Srimad-Bhagavatam Introduction

8/3/2019 Srimad-Bhagavatam Introduction

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Srimad-BhagavatamCanto 1Creation


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What is Srimad-Bhagavatam?

This rmad-Bhgavatamis the literary incarnationof God, and it is compiled

by rla Vysadeva, theincarnation of God. It ismeant for the ultimategood of all people, and itis all-successful, all-

blissful and all-perfect.(SB1.3.40)


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This Bhgavata Purnais as brilliant as the sun,and it has arisen just afterthe departure of LordKrsna to His own abode,accompanied by religion,

knowledge, etc. Personswho have lost their visiondue to the densedarkness of ignorance inthe age of Kali shall get

light from this Purna.(SB 1.3.43)


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rmad-Bhgavatam is the transcendental sciencenot only for knowing the ultimate source of

everything but also for knowing our relation withHim and our duty toward perfection of the humansociety on the basis of this perfect knowledge. It is

powerful reading matter in the Sanskrit language,

and it is now rendered into English elaborately sothat simply by a careful reading one will know Godperfectly well, so much so that the reader will besufficiently educated to defend himself from the

onslaught of atheists. Over and above this, thereader will be able to convert others to acceptingGod as a concrete principle.


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The Bhagavatam is a Revolution!

Human society, at the present moment, is not in thedarkness of oblivion. It has made rapid progress inthe field of material comforts, education andeconomic development throughout the entire world.

But there is a pinprick somewhere in the social bodyat large, and therefore there are large-scalequarrels, even over less important issues. There isneed of a clue as to how humanity can become one

in peace, friendship and prosperity with a commoncause. rmad-Bhgavatam will fill this need, for it isa cultural presentation for the respiritualization of theentire human societyDisparity in human society is

due to lack of principles in a godless civilization.


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Bhagavatam is for Spiritual Revolutionaries!tad-vg-visargo janatgha-viplavo

yasmin prati-lokam abaddhavaty apinmny anantasya yao 'kitni yacchrnvanti gyanti grnanti sdhavah

SB 1.5.17

"On the other hand, that literature which is full withdescriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame,form and pastimes of the unlimited Supreme Lord is atranscendental creation meant to bring about a revolution in

the impious life of a misdirected civilization. Suchtranscendental literatures, even though irregularlycomposed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified menwho are thoroughly honest."


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History of the Bhagavatam

It was to Lord Brahmthat the SupremePersonality of Godhead

first revealed the rmad-Bhgavatam in full. At thetime, Brahm, frightenedby material existence,was sitting on the lotus

flower that had grownfrom the Lord's navel.


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Brahm then spoke it to the sage Nrada (SB12.13.19)


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who narrated it to Krsna-dvaipyana Vysa


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rla Vysa revealed this Bhgavatam to the

greatest of sages, ukadeva Gosvm


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and ukadeva mercifully spoke it to

Mahrja Parksit.


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Whats described inside the Bhagavatam

From beginning to end, the rmad-Bhgavatamis full of narrations that encourage renunciation ofmaterial life, as well as nectarean accounts ofLord Hari's transcendental pastimes, which give

ecstasy to the saintly devotees and demigods.This Bhgavatam is the essence of all Vedntaphilosophy because its subject matter is the

Absolute Truth, which, while nondifferent from thespirit soul, is the ultimate reality, one without asecond. The goal of this literature is exclusivedevotional service unto that Supreme Truth. (SB12.13.11-12)


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In the rmad-Bhgavatam thereare ten divisions of

statementsregarding thefollowing: thecreation of the

universe


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planetary systems


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protectionby the Lord


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the creative impetus


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the change of

Manus


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the science of God


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0

returning

home, backto Godhead,liberation


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and thesummum

bonum.


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That Purana isknown as Srimad-

Bhagavatam whichexplains the topmostprinciples of religionwith reference to the

Gayatri mantra andwhich tells of thekilling of the demonVrtra. This Purana

has eighteenthousand verses. Matsya Purana


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Bhagavatam is the essence of All Vedas

This Srimad-Bhagavatam is the mostperfect Purana. It is the naturalcommentary on the Vedanta-Sutra, itestablishes the meaning of the

Mahabharata, it is a commentary onGayatri, it explains and expands themeaning of the Vedasit was spoken bythe Supreme Lord Himself. It has twelve

cantos, hundreds of chapters, and eighteenthousand verses-Garuda Purana


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Bharatartha-vinirnayah: Bhagavatamestablishes the meaning of the Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is glorified because itcontains the conclusions of all scriptures.Long ago, on the request of Srila Vyasa, Lord

Brahma and the other demigods cametogether with all the great sages and placedthe Mahabharata on one side of a scale and

the entire Vedas on the other. TheMahabharata, it turned out, weighed morebecause of its greatness and heaviness. Forthis reason it is called Maha-Bharata.-

Mahabharata Adi-Parva 1.272-274


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Thus the great sageVysadeva, who is very kindto the ignorant masses,edited the Vedas so theymight be assimilated by lessintellectual men. Out ofcompassion, the great sagethought it wise that this wouldenable men to achieve the

ultimate goal of life. Thus hecompiled the great historicalnarration called theMahbhrata


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Vedartha-paribrmhitah: Bhagavatamexpands the Vedas

In Kali-Yuga what is the value of collectinghundreds of thousands of other scriptures if onedoes not keep Srimad-Bhagavatam at home.-

Skanda Purana, Visnu Khanda, 5.16.40 A Person who faithfully recites one verse of

Srimad-Bhagavatam every day, O sage, attainsthe fruit of reading the eighteen Puranas-

Skanda Purana, Visnu-Khanda, 5.16.33


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How to Study Bhagavatam?The only qualification one needs to study thisgreat book of transcendental knowledge is to

proceed step by step cautiously and not jumpforward haphazardly like with an ordinary book.It should be gone through chapter by chapter,

one after another. The reading matter is soarranged with its original Sanskrit text, itsEnglish transliteration, synonyms, translationand purports so that one is sure to become a

God-realized soul at the end of finishing the firstnine cantos.


