Mokñadä Ekädaçé Issue no: 1

2nd December 2014

“O Ye, who are deeply merged in the knowledge of the love of God and also in deep thought about
it, constantly drink, even after your emancipation, the most tasteful juice of the Çrémad-Bhägav-
atam, come on earth through Sri Sukadeva Gosvami’s mouth carrying the liquid nectar out of the
fallen and, as such, very ripe fruit of the Vedic tree which supplies all with their desired objects.”
— Bhaktivinode Thakur's translation, Çrémad-Bhägvatam,1.1.2

Features
THE ONLY QUALIFICATION
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TWO EDITIONS OF ÇRÉMAD-BHÄGVATAM

Srila Jiva Goswami

THE ONENESS OF LORD KRISHNA AND BHAGAVATAM

Padma Purana, Uttar Khand

ÇRÉMAD-BHÄGVATAM: TO GET RID OF PREJUDICES

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur

THE PROPER METHOD OF RECEIVING ÇRÉMAD-BHÄGVATAM

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

NO OTHER BOOK LIKE THE BHAGAVATA

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
 Issue no 1, Page — 2 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
Srila Jiva Goswami explains in Tattva Sandharbha that
this is not the case. Çrémad-Bhägvatam appeared first
to Srila Vyasa in a concise and subtle form, as one of the
eighteen Puräëas. Srila Vyasa composed the Vedänta-
sütra on the basis of this first edition of the Bhägavatam.
Later, when He sat in trance in pursuance of Närada
Muni’s order, the expanded form of Çrémad-Bhägvatam
was revealed to Him as the natural commentary on the
Vedänta-sütra. Çrémad-Bhägvatam and the Vedänta-
sütra share the same subject, the Absolute Truth, and
they describe the same principles of sambandha (the
relationship between the soul and God), abhidheya (the
process of attaining the supreme goal), and prayojana
(the supreme goal, perfect devotion to the Lord). Many
äcäryas and scholars wrote later commentaries on the
Vedänta-sütra, but only those that agree with Çrémad-
Bhägvatam—such as those given by Ramanujacarya,
THE ONLY QUALIFICATION Madhvacarya, and Baladeva Vidyabhusana—are bona
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta
fide.
Swami Prabhupada
Suta Goswami alludes to Veda-vyasa’s composing two
Çrémad-Bhägvatam begins with the definition of the
ultimate source. It is a bona fide commentary on the editions of Çrémad-Bhägvatam:
Vedänta-sütra by the same author, Srila Vyäsadeva, and sa saàhitäà bhägavatéà
gradually it develops into nine cantos up to the highest kåtvän ukram ya cätma-jam
state of God realization. The only qualification one needs çukam adhyäpayäm äsa
to study this great book of transcendental knowledge
is to proceed step by step cautiously and not jump for- nivåtti-nirataà muniù
ward haphazardly like with an ordinary book. It should “The great sage Vyasadeva, after compiling Çrémad-
be gone through chapter by chapter, one after another. Bhägvatam and revising it, taught it to His own son,
The reading matter is so arranged so that one is sure to Sri Sukadeva Goswami, who was already absorbed in
become a God-realized soul at the end of finishing the self-realization”
first nine cantos.
—Srimad Bhägavatam1.7.8.
The Tenth Canto is distinct from the first nine
cantos because it deals directly with the transcendental
activities of the Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna. One
will be unable to capture the effects of the Tenth Canto
without going through the first nine cantos. The book is
complete in twelve cantos, each independent, but it is
good for all to read them in small installments one after
another.
—Preface to Çrémad-Bhägvatam, December 15, 1962 ·

TWO EDITIONS OF ÇRIMAD-BHÄGVATAM

Srila Jiva Goswami

Çrémad-Bhägvatam is one of the eighteen Puräëas,

but Srila Vyasdeva wrote it after compiling the essence
of the Vedas in the Vedänta-sütra and also composing
the Mahäbhärata and Puräëas. But, one might ask, if
the eighteen Puräëas had already been compiled, does
this make Çrémad-Bhägvatam the nineteenth Puräëa? Srila Jiva Goswami
nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Top right 2
Issue no 1, Page — 3
Commenting on this verse, Srila Visvanatha Cakravaté
Thakura writes, atastadaivapürva-nirmitasyaivaçré-
bhägavatasy änukramaëam: “The word anukramya in
this verse means that Veda-vyasa compiled a new edition
of the already existing Çrémad-Bhägvatam.”
—Tattva Sandharbha, translation by Satya Narayan Das,
Printed at ISKCON Vrindavan, 1995 ·

