Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Glories of Srimad-Bhagavatam-Mahatmya (New-2003)
Srimad-Bhagavatam-Mahatmya (New-2003)
1. Sandilya Muni Describes Vrajabhumi
2. Parikshit and Krishna's Wives, while Chanting the Glories of the Lord, met Uddhava
3. The Glories of Srimad-Bhagavatam, The Speaker and the Hearer�s Attainment of the Supreme Abode
4. The Characteristics of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the Symptoms of the Speaker and the Listener, and Establishing the Procedure for Hearing
5. Description of the Results of Hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the Condition of Those Who are Averse to Such Hearing
SBM 1: Sandilya Muni Describes Vrajabhumi
Chapter One
Sandilya Muni Describes Vrajabhumi
Sri Vyasadeva said: In order to relish the mellows of devotional service, we continually offer our obeisances unto Lord Sri Krishna, whose eternal form is full of knowledge and bliss. He is supremely enchanting and the essence of all that is beautiful. He always showers unlimited happiness on the living entities by attracting them with the qualities of His beauty and sweetness. He is the cause of the creation, maintenance, and annihilation of innumerable universes.
The sages of Naimisharanya headed by Saunaka, who are expert in relishing the nectarean topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam, offered obeisances and asked the following question to Sri Suta Gosvami, who possesses all knowledge.
Saunaka said: O best of the sages, after the great King Yudhishthira installed Sri Vajranabha (the grandson of Pradyumna) at Mathura, and Parikshit (his own grandson) at Hastinapura and then left to go back to Godhead, what did King Vajranabha and Maharaja Parikshit do?
Srila Suta Gosvami said: 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 Rishi, the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, and unto Srila Vyasadeva, the author.
O great sages headed by Saunaka, after Yudhishthira went back to Godhead, Maharaja Parikshit, desiring to see Vajranabha, went to Mathura one day.
Vajranabha's heart was filled with affection when he heard that Maharaja Parikshit, who was equal to his own father, was coming to see him. He went out of the city, fell at Maharaja Parikshit's feet, and then brought him to his palace.
The great hero Maharaja Parikshit, who was always absorbed in thoughts of Lord Krishna, lovingly embraced Vajranabha. They entered the inner palace and offered obeisances to Rohini, the chief of Lord Krishna's one hundred and eight wives.
The wives welcomed the King according to custom. Maharaja Parikshit then happily sat on a comfortable seat, and after resting a while he spoke to Vajranabha.
Maharaja Parikshit said: Dear Vajranabha! Your father and grandfather saved my father and grandfather from great dangers. I was also fully protected by your great-grandfather, Lord Krishna. Even if I wanted to repay their kindness, I would never be able to. Therefore I humbly request you to happily engage your subordinates in the affairs of the state. You should never worry about protecting your treasury, expanding your army, or subduing your enemies. Simply engage yourself in the service of your mothers.
Please tell me what is the cause of your distress and rest assured that I will dispel all your troubles.
Hearing Maharaja Parikshit's words, Vajranabha was greatly pleased and he replied:
Maharaja! Whatever you have told me is quite proper. Your father has greatly obliged me by instructing me in the science of archery. Therefore I have not even the slightest worry. By his mercy I have become expert in the military science of the kshatriyas. I have only one problem. Please consider it.
Although I've been installed as the King of Mathura, I feel like I am living in a secluded forest. The happiness of a kingdom is due to the people that live there, and I have no idea where the residents of this place have gone.
Hearing Vajranabha's words, Maharaja Parikshit called for Sandilya Rishi in order to clear Vajranabha's doubts. Sandilya Rishi had previously acted as the priest for Nanda Maharaja and the cowherd men. When Sandilya Rishi received the message from Parikshit Maharaja, he left his asrama and came before the kings. Vajranabha welcomed the best of sages with the proper ceremonies and had sit him on an elevated seat. Parikshit Maharaja told Sandilya Rishi everything that Vajranabha had just said. The sage affectionately comforted them with the following words.
