Introduction to the study of the Srimad Bhagavatam 1 of 3

In this lecture, Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa translates from Sanskrit the Srimad Bhagavatam verse located in the Canto 2, Chapter 1, Verse 1 to 4 and he elaborates on it. In his class, he also includes the translation and explanation of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura's purport on the same verse.

Srimad Bhagavatam: 5000 years ago, after Lord Krishna's departure for the spiritual world, Srila Vysadeva had a vision of the future society. He saw the world sunk on the depths of ignorance and spiritual bankruptcy, as we are now experiencing. Feeling concern for the welfare of humanity Vyasadeva recorded the Vedas, which up to that time has been passed down from guru to disciple by oral tradition. He compiled the Puranas and Mahabharata especially for the people of the current age.
Still, even after compiling the many voluminous works of Vedic knowledge, Vyasa was dissatisfied. He felt something lacking. While in this dejected spirit, his spiritual master, Sri Narada Muni, came to him and pointed out that although Vyasa had performed a great labour by compiling the Vedas, he had encouraged people to progress by fruitive activity, speculative knowledge and mystic yoga. Nowhere had he explained in a direct and systematic manner the glories of pure devotional service to the Lord, which is the topmost method of elevation. Narada told Vyasa that if he would compile a work giving exclusive attention to the glories of the unlimited Supreme Personality of Godhead in an uncompromising manner, that would relieve his distress.
Srila Vyasa, determined to fulfill the order of his spiritual master, sat in trance of devotion and fully realized the Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, along with His multifarious potencies and activities. Based on this direct experience he composed his final literary masterpiece, the Srimad Bhagavatam. As kavya, poetic literature, is a superb accomplishment. As a work of philosophy, it is unsurpassed. One finds that all the philosophies and religious systems of the world are reconciled in the eighteen thousand verses of the Bhagavatam. The essence of all Vedic wisdom is in this final composition of Veda Vyasa, who is de literary incarnation of God. Hence, Srimad Bhagavatam is glorified as the ripened fruit of the tree of Vedic Knowledge and the representative of God in book form.

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura (1630-1708): A great devotee of Lord Krishna in the line of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu who spent most of his life in Vrindavana and wrote much devotional literature.

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Education

Tags:

• soul
• bhagavatam
• satya
• narayana
• dasa
• yoga
• krishna
• bhakti