THE ONENESS OF LORD KRISHNA

AND BHAGAVATAM
Padma Purana, Uttar Khand

pädau yadéyau prathama-dvitéyau

tåtéya-turyau kathitau yad-ürü
näbhis tathä païcama eva ñañöho
bhujäntaraà dor-yugalaà tathänyau
kaëöhas tu räjan navamo yadéyo
mukhäravindaà daçamaà praphullam
ekädaço yaç ca laläöa-paööaà
ÇRÉMAD-BHÄGVATAM:
çiro ’pi yad dvädaça eva bhäti
TO GET RID OF PREJUDICES
“The Bhägvatam’s First and Second Cantos are Lord Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur
Krishna’s feet, and the Third and Fourth Cantos are His When we were in the college, reading
philosophical works of the West, and exchanging
thighs. The Fifth Canto is His navel, the Sixth Canto is His
thoughts with the thinkers of the day, we had a
chest, and the Seventh and Eighth Cantos are His arms. real hatred toward Çrémad-Bhägvatam. The great
The Ninth Canto is His throat, the Tenth His blooming lotus work looked like a collection of wicked and stupid
face, the Eleventh His forehead, and the Twelfth His head. ideas, scarcely adapted to the 19th century, and
we hated to hear any arguments in its favor. Then,
namämi devaà karuëä-nidhänaà
the volumes of Channing, Parker, Emerson, and
tamäla-varëaà suhitävatäram Newman had more weight than all the Vaishnava
books. Greedily we poured over the various
apära-saàsära-samudra-setuà
commentaries of the Bible and of the labors of the
bhajämahe bhägavata-svarüpam TattvaBodhini Sabha, which contained extracts
from the Upanisads and the Vedänta but no work
“I bow down to that Lord, the ocean of mercy, whose of the Vaishnavas had any favor with us.
color is like that of a tamala tree and who appears in this When we advanced in age and our
world for the welfare of all. I worship Him as the bridge religious sentiment developed, we turned to our
own belief and prayed, as Jesus prayed in the
for crossing the unfathomable ocean of material existence
garden. Accidentally, we came across a book about
Çrémad-Bhägvatam has appeared as His very self. the great Chaitanya and on reading it with some
attention to settle the historical position of that
Mighty Genius of Nadia, we had the opportunity
of gathering His explanation of Bhägvata-puräëa,
given to the wrangling Vedantists of the Benares
school.The accidental study created within us
a love for all the works that we find about our
Eastern Savior. With difficulty, we gathered the
famous Karchas (diaries) in Sanskrit, written by
 Issue no 1, Page — 4
Top left 3
top right 3
nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
in the heart of the devotee immediately. Lord
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended the
Çrémad-Bhägvatam as the spotless Puräëa and
distinguishes it from all other Puräëas.
The proper method for receiving this
transcendental message is to hear it submissively.
A challenging attitude cannot help one realize
this transcendental message. One particular word
is used herein for proper guidance. This word
is çuçrüñu. One must be anxious to hear this
transcendental message. The desire to sincerely
hear is the first qualification.
Less fortunate persons are not at all
interested in hearing this Çrémad-Bhägvatam.
The process is simple, but the application is
difficult. Unfortunate people find enough time to
hear idle social and political conversations, but
when invited to attend a meeting of devotees to
the disciple of Chaitanya. hear Çrémad-Bhägvatam they suddenly become
reluctant. Sometimes professional readers of
The explanations of Bhägavata that we
the Bhägavatam immediately plunge into
got from these sources were of such a charming
the confidential topics of the pastimes of the
character that we secured a copy of the complete
Supreme Lord, which they seemingly interpret
Çrémad-Bhägvatam. We studied its texts (difficult
as sex literature. Çrémad-Bhägvatam is meant
of course for those not trained in philosophical
to be heard from the beginning. Those who are
thoughts) with the assistance of the famous
fit to assimilate this work are mentioned in this
commentaries of Sridhara Swami. From such
sloka: “One becomes qualified to hear Çrémad-
study, we have gathered the real doctrines of
Bhägvatam after many pious deeds.” The
the Vaishnavas. Oh! What a trouble to get rid of
intelligent person, with thoughtful discretion, can
prejudices gathered in unripe years.
—From the Bhagavata: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics, and Its
be assured by the great sage Vyasadeva that he
can realize the Supreme Personality directly by
Theology ·
hearing Çrémad-Bhägvatam. Without undergoing
the different stages of realization set forth in
THE PROPER METHOD OF RECEIVING
the Vedas, one can be lifted immediately to the
ÇRÉMAD-BHÄGVATAM position of paramhaàsa simply by agreeing to
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami receive this message.
Prabhupada
— Purport, Çrémad-Bhägvatam, 1.1.2. ·
Çrémad-Bhägvatam is a personal commentation
on the Vedänta-sütra by Srila Vyasadeva It
was written in the maturity of his spiritual life NO OTHER BOOK LIKE THE BHAGAVATA
through the mercy of Narada. Srila Vyasadeva Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati
is the authorized incarnation of Narayana, the Thakur Prabhupada
Personality of Godhead. Therefore, there is no One will not attain salvation by studying Vedänta
question as to his authority. He is the author of for many crores of years. No good will come out
