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SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
(Compiled and edited by Jay Mazo, International Gita Society)
CONTENTS
CANTO ONE
Chapter One Questions by the Sages 7
Chapter Two Divinity and Divine
Service 8
Chapter Three Krsna Is the Source of
All Incarnations 9
Chapter Four The Appearance of Sri
Narada 12
Chapter Five Narada's Instructions
on Srimad-Bhagavatam for Vyasadeva 13
Chapter Six Conversation Between
Narada and Vyasadeva 15
Chapter Seven The Son of Drona
Punished 17
Chapter Eight Prayers by Queen Kunti
and Pariksit Saved 19
Chapter Nine The Passing Away of
Bhismadeva in the Presence of Lord Krsna 21
Chapter Ten Departure of Lord Krsna
for Dvaraka 24
Chapter Eleven Lord Krsna's Entrance
into Dvaraka 25
Chapter Twelve Birth of Emperor
Pariksit 27
Chapter Thirteen Dhrtarastra Quits
Home 29
Chapter Fourteen The Disappearance
of Lord Krsna 32
Chapter Fifteen The Pandavas Retire
Timely 33
Chapter Sixteen How Pariksit
Received the Age of Kali 36
Chapter Seventeen Punishment and
Reward of Kali 38
Chapter Eighteen Maharaja Pariksit
Cursed by a Brahmana Boy 40
Chapter Nineteen The Appearance of
Sukadeva Gosvami 42
CANTO TWO
Chapter One The First Step in God
Realization 44
Chapter Two The Lord in the Heart 46
Chapter Three Pure Devotional
Service: The Change in Heart 48
Chapter Four The Process of Creation 49
Chapter Five The Cause of All Causes 51
Chapter Six Purusa-sukta Confirmed 53
Chapter Seven Scheduled Incarnations
with Specific Functions 55
Chapter Eight Questions by King
Pariksit 59
Chapter Nine Answers by Citing the
Lord's Version 60
Chapter Ten Bhagavatam Is the Answer
to All Questions 62
CANTO THREE
Chapter One Questions by Vidura 65
Chapter Two Remembrance of Lord
Krsna 67
Chapter Three Remembrance of Lord
Krsna 69
Chapter Four Vidura Approaches
Maitreya 70
Chapter Five Vidura's Talks with
Maitreya 72
Chapter Six Creation of the
Universal Form 75
Chapter Seven Further Inquires by
Vidura 76
Chapter Eight Manifestation of
Brahma from Garbhodakasayi Visnu 78
Chapter Nine Brahma's Prayers for
Creative Energy 80
Chapter Ten Divisions of the
Creation 83
Chapter Eleven Calculation of Time,
from the Atom 84
Chapter Twelve Creation of the
Kumaras and Others 86
Chapter Thirteen The Appearance of
Lord Varaha 88
Chapter Fourteen Pregnancy of Diti
in the Evening 91
Chapter Fifteen Description of the
Kingdom of God 93
Chapter Sixteen The Two Doorkeepers
of Vaikuntha, Cursed by the Sages 96
Chapter Seventeen Victory of
Hiranyaksa Over All the directions of the Universe 98
Chapter Eighteen The Battle Between
Lord Boar and the Demon Hiranyaksa 99
Chapter Nineteen The Killing of the
Demon Hiranyaksa 100
Chapter Twenty Conversation Between
Maitreya and Vidura 102
Chapter Twenty-one Conversation
Between Manu and Kardama 104
Chapter Twenty-two The Marriage of
Kardama Muni and Devahuti 107
Chapter Twenty-three Devahuti's
Lamentation 108
Chapter Twenty-four The Renunciation
of Kardama Muni 111
Chapter Twenty-five The Glories of
Devotional Service 113
Chapter Twenty-six Fundamental
Principles of Material Nature 115
Chapter Twenty-seven Understanding
Material Nature 119
Chapter Twenty-eight Kapila's Instructions
on the Execution of Devotional Service 120
Chapter Twenty-nine Explanation of
Devotional Service by Lord Kapila 122
Chapter Thirty Description by Lord
Kapila of Adverse Fruitive Activities 125
Chapter Thirty-one Lord Kapila's
Instructions on the Movements of the Living Entities 126
Chapter Thirty-two Entanglement in
Fruitive Activities 129
Chapter Thirty-three Activities of
Kapila 131
CANTO FOUR
Chapter One Genealogical Table of
the Daughters of Manu 133
Chapter Two Daksa Curses Lord Siva 135
Chapter Three Talks Between Lord
Siva and Sati 137
Chapter Four Sati Quits Her Body 138
Chapter Five Frustration of the
Sacrifice of Daksa 140
Chapter Six Brahma Satisfies Lord
Siva 141
Chapter Seven The Sacrifice
Performed by Daksa 144
Chapter Eight Dhruva Maharaja Leaves
Home for the Forest 148
Chapter Nine Dhruva Maharaja Returns
Home 152
Chapter Ten Dhruva Maharaja's Fight
With the Yaksas 156
Chapter Eleven Svayambuva Manu
Advises Dhruva Maharaja to Stop Fighting 157
Chapter Twelve Dhruva Maharaja Goes
Back to Godhead 159
Chapter Thirteen Description of the
Descendants of Dhruva Maharaja 162
Chapter Fourteen The Story of King
Vena 164
Chapter Fifteen King Prthu's
Appearance and Coronation 167
Chapter Sixteen Praise of King Prthu
by the Professional Reciters 168
Chapter Seventeen Maharaja Prthu
Becomes Angry at the Earth 170
Chapter Eighteen Prthu Maharaja
Milks the Earth Planet 172
Chapter Nineteen King Prthu's One
Hundred Horse Sacrifices 173
Chapter Twenty Lord Visnu's
Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena 175
Chapter Twenty-one Instructions by
Maharaja Prthu 178
Chapter Twenty-two Prthu Maharaja's
Meeting with the Four Kumaras 181
Chapter Twenty-three Maharaja
Prthu's Going Back Home 184
Chapter Twenty-four Chanting the
Song Sung by Lord Siva 187
Chapter Twenty-five The Descriptions
of the Characteristics of King Puranjana 191
Chapter Twenty-six King Puranjana
Goes to Forest to Hunt, His Queen Becomes Angry 194
Chapter Twenty-seven Attack by
Candavega on City of Puranjana; Character of Kalakanya 196
Chapter Twenty-eight Puranjana
Becomes a Woman in the Next Life 197
Chapter Twenty-nine Talks Between
Narada and King Pracinabarhi 200
Chapter Thirty The Activities of the
Pracetas 205
Chapter Thirty-one Narada Instructs
the Pracetas 208
CANTO FIVE
Chapter One The Activities of
Maharaja Priyavrata 210
Chapter Two The Activities of
Maharaja Agnidhra 213
Chapter Three Rsabhadeva's
Appearance in the Womb of Merudevi, Wife of King Nabhi 215
Chapter Four The Characteristics of
Rsabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead 217
Chapter Five Lord Rsabhadeva's
Teachings to His Sons 218
Chapter Six The Activities of Lord
Rsabhadeva 221
Chapter Seven The Activities of King
Bharata 223
Chapter Eight A Description of the
Character of Bharata Maharaja 224
Chapter Nine The Supreme Character
of Jada Bharata 226
Chapter Ten The Discussion Between