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First Chapter Outline Prelude (Text 1-3)

Text 1: Defining God

Text 2: Defining Religion

Text 3: Invitation to Taste the Bhagavatams

Nectar Setting the Scene: Sages of Naimisaranya

Inquire from Suta Gosvami (4-8)

Question One and Two (Text 9-11) Question Three (Text12-16)

Question Four and Five (Text 17-18)

Question Six (Text 19-23)


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Summary of the Questions asked by Saunaka

1. Pleaseexplain to us, in an easily understandable way, what

you have ascertained to be the absolute and ultimate good for the people in general.

(Text 1.1.9) Answer: (Text 1.2

.6

)2. There are many variety of scripturesTherefore, O Sage, please select theessence of all these scriptures and explain it for the good of all living beings, by suchinstructions their hearts may be fully satisfied. (Text 1.1.11) Answer: (1.2.7)

3. You know for what purpose the Personality of Godhead appeared in the womb ofDevaki as the son of Vasudeva. (Text 1.1.12) Answer: (1.2.34 and Tenth Canto)

4. [The Lords] transcendental acts are magnificent and gracious, and great learnedsages like Narada sing of them. Please, therefore, speak to us, who are eager tohear about the adventures He performs in his various incarnations. (Text 1.1.17)Answer: (1.2.30)

5. O wise Suta, please narrate to us the transcendental pastimes of the SupremeGodheads multi-incarnations. Such auspicious adventures and pastimes of the

Lord, the Supreme Controller, are performed by His internal powers. (Text 1.1.18)Answer: First Canto, Third Chapter.

6. Since, Sri Krishna, the Absolute Truth, the master of all mystic powers, hasdeparted for His own abode, please tell us to whom the religious principles have nowgone for shelter. (Text 1.1.23) Answer: (1.3.43)


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SB 1.1.4: Once, in a holy place in the forest ofNaimisranya, great sages headed by the sageaunaka assembled to perform a greatthousand-year sacrifice for the satisfaction of theLord and His devotees.

SB 1.1.5: One day, after finishing their morning

duties by burning a sacrificial fire and offering aseat of esteem to rla Sta Gosvm, the greatsages made inquiries, with great respect, aboutthe following matters.

Opening SceneThe Mood in which Bhagavatam Should be

Received


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The great sages are [1]always anxious to dogood to the people in general, and as such thesages headed by aunaka and others[2]assembled at this holy place of Naimisranyawith [3]a program of performing a great andcontinuous chain of sacrificial ceremonies.Forgetful men do not know the right path for peaceand prosperity. However, the sages know it well,and therefore for the good of all men they arealways anxious to perform acts which may bringabout peace in the world. They are [4]sincerefriends to all living entities, and at the [5]risk ofgreat personal inconvenience they are [6]alwaysengaged in the service of the Lord for the good ofall people. (Purport SB 1.1.4)


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Lord Visnu is just like a great tree, and all others,including the demigods, men, Siddhas, Cranas,

Vidydharas and other living entities, are likebranches, twigs and leaves of that tree. By pouringwater on the root of the tree, all the parts of thetree are automatically nourished. Only those

branches and leaves which are detached cannotbe so satisfied. Detached branches and leaves dryup gradually despite all watering attempts.Similarly, human society, when it is detached from

the Personality of Godhead like detached branchesand leaves, is not capable of being watered, andone attempting to do so is simply wasting hisenergy and resources. (Purport SB 1.14)


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Vrtrsura said: All living entities who have taken birth in thismaterial world must die. Surely, no one in this world has

found any means to be saved from death. Even providencehas not provided a means to escape it. Under thecircumstances, death being inevitable, if one can gainpromotion to the higher planetary systems and be alwayscelebrated here by dying a suitable death, what man will not

accept such a glorious death?


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Vrtrasura Encouragement

There are two ways to meet a glorious death, andboth are very rare. One is to die after performingmystic yoga, especially bhakti-yoga, by which

one can control the mind and living force and dieabsorbed in thought of the Supreme Personalityof Godhead. The second is to die on thebattlefield, leading the army and never showing

one's back. These two kinds of death arerecommended in the stra as glorious.


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But if in this battle you cut off my head with your thunderboltand kill my soldiers, O Indra, O great hero, I shall take great

pleasure in offering my body to other living entities [such asjackals and vultures]. I shall thus be relieved of myobligations to the reactions of my karma, and my fortune willbe to receive the dust from the lotus feet of great devoteeslike Nrada Muni.

O my Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead,will I again be; able to be a servant of Your eternalservants who find shelter only at Your lotus feet? O

Lord of my life, may I again become their servantso that my mind may always think of Yourtranscendental attributes, my words always glorifythose attributes, and my body always engage in

the loving service of Your Lordship?


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O my enemy, just look

at me. I have already

been defeated, for my

weapon and arm have

been cut to pieces.

You have already

overwhelmed me, but

nonetheless, with adesire to kill you, I am

trying my best to

fight. I am not at all

morose, even under

such adverseconditions. Therefore

you should give up

your moroseness and

continue fighting.


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Vrtrasura Encouragement

O my enemy, consider this battle a gamblingmatch in which our lives are the stakes,the arrows are the dice, and the animalsacting as carriers are the game board. Noone can understand who will be defeatedand who will be victorious. It all depends

on providence.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Introduction

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