Sandilya Rishi said: Dear Parikshit and Vajranabha! I will tell you the secret of Vrajabhumi. Listen carefully. The meaning of the word �Vraja� is all-pervasive. According to ancient opinions, this land is named Vraja because it is all-pervasive. This land is an all-pervasive spiritual manifestation, situated beyond the three modes of material nature. Therefore this is called Vraja. This land is ever-blissful, effulgent, indestructible, and the abode of liberated souls. Dear kings, in this land of Vraja the self-realized souls and devotees, who relish love of God, constantly experience Krishna, whose form is sac-cid-ananda. Srimati Radhika, the daughter of Maharaja Vrishabhanu, is like the atma of Lord Sri Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaja. She eternally enjoys pastimes with Krishna, and therefore the devotees expert in enjoying transcendental mellows call Krishna atmarama. The meaning of the word kama is desire. In Vraja, Krishna's only desire is to engage in pastimes with the cows, and the cowherd boys and girls. Because He always achieves the fulfillment of this desire, He is called aptakama. These pastimes of the Lord are beyond material nature. Whenever the Lord enjoys His pastimes in this world, even ordinary people are benefited. The creation, maintenance, and annihilation of the material world are carried out respectively by the qualities of passion, goodness, and ignorance. In this way, two types of pastimes of Govinda�transcendental and ordinary�are manifested. His transcendental pastimes are self-evident. This means that these pastimes are relished in Vraja by Sri Krishna, the topmost expert in loving exchanges. The ordinary pastimes consist of delivering the fallen souls and minimizing the burden of the earth in Vraja, Mathura, and Dvaraka. There cannot be ordinary pastimes without transcendental pastimes. Ordinary pastimes have no entrance into the transcendental pastimes. The pastimes experienced by the two of you are ordinary pastimes. The jurisdiction of the ordinary pastimes stretches from this planet up to the heavenly planets, and Mathura-mandala is situated within this planet. The famous Vrajabhumi is situated in this area, and the Lord's confidential pastimes are enacted here. Sometimes these pastimes are manifest to the devotees whose hearts are filled with devotion. At the end of the Dvapara-yuga in the twenty-eighth yuga cycle, when the Lord's associates who are qualified in the conjugal relationship assemble together, the Lord and His intimate associates descend, just as He recently enacted here. In this way the Lord incarnates who He desires to relish His pastimes with His intimate associates. At that time all the demigods and other devotees also incarnate with the Lord.
In these pastimes there were three kinds of devotees present. There is no doubt about it. Of these three kinds of devotees, the first are the Lord's intimate eternal associates, the second are those aspiring to become eternal associates, and the third are the demigods and their expansions whom the Lord has previously already sent to Dvaraka.
Now the demigods who had appeared as Yadavas have been sent by the Lord back to their duties in the heavenly planets through the brahmana's curse in the Lord's mausala-lila. And the Lord awarded spiritual forms to the devotees who aspired to become His eternal associates. The Lord then brought these devotees together with His intimate eternal associates of the vastavi, spiritual pastimes and they thus disappeared from the vision of the ordinary people.
Therefore, common people, who are situated in the vyavaharika pastimes, are unqualified to enter the Lord's eternal pastimes and see the eternal associates of the vastavi pastimes. That is why this place appears to be devoid of people.
Therefore Vajranabha, you should not worry in the least. By following my instructions and establishing many towns here, you will fulfill all your desires. Wherever Lord Krishna has performed His pastimes you should establish towns named after the particular pastime that was performed at that place. In this way you can render very nice service to the transcendental land of Vraja.
Establish your domain at Govardhana, Dirghapura (Deeg), Mathura, Mahavana, Nandagrama (Nandagaon), and Brihatsanu (Varshana). Reside in these pastime sites of Lord Krishna and engage in the service of the rivers, mountains, kundas, lakes, and kunjas of Vraja, for by doing so you will be happy and the citizens of your kingdom will prosper. This eternal, cognizant, blissful land of Vraja should be served by you by all efforts. By my blessings you will properly identify all of the places of Lord Krishna's pastimes. O Vajranabha, by continually serving Vraja in this way, one day you will meet Sri Uddhava. Then he will instruct you and your mothers in the mysteries of Vraja and the pastimes of the Lord.�
After instructing Vajranabha and Parikshit in this way, Sandilya, the best of the rishis, returned to his asrama while remembering Lord Krishna. Parikshit and Vajranabha felt great ecstasy after hearing his instructions.