Jada Bharata and Maharaja Rahugana 228
Chapter Eleven Jada Bharata
Instructs King Rahugana 231
Chapter Twelve Conversation Between
Maharaja Rahugana and Jada Bharata 232
Chapter Thirteen Further Talks
Between King Rahugana and Jada Bharata 234
Chapter Fourteen The Material World
as the Great Forest of Enjoyment 236
Chapter Fifteen The Glories of the
Descendants of King Priyavrata 240
Chapter Sixteen A Description of
Jambudvipa 242
Chapter Seventeen The Descent of the
River Ganges 244
Chapter Eighteen The Prayers Offered
to the Lord by the Residents of Jambudvipa 246
Chapter Nineteen A Description of
the Island of Jambudvipa 249
Chapter Twenty Studying the
Structure of the Universe 252
Chapter Twenty-one The Movements of
the Sun 255
Chapter Twenty-two The Orbits of the
Planets 256
Chapter Twenty-three The Sisumara
Planetary Systems 258
Chapter Twenty-four The Subterranean
Heavenly Planets 259
Chapter Twenty-five The Glories of
Lord Ananta 262
Chapter Twenty-six A Description of
the Hellish Planets 263
CANTO SIX
Chapter One The History of the Life
of Ajamila 266
Chapter Two Ajamila Delivered by the
Visnudutas 270
Chapter Three Yamaraja Instructs His
Messengers 273
Chapter Four The Hamsa-guhya Prayers
Offrered to the Lord by Prajapati Daksa 275
Chapter Five Narada Muni Cursed by
Prajapati Daksa 279
Chapter Six The Progeny of the
Daughters of Daksa 282
Chapter Seven Indra Offends His
Spiritual Master, Brhaspati 283
Chapter Eight The Narayana-kavaca
Shield 285
Chapter Nine Appearance of the Demon
Vrtrasura 288
Chapter Ten The Battle Between the
Demigods and Vrtrasura 292
Chapter Eleven The Transcendental
Qualities of Vrtrasura 293
Chapter Twelve Vrtrasura's Glorious
Death 295
Chapter Thirteen King Indra
Afflicted by Sinful Reaction 297
Chapter Fourteen King Citraketu's
Lamentation 298
Chapter Fifteen The Saints Narada
and Angira Instruct King Citraketu 301
Chapter Sixteen King Citraketu Meets
the Supreme Lord 303
Chapter Seventeen Mother Parvati
Curses Citraketu 307
Chapter Eighteen Diti Vows to Kill
King Indra 309
Chapter Nineteen Performing the
Pumsavana Ritualistic Ceremony 313
CANTO SEVEN
Chapter One The Supreme Lord Is
Equal to Everyone 315
Chapter Two Hiranyakasipu, King of
the Demons 318
Chapter Three Hiranyakasipu's Plan
to Become Immortal 321
Chapter Four Hiranyakasipu
Terrorizes the Universe 323
Chapter Five Prahlada Maharaja, the
Saintly Son of Hiranyakasipu 326
Chapter Six Prahlada Instructs His
Demoniac Schoolmates 329
Chapter Seven What Prahlada Learned
in the Womb 331
Chapter Eight Lord Nrsimhadeva Slays
the King of the Demons 334
Chapter Nine Prahlada Pacifies Lord
Nrsimhadeva with Prayers 338
Chapter Ten Prahlada, the Best Among
Exalted Devotees 342
Chapter Eleven The Perfect Society:
Four Social Classes 345
Chapter Twelve The Perfect Society:
Four Spiritual Classes 347
Chapter Thirteen The Behavior of a
Perfect Person 349
Chapter Fourteen Ideal Family Life 351
Chapter Fifteen Instructions for
Civilized Human Beings 354
CANTO EIGHT
Chapter One The Manus,
Administrators of the Universe 359
Chapter Two The Elephant Gajendra's
Crisis 360
Chapter Three Gajendra's Prayers of
Surrender 362
Chapter Four Gajendra Returns to the
Spiritual World 364
Chapter Five The Demigods Appeal to
the Lord for Protection 365
Chapter Six The Demigods and Demons
Declare a Truce 368
Chapter Seven Lord Siva Saves the
Universe by Drinking Poison 370
Chapter Eight The Churning of the
Milk Ocean 372
Chapter Nine The Lord Incarnates as
Mohini-Murti 375
Chapter Ten The Battle Between the
Demigods and the Demons 376
Chapter Eleven King Indra
Annihilates the Demons 379
Chapter Twelve The Mohini-murti
Incarnation Bewilders Lord Siva 381
Chapter Thirteen Description of
Future Manus 384
Chapter Fourteen The System of
Universal Management 385
Chapter Fifteen Bali Maharaja
Conquers the Heavenly Planets 386
Chapter Sixteen Executing the
Payo-vrata Process of Worship 387
Chapter Seventeen The Supreme Lord
Agrees to Become Aditi's Son 390
Chapter Eighteen Lord Vamanadeva,
the Dwarf Incarnation 391
Chapter Nineteen Lord Vamanadeva
Begs Charity from Bali Maharaja 393
Chapter Twenty Bali Maharaja
Surrenders the Universe 395
Chapter Twenty-one Bali Maharaja
Arrested by the Lord 397
Chapter Twenty-two Bali Maharaja
Surrenders His Life 399
Chapter Twenty-three The Demigods
Regain the Heavenly Planets 401
Chapter Twenty-four Matsya, the
Lord's Fish Incarnation 402
CANTO NINE
Chapter One King Sudyumna Becomes a
Woman 405
Chapter Two The Dynasties of the
Sons of Manu 407
Chapter Three The Marriage of
Sukanya and Cyavana Muni 408
Chapter Four Ambarisa Maharaja
Offended by Durvasa Muni 410
Chapter Five Durvasa Muni's Life
Spared 414
Chapter Six The Downfall of Saubhari
Muni 415
Chapter Seven The Descendants of
King Mandhata 418
Chapter Eight The Sons of Sagara
Meet Lord Kapiladeva 419
Chapter Nine The Dynasty of Amsuman 420
Chapter Ten The Pastimes of the
Supreme Lord, Ramacandra 423
Chapter Eleven Lord Ramacandra Rules
the World 426
Chapter Twelve The Dynasty of Kusa,
the Son of Lord Ramacandra 428
Chapter Thirteen The Dynasty of
Maharaja Nimi 429
Chapter Fourteen King Pururava
Enchanted by Urvasi 430
Chapter Fifteen Parasurama, the
Lord's Warrior Incarnation 433
Chapter Sixteen Lord Parasurama
Destroys the World's Ruling Class 434
Chapter Seventeen The Dynasties of
the Sons of Pururava 436
Chapter Eighteen King Yayati Regains
His Youth 437
Chapter Nineteen King Yayati
Achieves Liberation 439
Chapter Twenty The Dynasty of Puru 441
Chapter Twenty-one The Dynasty of
Bharata 442
Chapter Twenty-two The Descendants
of Ajamidha 444
Chapter Twenty-three The Dynasties
of the Sons of Yayati 446
Chapter Twenty-four Krsna the
Supreme Personality of Godhead 448
CANTO TEN
Chapter One The Advent of Lord
Krsna: Introduction 450
Chapter Two Prayers by the Demigods
for Lord Krsna in the Womb 454
Chapter Three The Birth of Lord
Krsna 457
Chapter Four The Atrocities of King
Kamsa 459
Chapter Five The Meeting of Nanda
Maharaja and Vasudeva 462
Chapter Six The Killing of the Demon
Putana 463
Chapter Seven The Killing of the
Demon Trnavarta 465