all other Vedic literatures, yet he recommends the of squeezing the nose (for yoga practice) for
study of Çrémad-Bhägvatam above all others. In eternity, even if one acquires thereby the power to
other Puräëas there are different methods set rise into the sky to a height of ten or twenty cubits.
forth by which one can worship the demigods. True well being will be available to the people of
But in the Bhägavatam only the Supreme Lord the world only if they listen to the discourse on
is mentioned. The Supreme Lord is the total Bhägavata from one who is himself a Bhägavata,
body, and the demigods are the different parts leading the practical life of a true devotee without
of that body. Consequently, by worshiping the maintaining the slightest attachment for the life of
Supreme Lord, one does not need to worship a karmi or the life of a monistic jnani. Even if all
the demigods. The Supreme Lord becomes fixed of the books of the world are to be burned there
nityaà
Top left 4
bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 1, Page — 5
according to the Sri Chaitanya-caritamrta they
only misconstrue and cover the true meaning.
Their elucidation may please the mind of their
readers, but they only make the way to hell easier
to access for themselves and their admirers.
As defined in its third shloka, Çrémad-
Bhägvatam is the succulent fruit of the kalpataru,
desire-yielding tree, of the Vedas. Non-devotees
crave for dharma, artha, käma and mokña. The
mental determination of those whose desires
for enjoyment or emancipation have been set at
rest and who have passed beyond the realm of
mental speculation is not after such insipid or
unsavory things. Enjoyment hunters and those
who perform rituals for worldly well-being are
after deteriorated unsavory tastes, while monists
would be no harm provided one treatise was left of the non-distinct conception aspire after
– the Çrémad-Bhägvatam. Even if thousands of insipid tasteless realization. The Bhägvatam.
learning centers were to be abolished, there would does not produce fruits of bad taste, nor does it
be no feeling of inconvenience provided the reading produce tasteless ones. It can be fully traced in
and teaching of the Çrémad-Bhägvatam continued. the Bhägvatam how the distinction between
But what a wonder! What irony! This book of books the inner thoughts of the viñaya, the recipient
has been converted into a commodity for trafficking! of service, and the äçraya, the giver of service
The course the world is taking is just the opposite of undergoes gradual development as the äçraya’s
the teaching Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave. consciousness evolves through the various stages
There’s no other book like the Çrémad- of being covered, shrunken, budding, slightly
Bhägvatam. This is not mere tittle-tattle or an blossoming, and fully blossoming.
exaggerated homage. If one reflects on it as a Those who have fully surpassed the
truly impartial judge, one will realize that there various levels of material consciousness and have
has not been, nor will there ever be, a book like reached the stage of transcendental excellence
the Bhägavatam. This book presents a gradual wherein their hearts have been illuminated with
evolution of conceptions of the absolute, from better the mode of goodness are competent to taste this
to better, of non-existent, denied, attributeless, ripen fruit, the Çrémad-Bhägvatam. Only they
neuter, masculine, couple, consort by marriage, and are fit to receive the sweet mellow of divine love,
lastly paramour. Sri Krishna’s sports are described and only they are permanently possessed of the
in the tenth canto. What then is the necessity of the purest ecstatic mood. This fruit is succulent –- it
preceding nine cantos? In them has been shown, has nothing solid in it such has skin, stone, fibres
the deliberation of these conceptions to prepare and other parts that are fit to be abandoned.
the ground for introducing the main subject –- the The books on topics of material enjoyment such
description of Krishna’s transcendental sportive as hunting, karma, jïäna, yoga, or devotion
dalliances with the gopis of Vraja, in the Gopi-gita, mixed with these things are full of useless
etc., of the tenth canto. There were many who elements. However, in the Çrémad-Bhägvatam
had read the Çrémad-Bhägvatam before Chaitanya there are no such despicable elements. Its sweet
Mahaprabhu came into this world. However, the real succulent mellow is always relishable, even
after liberation. And the truly liberated souls
purport and actual object of the Çrémad-Bhägvatam
are those who relish the Çrémad-Bhägvatam.
is only comprehensible to those who have read
it after reading the Sri Chaitanya-caritamrta. Sri —From Sri Chaitanyas teachings, Edited by Sri Bhakti
Vilas Tirtha Goswami Maharaja, Sree Gaudiya Matha,
Chaitanya-caritamrta was written by Sri Krishnadas
Kaviraj Goswami, one of the chief followers of the Madras.·
line of Sri Rupa Goswami. These persons have read To subscribe for this fortnightly edition of
the Çrémad-Bhägvatam inside of the Caritamrta.
The unrefined ease-loving people who pretend to
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be vaisanavas may read the Çrémad-Bhägvatam, [email protected]
and the mercenary discoursers may explain it –- but