SBM 2: Parikshit and Krishna's Wives, While Chanting the Glories of the Lord, Met Uddhava
Chapter Two
Parikshit and Krishna's Wives,
While Chanting the Glories
Of the Lord, Met Uddhava
The sages said: O Suta Gosvami, please tell us what Maharaja Parikshit and King Vajranabha did after the best of the munis, Sandilya, returned to his asrama.
Srila Suta Gosvami said: Maharaja Parikshit brought thousands of prominent brahmanas and kshatriyas from Indraprastha and repopulated Mathura.
Maharaja Parikshit gave respect to the brahmanas and monkeys who were already residing there because he understood they are dear to the Lord. With the help of Maharaja Parikshit and by the mercy of Sandilya Rishi, Vajranabha gradually searched out the sites where Krishna had enjoyed pastimes with His beloved cowherd boyfriends and girlfriends. After properly ascertaining the pastime site, he named the site according to the pastime that was performed there. He thus established and named various towns, kundas, wells, kunjas, and gardens, and he established many Siva temples. He established Deities of the Lord such as Govindadeva and Harideva, and his entire kingdom became blissful because devotion to Lord Krishna was preached everywhere. The citizens always engaged in glorifying Lord Krishna and thus merged in an ocean of bliss, they praised the rule of King Vajranabha.
One day, Lord Krishna's sixteen thousand queens, who were suffering due to separation, inquired without envy from their fellow wife, Kalindi, who they saw was happy.
Krishna's Queens said: O beautiful Kalindi! Just as we are all Krishna's wives, so are you. We are all continually burning in the fire of separation and our hearts are distressed with unhappiness due to His absence. But you are not in this condition, you are happy. Why is this? Please tell us the reason.
After understanding the pain of separation felt by her co-wives, Kalindi, with great compassion, smiled and spoke as follows:
Kalindi said: Sri Radhika is the soul of Krishna, who is known as atmarama. I am always engaged in Her service. Due to the influence of this service, the pain of separation could not touch me. All of Krishna's consorts are expansions of Sri Radhika. And because Krishna is always engaged in enjoying with Sri Radhika, all of Krishna's other consorts are automatically being enjoyed by Him. Krishna is nondifferent from Sri Radhika, and Sri Radhika is nondifferent from Krishna. Their love is manifest in the form of Krishna's flute. Sri Candravali Sakhi is a manifestation of the moonlike nails of Sri Krishnacandra. Due to an excessive greed to serve Radha-Krishna, Candravali has not accepted any other form. But I have seen Sri Rukmini and other sakhis situated in Sri Radhika. And you also have never been separated from Krishna, but you are overwhelmed because this mystery is unknown to you. Previously, when Akrura came to Vrindavana, the gopis experienced similar feelings of separation, although actually that was not separation, it was simply a reflection of separation. But when Uddhava came and consoled them, their pain of separation was destroyed. Now if you are able to get the association of Uddhava, then you will also achieve the happiness of eternal pastimes with your beloved Sri Krishna.
Srila Suta Gosvami said: O sages! When Krishna's queens were instructed in this way, they again addressed the ever-blissful Kalindi. At that time they all hankered for some way to meet Uddhava, so that they could all achieve the great fortune of eternal association with their beloved.
Krishna's Queens said: O Sakhi, your life is glorious, because you have never experienced the distress of separation from the Lord of your life. We would also like to become Radha's maidservants, just like you. But, O Kalindi, you have told us that all our desires would be fulfilled by meeting Uddhava, so please tell us how we can meet him.
Srila Suta Gosvami said: After hearing the words of her co-wives, Kalindi remembered Krishna, who possesses sixty-four qualities in full. Just before Lord Krishna returned to His supreme abode, He told His minister Uddhava that Badarikasrama is a suitable place to engage in spiritual activities. Following that instruction, Uddhava stays there and instructs those who visit him in the same knowledge that was taught to him by the Lord. The Lord taught Uddhava about the mysteries of Vraja, where the fruits of spiritual practice are obtained. But since the personification of the fruits of spiritual practice, Lord Krishna, has apparently left this place, Uddhava is also no longer seen here. Being desirous to associate with the dust of Vraja, however, Uddhava is certainly residing near Govardhana at Sakhisthali in the form of a creeper. Uddhava is the personification of Lord Krishna's festivals. Therefore go to Kusuma-sarovara with Vajranabha and organize a festival there. Assemble the Lord's devotees and start a big festival by chanting the Lord's holy names and pastimes accompanied by vinas, flutes, and mridangas.