Chapter Eight Lord Krsna Shows the
Universal Form Within His Mouth 468
Chapter Nine Mother Yasoda Binds
Lord Lord Krsna 471
Chapter Ten Deliverance of the Yamala-arjuna
Trees 472
Chapter Eleven The Childhood
Pastimes of Krsna 474
Chapter Twelve The Killing of the
Demon Aghasura 477
Chapter Thirteen The Stealing of the
Boys and Calves by Brahma 480
Chapter Fourteen Brahma's Prayers to
Lord Krsna 484
Chapter Fifteen The Killing of
Dhenuka, the Ass Demon 487
Chapter Sixteen Krsna Chastises the
Serpent Kaliya 490
Chapter Seventeen The History of
Kaliya 494
Chapter Eighteen Lord Balarama Slays
the Demon Pralamba 495
Chapter Nineteen Swallowing the
Forest Fire 496
Chapter Twenty The Rainy Season and
Autumn in Vrndavana 497
Chapter Twenty-One The Gopis Glorify
the Song of Krsna's Flute 499
Chapter Twenty-Two Krsna Steals the
Garments of the Unmarried Gopis 500
Chapter Twenty-Three The Brahmanas'
Wives Blessed 502
Chapter Twenty-Four Worshiping
Govardhana Hill 504
Chapter Twenty-Five Lord Krsna Lifts
Govardhana Hill 506
Chapter Twenty-Six Wonderful Krsna 507
ChapterTwenty-Seven Lord Indra and
Mother Surabhi Offer Prayers 509
Chapter Twenty-Eight Krsna Rescues
Nanda Maharaja from the Abode of Varuna 510
Chapter Twenty-Nine Krsna and the
Gopis Meet for the Rasa Dance 511
Chapter Thirty The Gopis Search for
Krsna 513
Chapter Thirty-One The Gopis' Songs
of Separation 515
Chapter Thirty-Two The Reunion 516
Chapter Thirty-Three The Rasa Dance 517
Chapter Thirty-Four Nanda Maharaja
Saved and Sankhacuda Slain 519
Chapter Thirty-Five The Gopis Sing
of Krsna as He Wanders in the Forest 520
Chapter Thirty-Six The Slaying of
Arista, the Bull Demon 521
Chapter Thirty-Seven The Killing of
the Demons Kesi and Vyoma 523
Chapter Thirty-Eight Akrura's
Arrival in Vrndavana 524
Chapter Thirty-Nine Akrura's Vision 526
Chapter Forty The Prayers of Akrura 529
Chapter Forty-One Krsna and Balarama
Enter Mathura 530
Chapter Forty-Two The Breaking of
the Sacrificial Bow 532
Chapter Forty-Three Krsna Kills the
Elephant Kuvalayapida 534
Chapter Forty-Four The Killing of
Kamsa 535
Chapter Forty-Five Krsna Rescues His
Teacher's Son 537
Chapter Forty-Six Uddhava Visits
Vrndavana 539
Chapter Forty-Seven The Song of the
Bee 541
Chapter Forty-Eight Krsna Pleases
His Devotees 544
Chapter Forty-Nine Akrura's Mission
in Hastinapura 546
Chapter Fifty Krsna Establishes the
City of Dvaraka 547
Chapter Fifty-One The Deliverance of
Mucukunda 549
Chapter Fifty-Two Rukmini's Message
to Lord Krsna 552
Chaptert Fifty-Three Krsna Kidnaps
Rukmini 553
Chapter Fifty-Four The Marriage of
Krsna and Rukmini 556
Chapter Fifty-Five The History of
Pradyumna 558
Chapter Fifty-Six The Syamantaka
Jewel 559
Chapter Fifty-Seven Satrajit
Murdered, the Jewel Returned 561
Chapter Fifty-Eight Krsna Marries
Five Princesses 563
Chapter Fifty-Nine The Killing of
the Demon Naraka 565
Chapter Sixty Lord Krsna Teases
Queen Rukmini 567
Chapter Sixty-One Lord Balarama
Slays Rukmi 570
Chapter Sixty-Two The Meeting of Usa
and Aniruddha 571
Chapter Sixty-Three Lord Krsna
Fights with Banasura 573
Chapter Sixty-Four The Deliverance
of King Nrga 575
Chapter Sixty-Five Lord Balarama
Visits Vrndavana 577
Chapter Sixty-Six Paundraka, the
False Vasudeva 578
Chapter Sixty-Seven Lord Balarama
Slays Dvivida Gorilla 580
Chaptrer Sixty-Eight The Marriage of
Samba 581
Chapter Sixty-Nine Narada Muni
Visits Lord Krsna's Palaces in Dvaraka 583
Chapter Seventy Lord Krsna's Daily
Activities 585
Chapter Seventy-One The Lord Travels
to Indraprastha 587
Chapter Seventy-Two The Slaying of
the Demon Jarasandha 589
Chapter Seventy-Three Lord Krsna
Blesses the Liberated Kings 591
Chapter Seventy-Four The Deliverance
of Sisupala at the Rajasuya Sacrifice 592
Chapter Seventy-Five Duryodhana
Humiliated 594
Chapter Seventy-Six The Battle
Between Salva and the Vrsnis 596
Chapter Seventy-Seven Lord Krsna
Slays the Demon Salva 597
Chapter Seventy-Eight The Killing of
Dantavakra, Viduratha and Romaharsana 599
Chapter Seventy-Nine Lord Balarama
Goes on Pilgrimage 600
Chapter Eighty The Brahmana Sudama
Visits Lord Krsna in Dvaraka 601
Chapter Eighty-One The Lord Blesses
Sudama Brahmana 603
Chapter Eighty-Two Krsna and
Balarama Meet the Inhabitants of Vrndavana 605
Chapter Eighty-Three Draupadi Meets
the Queens of Krsna 607
Chapter Eighty-Four The Sages'
Teachings at Kuruksetra 609
Chapter Eighty-Five Lord Krsna
Instructs Vasudeva and Retrieves Devaki's Sons 612
Chapter Eighty-Six Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadra, and Krsna Blesses
His Devotees 615
Chapter Eighty-Seven The Prayers of
the Personified Vedas 617
Chapter Eighty-Eight Lord Siva Saved
from Vrkasura 621
Chapter Eighty-Nine Krsna and Arjuna
Retrieve a Brahmana's Sons 623
Chapter Ninety Summary of Lord
Krsna's Glories 625
CANTO ELEVEN
Chapter One The Curse Upon the Yadu
Dynasty 627
Chapter Two Maharaja Nimi Meets the
Nine Yogendras 629
Chapter Three Liberation from the
Illusory Energy 632
Chaptrer Four Drumila Explains the
Incarnations of Godhead to King Nimi 636
Chapter Five Narada Concludes His
Teachings to Vasudeva 638
Chapter Six The Yadu Dynasty Retires
to Prabhasa 641
Chapter Seven Lord Krsna Instructs
Uddhava 643
Chapter Eight The Story of Pingala 647
Chapter Nine Detachment from All
that Is Material 650
Chapter Ten The Nature of Fruitive
Activity 652
Chapter Eleven The Symptoms of
Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities 654
Chapter Twelve Beyond Renunciation
and Knowledge 657
Chapter Thirteen The Hamsa-avatara
Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahma 659
Chapter Fourteen Lord Krsna Explains
the Yoga System to Sri Uddhava 661
Chapter Fifteen Lord Krsna's
Description of Mystic Yoga Perfections 663
Chapter Sixteen The Lord's Opulence 665
Chapter Seventeen Lord Krsna's
Description of the Varnasrama System 667
Chapter Eighteen Description of
Varnasrama-dharma 670
Chapter Nineteen The Perfection of
Spiritual Knowledge 673
Chapter Twenty Pure Devotional Service
Surpasses Knowledge and Detachment 675
Chapter Twenty-One Lord Krsna's
Explanation of the Vedic Path 677
Chapter Twenty-Two Enumeration of
