Bhagavan Sri Krishna becomes immediately captured in the heart of anyone who hears the Srimad Bhagavatamm. This does not happen with other spiritual books
Vrindavan, 2020-08-08 (Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das): Srimad Bhagavatamm is known as the “king of all spiritual books” (Grantha Raja) for good reason. Within this divinely immaculate, tri-guna-free, spiritual sastra, the amala purana, one will find all the sweet, majestic and beautiful truths about the sadhana and sadhya (daily practices and final goal) of Gaudiya Vaisnavism.
In the most wonderful sastra, Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja has mercifully summarized the teachings of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the six Goswamis of Vrindavan. To prove these truths, he cites key Bhagavatamm verses throughout his treatise, which the Goswamis themselves have also discussed in their voluminous works.
To highlight its importance for all devotees of Sri Caitanya deva and Radha-GovindaYugala, the same Bhagavatamm verse is quoted once, twice or even four times in the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta.
With the grace of Sri Advaita Prabhu, Sri Guru and the Vaisnavas, the “Beautiful Truths of Bhagavatam” series will focus on these Bhagavatamm verses which clearly reveal the absolute truth about Sri Krishna, Sri Radha, Sri Guru, the Vaisnavas, Bhakti Sadhana, Sri Harinama and Krishna Prema.
By citing key verses and selected commentaries, this post discusses the identity, power and uniquely supreme position of the Srimad Bhagavatamm, the crown jewel of all transcendental tomes. Sincere sadhakas should learn and reflect upon these verses.
Absorbing, and implementing these truths will strengthen your faith, expand your joy, and double your enthusiasm to love, serve and respect all the humble servants of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.
Why Bhagavatamm is the Best Scripture?
dharmaḥ -projjhita-kaitavo ’tra, paramo -nirmatsarāṇāṁ -satāṁ
vedyaṁ –vāstavam- atra- vastu, śivadaṁ -tāpa-trayon-mūlanam
śrīmad-bhāgavate- mahā-muni, kṛte -kiṁ -vā –parair- īśvaraḥ
sadyo- hṛdyava-rudhyate ’tra, kṛtibhiḥ- śuśrū-ṣubhis- tat-kṣaṇāt
Bhagavan Sri Krishna becomes immediately captured in the heart of anyone who hears the Srimad Bhagavatamm. This does not happen with other spiritual books. The Bhāgavatam alone, manifested by the Sri Krishna Himself, presents the true and permanent objective of human life which can be understood by unselfish persons.
“The Srimad Bhagavatamm bestows auspiciousness everywhere and frees one from the miseries of material existence. Only the Bhagavatamm teaches the process of attaining that highest objective of life which is completely devoid of all material goals and liberation.” (SB 1.1.2; Cc. 1.1.191, 2.24.100, 2.25.149)
Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada tika: By illustrating what is beneficial and unbeneficial for the jīva, the Bhagavatam gives bliss to all the listeners and enables everyone to fully achieve the highest objective of human life. Simply by hearing/reading the Bhagavatam, Sri Krishna (īśvaraḥ), the shelter of everything, is immediately captured (avarudhyate) in one’s heart.
Even without faith, as soon as one hears Bhagavatam, Sri Krishna enters the heart. Besides that, Sri Krishna becomes very happy and filled with prema when one hears the Bhagavatam. Repetition of the Sanskrit word atra (line 1 & 3) stresses that this benefit is not attained by any other scripture or other spiritual practice (kiṁ –vā- paraiḥ).
What happens when one understands the teachings of the Bhagavatam? It gives the topmost auspiciousness (śivadam) by making one an eternal premi bhakta of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, and liberating one from the material world.
Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada ki jai! Srimad Bhagavatam ki jai!
Bhagavatam is the Rasa Nectar Essence of Vedanta
sarva-vedānta-sāraṁ -hi, śrīmad-bhāgavatam- iṣyate
tad-rasāmṛta-tṛptasyā, nānyatra- syād- ratiḥ- kvacit
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is accepted as the essence of all Vedanta. One who experiences satisfaction from tasting the nectar sweet rasas of the Bhagavatam is never attracted to any other literature. (SB 12.13.15/ CC 2.25.146)
Sri Jiva Goswami tika: Bhāgavatam is the form of pure rasa, the fruit on the desire tree situated in Goloka Vrndavana. (Krama Sandarbha 1.1.4-4)
Ten Subjects Make the Bhagavatam a Maha Purana
Atra- sargo- visargaś- ca, sthānaṁ –poṣaṇam-ūtayaḥ
manvantare-śānukathā, nirodho –muktir- āśrayaḥ
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam describes ten subjects:
(1) Sarga: Creation.
(2) Visarga: Secondary creation.
(3) Sthāna: Protection.
(4) Poṣaṇa: Mercy of Bhagavan Vishnu/Krishna
(5) Ūti: Material activity.
(6) Manvantara: Conduct of the Manus.
(7) Iśānukathā: Lilas of Bhagavan’s various descents.
(8) Nirodha: Destruction of the universe.
(9) Mukti: Liberation.
(10) Āśraya: Shelter of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.
Comment: Bhagavan Sri Krishna is the one and only ultimate shelter of everything. The topics of Bhagavan Sri Krishna are primary, giving shelter to all others. (SB 2.10.1.2/CC Ādi 2.91)
jayatijana-nivāso, devakī-janma-vādo
yadu-vara-pariṣat- svair, dorbhir- asyann -adharmam
sthira-cara-vṛjina-ghnaḥ, su-smita-śrī-mukhena
vraja-pura-vanitānāṁ, vardhayan- kāma-devam
“Bhagavan Sri Krishna is the ultimate resort of all living entities. Sri Krishna is known as Devakinandana and Yasodananda. Sri Krishna is the guide of the Yadu dynasty. With His powerful arms, Sri Krishna destroys all impious men and everything that is inauspicious. Sri Krishna’s blissful smiling face always increases the amorous desires of the Vraja gopis. May Sri Krishna be happy and completely glorious.” (SB 10.90.48/CC Mad 13.79)
Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada tika: If someone says, ‘Alas! Alas! What misfortune that Krishna did not continue to manifest His intimate pastimes down to the present time.’ To console such persons, Suka Muni composed this beautiful verse to conclude Krishna’s lilas.
The phrase jana-nivasa means that Syamasundara Sri Krishna and all His intimate associates in nara-lila are living right now on the earth planet. The word jayati, “Krishna is eternally victorious”, is in present tense, which means that Sri Krishna is eternally present in the divine dhama of Vrndavan; in His divine names; and in the recitation of His glories.
The phrase kāma-devam means that Krishna is the brilliantly effulgent transcendental embodiment of spiritual desire and amorous love. With His blissful smiling face Sri Krishna forever increases the divine amorous desires (vardhayan- kāma-devam) of the damsels of Vraja and the cultured ladies of Mathurā and Dvārakā, who are completely attracted to Krishna.
Thus, with this verse, Suka Muni establishes that all of Krishna’s lilas described in the Tenth Canto i.e. Vraja, Mathurā and Dvārakā are all eternal!
Srimad Bhagavatam ki jai! Seeing Krishna lilas with prema locana ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!