In this way when the festival expands, Uddhava will certainly appear there. And by his mercy all your desires will be fulfilled.
Srila Suta Gosvami said: After hearing Kalindi speak these words Lord Krishna's queens were greatly pleased. After they offered their respects to Kalindi they went and told Vajranabha and Parikshit everything that they had heard.
After hearing their narration, Maharaja Parikshit was greatly pleased and accompanied them to Kusuma-sarovara and began organizing a festival there. They began a festival of nama sankirtana at Sakhisthali, a short distance from Govardhana. As they glorified Lord Krishna at that place where He always enjoys pastimes with His beloved, the daughter of Vrishabhanu, the place was transformed into an extraordinary scene. They became fully absorbed in glorifying Lord Krishna.
At that time, from amidst the grass, vines, and creepers Sri Uddhava appeared before everyone. His complexion was bluish, and he wore yellow garments. He was decorated with a garland of forest flowers and gunja, and he repeatedly glorified Krishna, the lover of the gopis. Then the beauty of the sankirtana festival increased many times over just as when the moonshine falls on a crystal house. Similarly everyone was merged in an ocean of bliss by his appearance there, and they forgot what they were doing. When they regained their external consciousness, they saw Uddhava, who resembles Lord Krishna, and by worshiping him, they fulfilled all their desires.
SBM 3: The Glories of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the Speaker and the Hearer�s Attainment of the Supreme Abode.
Chapter Three
The Glories of Srimad-Bhagavatam,
The Speaker and the Hearer�s
Attainment of the Supreme Abode.
Srila Suta Gosvami said: Seeing everyone engaged in glorifying Lord Krishna, Sri Uddhava offered his respects and embraced them. He spoke with Maharaja Parikshit.
Sri Uddhava said: O King, you are certainly glorious. Your desire has been fulfilled by your undivided devotional service to Lord Krishna, because your mind is absorbed in this sankirtana festival. It is your great fortune that you have such incomparable affection for Vajranabha and Krishna's queens. This is quite proper because Lord Krishna has given you this body and power. Among the residents of Dvaraka, they are the most glorious. There is no doubt about it. Lord Krishna ordered Arjuna to escort them to Vraja so that they could reside there. Illuminated by the effulgence of Srimati Radharani's face, the moonlike mind of Lord Krishna constantly illuminates Sri Vrindavana, the site of Radha's pastimes. Sri Krishnacandra is eternally complete. Thousands of spiritual sparks oscillate in all directions from His sixty-four qualities. The full moonlike Krishna, who possesses sixty-four prominent qualities, is constantly illuminating this land of Vraja. O King, the right foot of Lord Krishna is the residence of Vajranabha, who destroys the fear of his subordinates. In this incarnation, Lord Sri Krishna has bewildered everyone through Yogamaya. By her influence, they have forgotten their constitutional position and they appear miserable. There is no doubt about it. Without Krishna manifesting in one's heart, no one can realise his constitutional position. Krishna's manifestation within the hearts of the living entities has been covered by Maya. When Lord Hari personally appears at the end of Dvapara-yuga in the twenty-eighth yuga cycle and lifts the covering of Maya, then He becomes manifest. O Maharaja Parikshit, the time of those manifest pastimes has recently ended. Therefore I will now tell you the means of having Krishna manifest within one's heart. When Lord Krishna is unmanifest, He will appear from Srimad-Bhagavatam. Whenever and wherever the devotee Bhagavata hears and recites the book Bhagavata, at that time and at that place Lord Krishna personally appears. Wherever a verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam, or even a half-verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam, is recited, Lord Krishna and His beloved gopis manifest there. After attaining a human birth in the land of Bharata, those who do not hear Srimad-Bhagavatam due to sinful activities are committing suicide. A person who regularly hears or recites Srimad-Bhagavatam delivers the forefathers of his wife, mother, and father.
By studying and hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam, brahmanas are enlightened with knowledge, kshatriyas achieve victory over their enemies, vaisyas acquire wealth, and sudras are freed from disease. Women and lower class people all achieve the fulfillment of their desires. Therefore what fortunate person will not regularly hear and chant the Srimad-Bhagavatam?
After many lifetimes of performing pious activities, when a person achieves full perfection then he obtains the Srimad-Bhagavatam. By reading Srimad-Bhagavatam one's devotional sentiments are awakened and Lord Krishna manifests within the heart.