the Elements of Material Creation 679
Chapter Twenty-Three The Song of the
Avanti Brahmana 682
Chapter Twenty-Four The Philosophy
of Sankhya 685
Chapter Twenty-Five The Three Modes
of Nature and Beyond 687
Chapter Twenty-Six The Aila-gita 688
Chapter Twenty-Seven Lord Krsna's
Instructions on the Process of Deity Worship 690
Chapter Twenty-Eight Jnana-yoga 693
Chapter Twenty-Nine Bhakti-yoga 695
Chapter Thirty The Disappearance of
the Yadu Dynasty 698
Chapter Thirty-One The Disappearance
of Lord Sri Krsna 700
CANTO TWELVE
Chapter One The Degraded Dynasties
of Kali-yuga 701
Chapter Two The Symptoms of
Kali-yuga 702
Chapter Three The Bhumi-gita 704
Chapter Four The Four Categories of
Universal Annihilation 706
Chapter Five Sukadeva Gosvami's
Final Instructions to Maharaja Pariksit 708
Chapter Six Maharaja Pariksit Passes
Away 709
Chapter Seven The Puranic
Literatures 713
Chapter Eight Markandeya's Prayers
to Nara-Narayana Rsi 714
Chapter Nine Markandeya Rsi Sees the
Illusory Potency of the Lord 717
Chapter Ten Lord Siva and Uma
Glorify Markandeya Rsi 718
Chapter Eleven Summary Description
of the Mahapurusa 720
Chapter Twelve The Topics of
Srimad-Bhagavatam Summarized 722
Chapter Thirteen The Glories of
Srimad-Bhagavatam 725
CANTO
ONE
Chapter One Questions by the Sages
1. O my Lord, Sri Krsna, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading
Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful
obeisances unto You. I
meditate upon Lord Sri Krsna because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval
cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the
manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all
manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond
Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of
Brahmaji, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods
are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations
of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the
material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes
of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon
Him, Lord Sri Krsna, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode,
which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world.
I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.
2. Completely rejecting
all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhagavata Purana
propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are
fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion
for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This
beautiful Bhagavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyasadeva [in his maturity],
is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other
scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of
Bhagavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within
his heart.
3.
O expert and thoughtful men, relish Srimad-Bhagavatam, the mature fruit of the
desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Sri Sukadeva
Gosvami. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its
nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls.
4.
Once, in a holy place in the forest of Naimisaranya, great sages headed by the
sage Saunaka assembled to perform a great thousand-year sacrifice for the
satisfaction of the Lord and His devotees.
5.
One day, after finishing their morning duties by burning a sacrificial fire and
offering a seat of esteem to Srila Suta Gosvami, the great sages made
inquiries, with great respect, about the following matters.
6.
The sages said: Respected Suta Gosvami, you are completely free from all vice.
You are well versed in all the scriptures famous for religious life, and in the
Puranas and the histories as well, for you have gone through them under proper
guidance and have also explained them.
7.
Being the eldest learned Vedantist, O Suta Gosvami, you are acquainted with the
knowledge of Vyasadeva, who is the incarnation of Godhead, and you also know
other sages who are fully versed in all kinds of physical and metaphysical
knowledge.
8.
And because you are submissive, your spiritual masters have endowed you with
all the favors bestowed upon a gentle disciple. Therefore you can tell us all
that you have scientifically learned from them.
9.
Please, therefore, being blessed with many years, explain to us, in an easily
understandable way, what you have ascertained to be the absolute and ultimate
good for the people in general.
10.
O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are
quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.
11.
There are many varieties of scriptures, and in all of them there are many
prescribed duties, which can be learned only after many years of study in their
various divisions. Therefore, O sage, please select the essence of all these
scriptures and explain it for the good of all living beings, that by such
instruction their hearts may be fully satisfied.
12.
All blessings upon you, O Suta Gosvami. You know for what purpose the
Personality of Godhead appeared in the womb of Devaki as the son of Vasudeva.
13.
O Suta Gosvami, we are eager to learn about the Personality of Godhead and His
incarnations. Please explain to us those teachings imparted by previous masters
[acaryas], for one is uplifted both by speaking them and by hearing them.
14.
Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth and death
can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the holy name of Krsna,
which is feared by fear personified.
15.
O Suta, those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet
of the Lord can at once sanctify those who come in touch with them, whereas the
waters of the Ganges can sanctify only after prolonged use.
16.
Who is there, desiring deliverance from the vices of the age of quarrel, who is
not willing to hear the virtuous glories of the Lord?
17.
His transcendental acts are magnificent and gracious, and great learned sages
like Narada sing of them. Please, therefore, speak to us, who are eager to hear
about the adventures He performs in His various incarnations.
18.
