Srimad Bhagavatam Srimad Bhagavata Purana_The ripened fruit of all Vedas In the great Naimasharaya forest, in the assembly of the exalted rishis headed by Rishi Śaunaka, the perfect one – Śrī Sūta Gosvāmi recited to them – the Bhāgavat Purāna as sung by Śrī Sukadeva Goswami to Maharaj Parikshit on the banks of Ma Ganga near Hastinapur, amidst the greatest confluence of enlightened sages from all over the universe. Śrī Sukadeva, a self-realized perfect soul – an Avadhuta, narrated the greatest of purana when only 16 years old, but more learned than all the realized rishis present. Śrī Sukadeva studied the Bhāgavatam through upanishad from his father, compiler of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam – Bhagvān Veda Vyāsadeva (Bādarayana), Lord’s avataar. Sukadev Goswami narrates Bhagavatam at the end of Dwaparayuga idaṁ bhāgavataṁ nāma purāṇaṁ brahma-sammitam adhītavān dvāparādau pitur dvaipāyanād aham “At the end of the Dvāpara-yuga, I studied this great supplement of Vedic literature named Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is equal to all the Vedas, from my father, Śrīla Dvaipāyana Vyāsadeva.” ~ Śrī Sukadeva Goswami, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.1.8) Suta Goswami narrates Bhagavatam at Naimasharanya headed by Sunaka Rishi idaṁ bhāgavataṁ nāma purāṇaṁ brahma-sammitam uttama-śloka-caritaṁ cakāra bhagavān ṛṣiḥ niḥśreyasāya lokasya dhanyaṁ svasty-ayanaṁ mahat This (idaṁ) scripture (purāṇaṁ) named (nāma) Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (bhāgavataṁ ) is the literary incarnation (brahma-sammitam) of God (uttama-śloka-caritaṁ), and it is compiled (cakāra) by Śrīla Vyāsadeva (ṛṣiḥ), the incarnation of God (bhagavān). It is meant for the ultimate good (niḥśreyasāya) of all people (lokasya), and it is all-successful (dhanyaṁ), all-blissful (svasty-ayanaṁ) and all-perfect (mahat). ~ Sūta Gosvāmi in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.3.40) As God is all light, all bliss and all perfection, so also is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. One can derive from its study all benefits that are possible to be derived from the personal presence of the Lord. It carries with it all the transcendental blessings of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa that we can expect from His personal contact. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam should be worshiped as respectfully as we worship the Lord. Spotless, Unlimited, Lord Krsna’s Representative! Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has declared that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless (amalam) representation of all Vedic knowledge and history. What can be said more about this maha-purana? It is directly the Lord Himself – Krishna, Uttama-śloka in His absolute literary incarnation. Mahaprabhu while giving confidential instructions to Sanatana Goswami says – “Just try to understand the real nature of Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is the sound representation of the Supreme Lord Krishna; therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam is not different from Krishna. Krishna is unlimited,

1. Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 1 Creation

4. “ Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the transcendental science not only for knowing the ultimate source of everything but also for knowing our relation with Him and our duty toward perfection of the human society on the basis of this perfect knowledge. It is powerful reading matter in the Sanskrit language, and it is now rendered into English elaborately so that simply by a careful reading one will know God perfectly well, so much so that the reader will be sufficiently educated to defend himself from the onslaught of atheists. Over and above this, the reader will be able to convert others to accepting God as a concrete principle.”

5. The Bhagavatam is a Revolution! Human society, at the present moment, is not in the darkness of oblivion. It has made rapid progress in the field of material comforts, education and economic development throughout the entire world. But there is a pinprick somewhere in the social body at large, and therefore there are large-scale quarrels, even over less important issues. There is need of a clue as to how humanity can become one in peace, friendship and prosperity with a common cause. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam will fill this need, for it is a cultural presentation for the respiritualization of the entire human society…Disparity in human society is due to lack of principles in a godless civilization.

6. Bhagavatam is for Spiritual Revolutionaries! tad-vāg-visargo janatāgha-viplavo yasmin prati-ślokam abaddhavaty api nāmāny anantasya yaśo 'ńkitāni yac chṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanti sādhavaḥ SB 1.5.17 "On the other hand, that literature which is full with descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, form and pastimes of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a transcendental creation meant to bring about a revolution in the impious life of a misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though irregularly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest."

8. Brahmā then spoke it to the sage Nārada (SB 12.13.19)

9. who narrated it to Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa

10. Śrīla Vyāsa revealed this Bhāgavatam to the greatest of sages, Śukadeva Gosvāmī

11. and Śukadeva mercifully spoke it to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

13. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there are ten divisions of statements regarding the following: the creation of the universe

14. subcreation

15. planetary systems

16. protection by the Lord

17. the creative impetus

18. the change of Manus

19. the science of God

20. returning home, back to Godhead, liberation

21. and the summum bonum.

32. “ The great sages are [1] always anxious to do good to the people in general, and as such the sages headed by Śaunaka and others [2] assembled at this holy place of Naimiṣāraṇya with [3] a program of performing a great and continuous chain of sacrificial ceremonies. Forgetful men do not know the right path for peace and prosperity. However, the sages know it well, and therefore for the good of all men they are always anxious to perform acts which may bring about peace in the world. They are [4] sincere friends to all living entities, and at the [5] risk of great personal inconvenience they are [6] always engaged in the service of the Lord for the good of all people.” (Purport SB 1.1.4)

39. “ Lord Viṣṇu is just like a great tree, and all others, including the demigods, men, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Vidyādharas and other living entities, are like branches, twigs and leaves of that tree. By pouring water on the root of the tree, all the parts of the tree are automatically nourished. Only those branches and leaves which are detached cannot be so satisfied. Detached branches and leaves dry up gradually despite all watering attempts. Similarly, human society, when it is detached from the Personality of Godhead like detached branches and leaves, is not capable of being watered, and one attempting to do so is simply wasting his energy and resources.” (Purport SB 1.14)

41. Vṛtrāsura said: All living entities who have taken birth in this material world must die. Surely, no one in this world has found any means to be saved from death. Even providence has not provided a means to escape it. Under the circumstances, death being inevitable, if one can gain promotion to the higher planetary systems and be always celebrated here by dying a suitable death, what man will not accept such a glorious death?

43. But if in this battle you cut off my head with your thunderbolt and kill my soldiers, O Indra , O great hero, I shall take great pleasure in offering my body to other living entities [such as jackals and vultures]. I shall thus be relieved of my obligations to the reactions of my karma , and my fortune will be to receive the dust from the lotus feet of great devotees like Nārada Muni . O my Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, will I again be; able to be a servant of Your eternal servants who find shelter only at Your lotus feet? O Lord of my life, may I again become their servant so that my mind may always think of Your transcendental attributes, my words always glorify those attributes, and my body always engage in the loving service of Your Lordship?

44. 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 a desire to kill you, I am trying my best to fight. I am not at all morose, even under such adverse conditions. Therefore you should give up your moroseness and continue fighting.