Long ago, Brihaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, heard the Srimad-Bhagavatam by the mercy of Sankhyayana Rishi, and Brihaspati has narrated the same to me. I was therefore able to become the dear friend of Lord Krishna. O Maharaja Parikshit, Brihaspati has told me one story. Please hear it from me. From this story one can know the method of hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam from the proper authorities.
Brihaspati said: O Uddhava, when Lord Krishna accepted the purusha incarnations and glanced over material nature to create, then the three personalities�Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva�appeared along with the three modes of material nature�sattva, raja, and tama. Lord Krishna then assigned the work of creation, maintenance, and destruction to the three predominating deities. Lord Brahma appeared from the lotus sprouted from the navel of the Lord.
Lord Brahma said: O Lord! I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. Because You lie in the transcendental water known as nara, You are known as Narayana. And as the original cause of everything You are adi-purusha, the original person. O Lord, although I am sinful and full of the mode of passion, You have engaged me in the work of creation. But I pray for Your blessing that my engagement in the activities of creation will not be an impediment in my remembering Your lotus feet.
Brihaspati said: After Brahma offered these prayers to Lord Narayana, at that time, long ago, the Lord gave Brahma the Srimad-Bhagavatam and told him: �To achieve fulfillment of your desires, always serve this Srimad-Bhagavatam.� On receiving Srimad-Bhagavatam, Lord Brahma was greatly pleased. In order to attain Lord Krishna and penetrate the seven coverings, he recited Srimad-Bhagavatam for seven days. All Brahma's desires were fulfilled by serving Srimad-Bhagavatam for that seven day sacrifice. Since then he has always been engaged in expanding the creation and repeatedly reciting the Srimad-Bhagavatam. As done by Brahma, Lord Vishnu also prayed for the fulfillment of His desires so that He could engage in maintaining the creation.
Lord Vishnu said: O Lord, I will accept the paths of pravritti and nirvritti due to the need for fruitive activities and philosophical knowledge. Following Your order, I will duly maintain the living entities. In due course of time, whenever there is a decline in religious principles, I will accept various incarnations in order to reestablish the principles of religion. I will certainly award the fruits of their sacrifice to those who desire material enjoyment, and I will award five kinds of liberation, beginning with salokya, to those who are renounced and desirous to achieve liberation. But please tell Me how to maintain My dear Lakshmi and those who have no desire for the five kinds of liberation.
After hearing Vishnu's prayers, the primeval Lord, Narayana, told Him: �In order to achieve the fulfillment of all Your desires, just recite Srimad-Bhagavatam.� Lord Vishnu was very pleased to receive this instruction from Lord Narayana. He engaged every month along with Lakshmidevi in the recitation of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Thus He was able to maintain the creation. Whenever Lord Vishnu recites Srimad-Bhagavatam, Lakshmidevi listens. This takes one full month. And whenever Lakshmidevi speaks Srimad-Bhagavatam and Vishnu listens, it takes two months to relish the mellows of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. At that time the taste of those topics become extremely palatable. The reason for this is that Vishnu is engaged in maintaining the creation, therefore He is preoccupied with many thoughts. But this is not the case with Lakshmidevi, who is fully peaceful. The topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam are therefore more elaborately manifested in her heart.
Thereafter the Lord engaged Siva in the work of annihilation. In order to expand his own ability, Siva also prayed to the Lord.
Sri Rudra said: O Lord of lords, I have the power to engage in three types of destruction�perpetual, occasional, and partial. But, O Lord, I have no power at all for the final destruction. For this reason I am very unhappy. I am therefore praying to You.
Brihaspati said: Hearing the prayers of Rudra, Lord Narayana also instructed him on the topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Sri Rudradeva then conquered the mode of ignorance just by serving Srimad-Bhagavatam. Sadasiva Rudra then recited Srimad-Bhagavatam over a period of one year. He thus attained the power of final destruction.