O wise Suta, please narrate to us the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme
Godhead's multi-incarnations. Such auspicious adventures and pastimes of the
Lord, the supreme controller, are performed by His internal powers.
19.
We never tire of hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Personality of
Godhead, who is glorified by hymns and prayers. Those who have developed a
taste for transcendental relationships with Him relish hearing of His pastimes
at every moment.
20.
Lord Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, along with Balarama, played like a
human being, and so masked He performed many superhuman acts.
21.
Knowing well that the age of Kali has already begun, we are assembled here in
this holy place to hear at great length the transcendental message of Godhead
and in this way perform sacrifice.
22.
We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that
we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the
difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human
being.
23.
Since Sri Krsna, the Absolute Truth, the master of all mystic powers, has
departed for His own abode, please tell us to whom the religious principles
have now gone for shelter.
Chapter Two Divinity and Divine Service
1. Ugrasrava [Suta
Gosvami], the son of Romaharsana, being fully satisfied by the perfect
questions of the brahmanas, thanked them and thus attempted to reply.
2.
Srila Suta Gosvami said: Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto that great
sage [Sukadeva Gosvami] who can enter the hearts of all. When he went away to
take up the renounced order of life [sannyasa], leaving home without undergoing
reformation by the sacred thread or the ceremonies observed by the higher
castes, his father, Vyasadeva, fearing separation from him, cried out, "O
my son!" Indeed, only the trees, which were absorbed in the same feelings
of separation, echoed in response to the begrieved father.
3.
Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto him [Suka], the spiritual master of
all sages, the son of Vyasadeva, who, out of his great compassion for those
gross materialists who struggle to cross over the darkest regions of material
existence, spoke this most confidential supplement to the cream of Vedic
knowledge, after having personally assimilated it by experience.
4.
Before reciting this Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is the very means of conquest,
one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead,
Narayana, unto Nara-narayana Rsi, the supermost human being, unto mother
Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, and unto Srila Vyasadeva, the author.
5.
O sages, I have been justly questioned by you. Your questions are worthy
because they relate to Lord Krsna and so are of relevance to the world's
welfare. Only questions of this sort are capable of completely satisfying the
self.
6.
The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can
attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional
service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.
7.
By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, one
immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world.
8.
The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are
only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of
the Personality of Godhead.
9.
All occupational engagements are certainly meant for ultimate liberation. They
should never be performed for material gain. Furthermore, according to sages,
one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service should never use
material gain to cultivate sense gratification.
10.
Life's desires should never be directed toward sense gratification. One should
desire only a healthy life, or self-preservation, since a human being is meant
for inquiry about the Absolute Truth. Nothing else should be the goal of one's
works.
11.
Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual
substance Brahman, Paramatma or Bhagavan.
12.
The seriously inquisitive student or sage, well equipped with knowledge and
detachment, realizes that Absolute Truth by rendering devotional service in
terms of what he has heard from the Vedanta-sruti.
13.
O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest
perfection one can achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one's own
occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the
Personality of Godhead.
14.
Therefore, with one-pointed attention, one should constantly hear about,
glorify, remember and worship the Personality of Godhead, who is the protector
of the devotees.
15.
With sword in hand, intelligent men cut through the binding knots of
reactionary work [karma] by remembering the Personality of Godhead. Therefore,
who will not pay attention to His message?
16.
O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all
vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing
the messages of Vasudeva.
17.
Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in
everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire
for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge
to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and
chanted.
18.
By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of service
to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely
destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised
with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.
19.
As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects
of nature's modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering,
disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he
becomes completely happy.
20.
Thus established in the mode of unalloyed goodness, the man whose mind has been
enlivened by contact with devotional service to the Lord gains positive
scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead in the stage of liberation
from all material association.
21.
Thus the knot in the heart is pierced, and all misgivings are cut to pieces.
The chain of fruitive actions is terminated when one sees the self as master.
22.
Certainly, therefore, since time immemorial, all transcendentalists have been
rendering devotional service to Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, with
great delight, because such devotional service is enlivening to the self.
23.
The transcendental Personality of Godhead is indirectly associated with the
three modes of material nature, namely passion, goodness and ignorance, and
just for the material world's creation, maintenance and destruction He accepts
the three qualitative forms of Brahma, Visnu and Siva. Of these three, all
human beings can derive ultimate benefit from Visnu, the form of the quality of
goodness.
24.
Firewood is a transformation of earth, but smoke is better than the raw wood.
And fire is still better, for by fire we can derive the benefits of superior knowledge
[through Vedic sacrifices]. Similarly, passion [rajas] is better than ignorance
[tamas], but goodness [sattva] is best because by goodness one can come to
realize the Absolute Truth.
25.
Previously all the great sages rendered service unto the Personality of Godhead
due to His existence above the three modes of material nature. They worshiped
Him to become free from material conditions and thus derive the ultimate
benefit. Whoever follows such great authorities is also eligible for liberation
from the material world.
26.
Those who are serious about liberation are certainly nonenvious, and they
respect all. Yet they reject the horrible and ghastly forms of the demigods and
worship only the all-blissful forms of Lord Visnu and His plenary portions.
27.
Those who are in the modes of passion and ignorance worship the forefathers,
other living beings and the demigods who are in charge of cosmic activities,
for they are urged by a desire to be materially benefited with women, wealth,
power and progeny.
28-29.
In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Sri Krsna, the
Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him.
Yoga is for realizing Him. All fruitive activities are ultimately rewarded by
Him only. He is supreme knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to
know Him. Religion [dharma] is rendering loving service unto Him. He is the
supreme goal of life.
30.
In the beginning of the material creation, that Absolute Personality of Godhead
[Vasudeva], in His transcendental position, created the energies of cause and
effect by His own internal energy.
31.
After creating the material substance, the Lord [Vasudeva] expands Himself and
enters into it. And although He is within the material modes of nature and
appears to be; one of the created beings, He is always fully enlightened in His
transcendental position.
32.
The Lord, as Supersoul, pervades all things, just as fire permeates wood, and
so He appears to be of many varieties, though He is the absolute one without a
second.
33.
The Supersoul enters into the bodies of the created beings who are influenced
by the modes of material nature and causes them to enjoy the effects of these
modes by the subtle mind.
34.
Thus the Lord of the universes maintains all planets inhabited by demigods, men
and lower animals. Assuming the roles of incarnations, He performs pastimes to
reclaim those in the mode of pure goodness.
Chapter Three Krsna Is the Source of All Incarnations
1.
Suta said: In the beginning of the creation, the Lord first expanded Himself in
the universal form of the purusa incarnation and manifested all the ingredients
for the material creation. And thus at first there was the creation of the
sixteen principles of material action. This was for the purpose of creating the
material universe.
2.
A part of the purusa lies down within the water of the universe, from the navel
lake of His body sprouts a lotus stem, and from the lotus flower atop this
stem, Brahma, the master of all engineers in the universe, becomes manifest.
3.
