura and Maitreya.

CANTO II

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Sukadeva to Pariksit

Brahma to Narada

Visnu to Brahma

We divide the Second Canto into three parts

Did you notice that Srimad Bhagavatam is presented five times in the first two Cantos?

1) Visnu to Brahma. 2.8-102) Brahma to Narada. 2.5-73) Narada to Vyasa. 1.4-64) Vyasa to Sukadeva Goswami. Doesn’t occur!5) Sukadeva Goswami to Maharaja Pariksit (and Suta

Goswami) 2.1-36) Suta to the Sages of Naimisaranya. 1.1-3

Anjana Suta Academy

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PdP 1st & 2nd Cantos Summary

Rev. 20 July 2006