Sri Uddhava said: I have heard these glories of Srimad-Bhagavatam from the mouth of Sri Brihaspati, my spiritual master. Now I offer my respectful obeisances to him for I have become happy by hearing the instructions of Srimad-Bhagavatam. According to the Vaishnava tradition, I served Srimad-Bhagavatam for just one month. Due to the influence of this service, I have become the dear friend of Lord Krishna, and He therefore sent me to Vrindavana to serve his beloved gopis. Although Krishna eternally enjoys pastimes in Vrindavana, His beloved gopis were afflicted by feelings of separation. He therefore sent me here to impart the teachings of Srimad-Bhagavatam to the gopis. The gopis of Vraja were thus freed from the pains of separation by accepting the teachings of Srimad-Bhagavatam according to their own intelligence. Even though I do not understand the mystery of Srimad-Bhagavatam, still I have experienced the wonder of this great literature. When the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, prayed to Lord Krishna that He shall return to His own abode, at that time, under a banyan tree, the Lord personally taught me the mystery of Srimad-Bhagavatam. As a result of that instruction my intelligence became fixed and I proceeded to Badarikasrama and attained perfection. Since then I am living here in Vraja as a creeper.
O Parikshit, I am therefore living here at Narada-kunda. The devotees will realise Lord Krishna by serving Srimad-Bhagavatam. Therefore I will explain Srimad-Bhagavatam for the benefit of the devotees of the Lord. This will be possible only with your help.
Srila Suta Gosvami said: After hearing this, Maharaja Parikshit offered his obeisances to Uddhava and said to him: O Uddhava, servant of Lord Hari! You should certainly narrate Srimad-Bhagavatam. Whatever is necessary for me to do in this regard, please order me.
Uddhava was most pleased on hearing Parikshit Maharaja speak in this way and said: O King! Since Lord Krishna has left this world, the influence of Kali-yuga has become very prominent. Whenever auspicious activities are being performed Kali certainly creates disturbances. Therefore you should go out and subdue the influence of Kali everywhere. I will remain here by your arrangement and recite Srimad-Bhagavatam for one month according to Vaishnava tradition. The audience will thus relish the mellows of Srimad-Bhagavatam and attain the Lord's eternal abode.
Hearing Sri Uddhava's instructions, Maharaja Parikshit was pleased by the thought of subduing Kali, but somewhat in anxiety he disclosed his mind to Uddhava.
Maharaja Parikshit said: O Prabhu! I am eager to bring Kali-yuga under my control as you have instructed, but then how will I hear the Srimad-Bhagavatam? I have also come to take shelter at your feet, so you should also be merciful to me.
Hearing the king's words, Uddhava said: O King, there is no need for you to be worried, for you are the most eligible candidate to receive the Srimad-Bhagavatam. People in this world are always engaged in various kinds of fruitive activities and they do not even know the importance of hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam. O King, by your mercy many people in this land of Bharata-varsa will achieve eternal happiness by hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam. The great sage Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, who is the representative of Lord Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, will recite Srimad-Bhagavatam to you. There is no doubt about it. O King, you will attain the eternal abode of Lord Krishna, the king of Vraja, by hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Srimad-Bhagavatam will then later be propagated throughout the world.
Therefore, O King, prepare yourself to subdue Kali.
After Uddhava spoke in this way, Maharaja Parikshit offered obeisances to Uddhava and circumambulated him, and he then left to eradicate Kali's influence in all directions.
Vajranabha then installed his son, Pratibahu, as the king of Mathura. He stayed with his grandmothers simply for the purpose of hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam. Then at that place near Govardhana, Sri Uddhava recited Srimad-Bhagavatam for one month. While relishing the topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam the listeners saw Krishna manifest everywhere along with His transcendental pastimes. The listeners could see themselves taking part in those transcendental pastimes. Vajranabha saw himself situated at the right lotus foot of Lord Krishna, and thus felt relief from the pains of separation and pleased with the beauty of that scene. All his grandmothers, headed by Rohini, were most surprised to see themselves situated as the effulgence and portion of the moonlike Krishna, who inaugurates the night of the rasa dance. Being cured of the disease of separation from their beloved life and soul, they entered their supreme destination.
Other people who were present there also disappeared and entered the Lord's eternal pastimes. They all enjoy pastimes with Krishna in the kunjas of Govardhana, the pasturing grounds and forest of Vrindavana. The devotees who are greedy for attaining the mellows of transcendental love can always see these pastimes.
Srila Suta Gosvami said: Whoever chants or hears these pastimes of attaining the Lord's lotus feet will certainly attain those lotus feet, and all his miseries from time immemorial will be destroyed forever.