It is believed that all the universal planetary systems are situated on the
extensive body of the purusa, but He has nothing to do with the created
material ingredients. His body is eternally in spiritual existence par
excellence.
4.
The devotees, with their perfect eyes, see the transcendental form of the
purusa who has thousands of legs, thighs, arms and faces--all extraordinary. In
that body there are thousands of heads, ears, eyes and noses. They are
decorated with thousands of helmets and glowing earrings and are adorned with
garlands.
5.
This form [the second manifestation of the purusa] is the source and
indestructible seed of multifarious incarnations within the universe. From the
particles and portions of this form, different living entities, like demigods,
men and others, are created.
6.
First of all, in the beginning of creation, there were the four unmarried sons
of Brahma [the Kumaras], who, being situated in a vow of celibacy, underwent
severe austerities for realization of the Absolute Truth.
7.
The supreme enjoyer of all sacrifices accepted the incarnation of a boar [the
second incarnation], and for the welfare of the earth He lifted the earth from
the nether regions of the universe.
8.
In the millennium of the rsis, the Personality of Godhead accepted the third
empowered incarnation in the form of Devarsi Narada, who is a great sage among
the demigods. He collected expositions of the Vedas which deal with devotional
service and which inspire nonfruitive action.
9.
In the fourth incarnation, the Lord became Nara and Narayana, the twin sons of
the wife of King Dharma. Thus He undertook severe and exemplary penances to
control the senses.
10.
The fifth incarnation, named Lord Kapila, is foremost among perfected beings.
He gave an exposition of the creative elements and metaphysics to Asuri
Brahmana, for in course of time this knowledge had been lost.
11.
The sixth incarnation of the purusa was the son of the sage Atri. He was born
from the womb of Anasuya, who prayed for an incarnation. He spoke on the
subject of transcendence to Alarka, Prahlada and others [Yadu, Haihaya, etc.].
12.
The seventh incarnation was Yajna, the son of Prajapati Ruci and his wife
Akuti. He controlled the period during the change of the Svayambhuva Manu and
was assisted by demigods such as His son Yama.
13.
The eighth incarnation was King Rsabha, son of King Nabhi and his wife
Merudevi. In this incarnation the Lord showed the path of perfection, which is
followed by those who have fully controlled their senses and who are honored by
all orders of life.
14.
O brahmanas, in the ninth incarnation, the Lord, prayed for by sages, accepted
the body of a king [Prthu] who cultivated the land to yield various produces,
and for that reason the earth was beautiful and attractive.
15.
When there was a complete inundation after the period of the Caksusa Manu and
the whole world was deep within water, the Lord accepted the form of a fish and
protected Vaivasvata Manu, keeping him up on a boat.
16.
The eleventh incarnation of the Lord took the form of a tortoise whose shell
served as a pivot for the Mandaracala Hill, which was being used as a churning
rod by the theists and atheists of the universe.
17.
In the twelfth incarnation, the Lord appeared as Dhanvantari, and in the
thirteenth He allured the atheists by the charming beauty of a woman and gave
nectar to the demigods to drink.
18.
In the fourteenth incarnation, the Lord appeared as Nrsimha and bifurcated the
strong body of the atheist Hiranyakasipu with His nails, just as a carpenter
pierces cane.
19.
In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf-brahmana
[Vamana] and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by Maharaja Bali. Although
at heart He was willing to regain the kingdom of the three planetary systems,
He simply asked for a donation of three steps of land.
20.
In the sixteenth incarnation of the Godhead, the Lord [as Bhrgupati]
annihilated the administrative class [ksatriyas] twenty-one times, being angry
with them because of their rebellion against the brahmanas [the intelligent
class].
21.
Thereafter, in the seventeenth incarnation of Godhead, Sri Vyasadeva appeared
in the womb of Satyavati through Parasara Muni, and he divided the one Veda
into several branches and subbranches, seeing that the people in general were
less intelligent.
22.
In the eighteenth incarnation, the Lord appeared as King Rama. In order to
perform some pleasing work for the demigods, He exhibited superhuman powers by
controlling the Indian Ocean and then killing the atheist King Ravana, who was
on the other side of the sea.
23.
In the nineteenth and twentieth incarnations, the Lord advented Himself as Lord
Balarama and Lord Krsna in the family of Vrsni [the Yadu dynasty], and by so
doing He removed the burden of the world.
24.
Then, in the beginning of Kali-yuga, the Lord will appear as Lord Buddha, the
son of Anjana, in the province of Gaya, just for the purpose of deluding those
who are envious of the faithful theist.
25.
Thereafter, at the conjunction of two yugas, the Lord of the creation will take
His birth as the Kalki incarnation and become the son of Visnu Yasa. At this
time the rulers of the earth will have degenerated into plunderers.
26.
O brahmanas, the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable, like rivulets flowing
from inexhaustible sources of water.
27.
All the rsis, Manus, demigods and descendants of Manu, who are especially
powerful, are plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord.
This also includes the Prajapatis.
28.
All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions
of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Sri Krsna is the original
Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a
disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the
theists.
29.
Whoever carefully recites the mysterious appearances of the Lord, with devotion
in the morning and in the evening, gets relief from all miseries of life.
30.
The conception of the virat universal form of the Lord, as appearing in the
material world, is imaginary. It is to enable the less intelligent [and
neophytes] to adjust to the idea of the Lord's having form. But factually the
Lord has no material form.
31.
Clouds and dust are carried by the air, but less intelligent persons say that
the sky is cloudy and the air is dirty. Similarly, they also implant material
bodily conceptions on the spirit self.
32.
Beyond this gross conception of form is another, subtle conception of form
which is without formal shape and is unseen, unheard and unmanifest. The living
being has his form beyond this subtlety, otherwise he could not have repeated
births.
33.
Whenever a person experiences, by self-realization, that both the gross and
subtle bodies have nothing to do with the pure self, at that time he sees
himself as well as the Lord.
34.
If the illusory energy subsides and the living entity becomes fully enriched
with knowledge by the grace of the Lord, then he becomes at once enlightened
with self-realization and thus becomes situated in his own glory.
35.
Thus learned men describe the births and activities of the unborn and inactive,
which is undiscoverable even in the Vedic literatures. He is the Lord of the
heart.
36.
The Lord, whose activities are always spotless, is the master of the six senses
and is fully omnipotent with six opulences. He creates the manifested
universes, maintains them and annihilates them without being in the least
affected. He is within every living being and is always independent.
37.
The foolish with a poor fund of knowledge cannot know the transcendental nature
of the forms, names and activities of the Lord, who is playing like an actor in
a drama. Nor can they express such things, neither in their speculations nor in
their words.
38.
Only those who render unreserved, uninterrupted, favorable service unto the
lotus feet of Lord Krsna, who carries the wheel of the chariot in His hand, can
know the creator of the universe in His full glory, power and transcendence.
39.