SBM 4: The Characteristics of Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Establishing the Procedure for Hearing
Chapter Four
The Characteristics of Srimad-Bhagavatam,
The Symptoms of the Speaker
And the Listener, and Establishing
The Procedure for Hearing
The sages headed by Saunaka said: O Suta, may you live a long life and continue instructing us. Today we have heard the wonderful glories of Srimad-Bhagavatam from your mouth. O Suta, now please mercifully describe for us the characteristics of Srimad-Bhagavatam, its authenticity, the procedure for hearing, and the symptoms of the speaker and the listener.
Srila Suta Gosvami said: The characteristics of Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Personality of Godhead are both eternal, full of knowledge and bliss.
You should know that whatever transcendental, sweet words come from the mouths of those whose hearts are attached to Krishna, those statements are Srimad-Bhagavatam. You should also know that Srimad-Bhagavatam consists of knowledge, realized knowledge, and the four limbs of devotional service, such as hearing and chanting. It is expert in eradicating the influence of maya, the illusory energy.
Who can understand the authenticity of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is the unlimited sound representation of the Lord? In the beginning of creation, Lord Hari spoke four verses to Lord Brahma. O brahmanas, only personalities such as Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva are able to attain their desired goal by merging into the ocean of the unlimited Srimad-Bhagavatam, others are able.
Whatever Srila Vedavyasa has described in the conversation between Parikshit Maharaja and Sukadeva Gosvami for the benefit of the less intelligent, that is known as Srimad-Bhagavatam. Srimad-Bhagavatam consists of 18,000 verses, and it is the only shelter for those who are captured by the crocodile of Kali.
Now I will describe those who listen to Srimad-Bhagavatam. There are two types of listeners�superior and inferior. The superior listeners are of four kinds�namely, cataka bird, swan, parrot, and fish. And the inferior listeners are also of four kinds�wolf, bhurunda bird, bull, and camel.
Just as the cataka bird does not take water from any source other than the raincloud, one who does not hear any scripture or book other than those related with Lord Krishna is called a cataka listener.
Just as the swan can extract milk from a mixture of milk and water, one who can extract the essential topics of Lord Krishna while listening to various topics is called a swan listener.
Just as a parrot can recite to its master and others whatever it is taught, one who can nicely repeat the topics he has heard from the scriptures to his guru and other listeners is called a parrot listener.
Just as the fish that is situated in an ocean of condensed milk quietly drinks milk without blinking its eyes, one who quietly hears Srimad-Bhagavatam while relishing the topics and staring unblinking at the speaker is called a fish listener.
Just as the cry of the wolf frightens the deer which is attracted by the sweet sound of a flute in the forest, the foolish listener whose loud noises create pain to the devotees engaged in hearing the sweet topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam is called a wolf listener.
Just as the bhurunda bird that lives in the Himalayas tells others whatever instruction it has heard without practicing himself, one who teaches others but does not follow those instructions is called a bhurunda listener.
Just as the bull does not distinguish between eating sweet grapes or pungent oilcakes, the blind person who listens to everything but has no intelligence to discriminate between good and bad is called a bull listener.
Just as the camel rejects the sweet mango leaves and chews instead the bitter neem leaves, one who rejects the sweet narrations about the Lord and hears instead mundane topics is called a camel listener.
Apart from these two categories of listeners, there are many further sub classifications such as bumblebees and asses which one should understand by the symptoms of their normal behavior.
Speakers say the topmost listener is he who comes before the speaker, offers due obeisances, and is eager and expert in hearing the pastimes of Lord Hari, after rejecting all types of mundane topics. He humbly engages in hearing with folded hands like a disciple, he has full faith in the Lord, he is attached to asking questions, and he always contemplates the subject he has heard. He is a dear friend of the Lord's devotees.
The topmost speakers, who are respected by all sages, are those whose hearts are attached to the Lord without hankering for anything else. They are the well-wishers of all, they are merciful to the fallen, and they are expert in learning the truth by various arguments.
Now, O brahmanas, please hear the procedure for hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam in the land of Bharata. Simply by hearing these rules one enjoys everlasting happiness.
There are four kinds of service to the Srimad-Bhagavatam�sattvic, rajasic, tamasic, and nirguna.
Enthusiastic service which is joyfully performed in seven days, like a pompous sacrifice with various types of worshipable ingredients and hard labor, is called rajasic bhagavata-seva.