Only by making such inquiries in this world can one be successful and perfectly
cognizant, for such inquiries invoke transcendental ecstatic love unto the
Personality of Godhead, who is the proprietor of all the universes, and
guarantee cent-percent immunity from the dreadful repetition of birth and
death.
40.
This Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of God, and it is compiled
by Srila Vyasadeva, the incarnation of God. It is meant for the ultimate good
of all people, and it is all-successful, all-blissful and all-perfect.
41.
Sri Vyasadeva delivered it to his son, who is the most respected among the
self-realized, after extracting the cream of all Vedic literatures and
histories of the universe.
42.
Sukadeva Gosvami, the son of Vyasadeva, in his turn delivered the Bhagavatam to
the great Emperor Pariksit, who sat surrounded by sages on the bank of the
Ganges, awaiting death without taking food or drink.
43.
This Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after
the departure of Lord Krsna to His own abode, accompanied by religion,
knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of
ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purana.
44.
O learned brahmanas, when Sukadeva Gosvami recited Bhagavatam there [in the
presence of Emperor Pariksit], I heard him with rapt attention, and thus, by
his mercy, I learned the Bhagavatam from that great and powerful sage. Now I
shall try to make you hear the very same thing as I learned it from him and as
I have realized it.
Chapter Four The Appearance of Sri Narada
1.
On hearing Suta Gosvami speak thus, Saunaka Muni, who was the elderly, learned
leader of all the rsis engaged in that prolonged sacrificial ceremony,
congratulated Suta Gosvami by addressing him as follows.
2.
Saunaka said: O Suta Gosvami, you are the most fortunate and respected of all
those who can speak and recite. Please relate the pious message of
Srimad-Bhagavatam, which was spoken by the great and powerful sage Sukadeva
Gosvami.
3.
In what period and at what place was this first begun, and why was this taken
up? From where did Krsna-dvaipayana Vyasa, the great sage, get the inspiration
to compile this literature?
4.
His [Vyasadeva's] son was a great devotee, an equibalanced monist, whose mind
was always concentrated in monism. He was transcendental to mundane activities,
but being unexposed, he appeared like an ignorant person.
5.
While Sri Vyasadeva was following his son, beautiful young damsels who were
bathing naked covered their bodies with cloth, although Sri Vyasadeva himself
was not naked. But they had not done so when his son had passed. The sage
inquired about this, and the young ladies replied that his son was purified and
when looking at them made no distinction between male and female. But the sage
made such distinctions.
6.
How was he [Srila Sukadeva, the son of Vyasa] recognized by the citizens when
he entered the city of Hastinapura [now Delhi], after wandering in the
provinces of Kuru and Jangala, appearing like a madman, dumb and retarded?
7.
How did it so happen that King Pariksit met this great sage, making it possible
for this great transcendental essence of the Vedas [Bhagavatam] to be sung to
him?
8.
He [Sukadeva Gosvami] was accustomed to stay at the door of a householder only
long enough for a cow to be milked. And he did this just to sanctify the
residence.
9.
It is said that Maharaja Pariksit is a great first-class devotee of the Lord
and that his birth and activities are all wonderful. Please tell us about him.
10.
He was a great emperor and possessed all the opulences of his acquired kingdom.
He was so exalted that he was increasing the prestige of the Pandu dynasty. Why
did he give up everything to sit down on the bank of the Ganges and fast until
death?
11.
He was such a great emperor that all his enemies would come and bow down at his
feet and surrender all their wealth for their own benefit. He was full of youth
and strength, and he possessed insuperable kingly opulences. Why did he want to
give up everything, including his life?
12.
Those who are devoted to the cause of the Personality of Godhead live only for
the welfare, development and happiness of others. They do not live for any
selfish interest. So even though the Emperor [Pariksit] was free from all
attachment to worldly possessions, how could he give up his mortal body, which
was shelter for others?
13.
We know that you are expert in the meaning of all subjects, except some
portions of the Vedas, and thus you can clearly explain the answers to all the
questions we have just put to you.
14.
Suta Gosvami said: When the second millennium overlapped the third, the great
sage [Vyasadeva] was born to Parasara in the womb of Satyavati, the daughter of
Vasu.
15.
Once upon a time he [Vyasadeva], as the sun rose, took his morning ablution in
the waters of the Sarasvati and sat alone to concentrate.
16.
The great sage Vyasadeva saw anomalies in the duties of the millennium. This
happens on the earth in different ages, due to unseen forces in the course of
time.
17-18.
The great sage, who was fully equipped in knowledge, could see, through his
transcendental vision, the deterioration of everything material, due to the
influence of the age. He could also see that the faithless people in general
would be reduced in duration of life and would be impatient due to lack of
goodness. Thus he contemplated for the welfare of men in all statuses and
orders of life.
19.
He saw that the sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas were means by which the
people's occupations could be purified. And to simplify the process he divided
the one Veda into four, in order to expand them among men.
20.
The four divisions of the original sources of knowledge [the Vedas] were made
separately. But the historical facts and authentic stories mentioned in the
Puranas are called the fifth Veda.
21.
After the Vedas were divided into four divisions, Paila Rsi became the
professor of the Rg Veda, Jaimini the professor of the Sama Veda, and
Vaisampayana alone became glorified by the Yajur Veda.
22.
The Sumantu Muni Angira, who was very devotedly engaged, was entrusted with the
Atharva Veda. And my father, Romaharsana, was entrusted with the Puranas and
historical records.
23.
All these learned scholars, in their turn, rendered their entrusted Vedas unto
their many disciples, grand-disciples and great grand-disciples, and thus the
respective branches of the followers of the Vedas came into being.
24.
Thus the great sage Vyasadeva, who is very kind to the ignorant masses, edited
the Vedas so they might be assimilated by less intellectual men.
25.
Out of compassion, the great sage thought it wise that this would enable men to
achieve the ultimate goal of life. Thus he compiled the great historical
narration called the Mahabharata for women, laborers and friends of the
twice-born.
26.
O twice-born brahmanas, still his mind was not satisfied, although he engaged
himself in working for the total welfare of all people.
27.
Thus the sage, being dissatisfied at heart, at once began to reflect, because
he knew the essence of religion, and he said within himself:
28-29.
I have, under strict disciplinary vows, unpretentiously worshiped the Vedas,
the spiritual master and the altar of sacrifice. I have also abided by the
rulings and have shown the import of disciplic succession through the
explanation of the Mahabharata, by which even women, sudras and others [friends
of the twice-born] can see the path of religion.
30.
I am feeling incomplete, though I myself am fully equipped with everything
required by the Vedas.
31.
This may be because I did not specifically point out the devotional service of
the Lord, which is dear both to perfect beings and to the infallible Lord.
32.
As mentioned before, Narada reached the cottage of Krsnadvaipayana Vyasa on the
banks of the Sarasvati just as Vyasadeva was regretting his defects.
33.
At the auspicious arrival of Sri Narada, Sri Vyasadeva got up respectfully and
worshiped him, giving him veneration equal to that given to Brahmaji, the
creator.
Chapter Five Narada's Instructions on Srimad-Bhagavatam for Vyasadeva
1.
Suta Gosvami said: Thus the sage amongst the gods [Narada], comfortably seated
and apparently smiling, addressed the rsi amongst the brahmanas [Vedavyasa].
2.
Addressing Vyasadeva, the son of Parasara, Narada inquired: Are you satisfied
by identifying with the body or the mind as objects of self-realization?
3.
Your inquiries were full and your studies were also well fulfilled, and there
is no doubt that you have prepared a great and wonderful work, the Mahabharata,
which is full of all kinds of Vedic sequences elaborately explained.
4.
You have fully delineated the subject of impersonal Brahman as well as the
knowledge derived therefrom. Why should you be despondent in spite of all this,
thinking that you are undone, my dear prabhu?
5.
Sri Vyasadeva said: All you have said about me is perfectly correct. Despite
all this, I am not pacified. I therefore question you about the root cause of
my dissatisfaction, for you are a man of unlimited knowledge due to your being
the offspring of one [Brahma] who is self-born [without mundane father and
mother].
6.
My lord! Everything that is mysterious is known to you because you worship the
creator and destroyer of the material world and the maintainer of the spiritual
world, the original Personality of Godhead, who is transcendental to the three
modes of material nature.
7.
Like the sun, Your Goodness can travel everywhere in the three worlds, and like
the air you can penetrate the internal region of everyone. As such, you are as
good as the all-pervasive Supersoul. Please, therefore, find out the deficiency
in me, despite my being absorbed in transcendence under disciplinary
regulations and vows.
8.
Sri Narada said: You have not actually broadcast the sublime and spotless
glories of the Personality of Godhead. That philosophy which does not satisfy
the transcendental senses of the Lord is considered worthless.
9.
Although, great sage, you have very broadly described the four principles
beginning with religious performances, you have not described the glories of
the Supreme Personality, Vasudeva.
10.
Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can
sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by saintly
persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows. Since the all-perfect
persons are inhabitants of the transcendental abode, they do not derive any
pleasure there.
11.
On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the
transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the
unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words
directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this
world's misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though
imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are
thoroughly honest.
12.
Knowledge of self-realization, even though free from all material affinity,
does not look well if devoid of a conception of the Infallible [God]. What,
then, is the use of fruitive activities, which are naturally painful from the
very beginning and transient by nature, if they are not utilized for the
devotional service of the Lord?
13.
O Vyasadeva, your vision is completely perfect. Your good fame is spotless. You
are firm in vow and situated in truthfulness. And thus you can think of the
pastimes of the Lord in trance for the liberation of the people in general from
all material bondage.
14.
Whatever you desire to describe that is separate in vision from the Lord simply
reacts, with different forms, names and results, to agitate the mind as the
wind agitates a boat which has no resting place.
15.
The people in general are naturally inclined to enjoy, and you have encouraged
them in that way in the name of religion. This is verily condemned and is quite
unreasonable. Because they are guided under your instructions, they will accept
such activities in the name of religion and will hardly care for prohibitions.
16.
The Supreme Lord is unlimited. Only a very expert personality, retired from the
activities of material happiness, deserves to understand this knowledge of
spiritual values. Therefore those who are not so well situated, due to material
attachment, should be shown the ways of transcendental realization, by Your
Goodness, through descriptions of the transcendental activities of the Supreme
Lord.
17.
One who has forsaken his material occupations to engage in the devotional
service of the Lord may sometimes fall down while in an immature stage, yet
there is no danger of his being unsuccessful. On the other hand, a nondevotee,
though fully engaged in occupational duties, does not gain anything.
18.
Persons who are actually intelligent and philosophically inclined should
endeavor only for that purposeful end which is not obtainable even by wandering
from the topmost planet [Brahmaloka] down to the lowest planet [Patala]. As far
as happiness derived from sense enjoyment is concerned, it can be obtained
automatically in course of time, just as in course of time we obtain miseries
even though we do not desire them.
19.
My dear Vyasa, even though a devotee of Lord Krsna sometimes falls down somehow
or other, he certainly does not undergo material existence like others
[fruitive workers, etc.] because a person who has once relished the taste of
the lotus feet of the Lord can do nothing but remember that ecstasy again and
again.
20.
The Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead is Himself this cosmos, and still He is
aloof from it. From Him only has this cosmic manifestation emanated, in Him it
rests, and unto Him it enters after annihilation. Your good self knows all
about this. I have given only a synopsis.
21.
Your Goodness has perfect vision. You yourself can know the Supersoul
Personality of Godhead because you are present as the plenary portion of the
Lord. Although you are birthless, you have appeared on this earth for the
well-being of all people. Please, therefore, describe the transcendental
pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna more vividly.
22.
Learned circles have positively concluded that the infallible purpose of the
advancement of knowledge, namely austerities, study of the Vedas, sacrifice,
chanting of hymns and charity, culminates in the transcendental descriptions of
the Lord, who is defined in choice poetry.
23.
O muni, in the last millennium I was born as the son of a certain maidservant
engaged in the service of brahmanas who were following the principles of
Vedanta. When they were living together during the four months of the rainy
season, I was engaged in their personal service.
24.
Although they were impartial by nature, those followers of the Vedanta blessed
me with their causeless mercy. As far as I was concerned, I was self-controlled
and had no attachment for sports, even though I was a boy. In addition, I was
not naughty, and I did not speak more than required.
25.
Once only, by their permission, I took the remnants of their food, and by so
doing all my sins were at once eradicated. Thus being engaged, I became
purified in heart, and at that time the very nature of the transcendentalist
became attractive to me.
26.
O Vyasadeva, in that association and by the mercy of those great Vedantists, I
could hear them describe the attractive activities of Lord Krsna And thus
listening attentively, my taste for hearing of the Personality of Godhead
increased at every step.
27.
O great sage, as soon as I got a taste for the Personality of Godhead, my
attention to hear of the Lord was unflinching. And as my taste developed, I
could realize that it was only in my ignorance that I had accepted gross and
subtle coverings, for both the Lord and I are transcendental.
28.
Thus during two seasons--the rainy season and autumn--I had the opportunity to
hear these great-souled sages constantly chant the unadulterated glories of the
Lord Hari. As the flow of my devotional service began, the coverings of the
modes of passion and ignorance vanished.
29.
I was very much attached to those sages. I was gentle in behavior, and all my
sins were eradicated in their service. In my heart I had strong faith in them.
I had subjugated the senses, and I was strictly following them with body and
mind.
30.
As they were leaving, those bhakti-vedantas, who are very kind to poor-hearted
souls, instructed me in that most confidential subject which is instructed by
the Personality of Godhead Himself.
31.
By that confidential knowledge, I could understand clearly the influence of the
energy of Lord Sri Krsna, the creator, maintainer and annihilator of | 