Service which is peacefully performed over a month or two, while relishing the topics and thus increasing one's ecstasy, is called sattvic bhagavata-seva.
Service which continues for one year, which is performed lazily yet faithfully, which gives happiness, and in which both rememberance and forgetfulness are present, is called tamasic bhagavata-seva.
Service in which there is no consideration of time factor but continues on with love and devotion, is called nirguna bhagavata-seva.
Please know for certain that Maharaja Parikshit and Sukadeva Gosvami performed nirguna bhagavata-seva. Although the hearing continued for only seven days, that was because Maharaja Parikshit's life continued for that duration only.
One should hear Srimad-Bhagavatam in any place or in any way one desires�whether sattvic, rajasic, tamasic, or nirguna.
Srimad-Bhagavatam is the only wealth of those who are completely devoid of material desires, and greedy to relish hearing and chanting the pastimes of Lord Krishna.
Srimad-Bhagavatam is the medicine to cure the material disease of those who are indifferent to the miseries of material existence and desire liberation. Therefore everyone should carefully serve Srimad-Bhagavatam.
The karmis, who are greedy for material enjoyment and advancement in material life, will attain everything they desire just by serving Srimad-Bhagavatam in Kali-yuga.
In Kali-yuga it is extremely rare to attain perfection on the path of karma due to a lack of physical ability, wealth, and knowledge. Therefore those who wish auspiciousness should serve Srimad-Bhagavatam in all respects.
The topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam are able to give one wealth, children, wife, elephants, horses, fame, palatial residences, and a kingdom without rivals.
By serving the Srimad-Bhagavatam one with material desires can enjoy all his desired results in this world and attain the abode of the Supreme Lord after giving up his body.
One should serve anyone absorbed in discussing the topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam with one's body and wealth.
By serving those who are absorbed in Srimad-Bhagavatam, one can attain the results of serving Srimad-Bhagavatam.
There are two types of reciters and listeners of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Some desire Krishna and some desire material prosperity. Material prosperity refers to anything not related to Krishna. So if the reciter and listener are of the same category, then the happiness from serving Srimad-Bhagavatam increases.
If the reciter and the listener are not of the same category, then there is a contradiction and no result is attained. Such a situation is called rasabhasa, or overlapping of mellows. But a person who desires Krishna�whether as a speaker or listener�will certainly attain his goal, even if delayed.
The speaker and listener who desire wealth will attain their desired goal if they act under rules and regulations. But those transcendental speakers and listeners who desire Krishna will undoubtedly attain their goal even if they do not follow the rules and regulations, because love of God is the only rule for such persons.
A person with material desires must rigidly follow all the rules through to completion. He should regularly take bath in the morning, and after performing his daily worship he should accept the caranamrta of Lord Hari.
Thereafter the speaker or listener should worship their spiritual master and Srimad-Bhagavatam with proper ingredients. They should hear and chant Srimad-Bhagavatam in a joyful mood.
One should take a vow of silence, and eat only milk or sweet rice. He should sleep on the ground, give up all anger and greed, and practice the vow of brahmacarya.
After finishing the recitation of Srimad-Bhagavatam, one should constantly chant the holy name of the Lord, and on the last day he should remain awake at night and then feed the brahmanas and satisfy them with charity.
One should then worship his spiritual master after offering him cloth, ornaments, and cows. Anyone who renders service to the Srimad-Bhagavatam according to these regulations will surely achieve the fulfillment of all his desires.
A person with material desires can obtain a beautiful wife, children, kingdom, or wealth if he so desires. But such desires are a mockery to the stature of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Srimad-Bhagavatam is the ripened fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literature. It has been bestowed to the world in this age of Kali by Sri Sukadeva Gosvami and has become more nectarean by the touch of his lips. It is the direct means of attaining Lord Krishna, and it eternally bestows love of God.
SBM 5: Description of the Results of Hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the Condition of Those Who are Averse to Such Hearing
Chapter Five
Description of the Results of Hearing
Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the Condition
Of Those Who are Averse to Such Hearing
The Supreme Lord said: O Grandfather Brahma, one should regularly hear the famous Srimad-Bhagavatam with faith. Know for certain that such hearing is the only means of satisfying Me.
One who daily reads Srimad-Bhagavatam will attain with every syllable the results of giving a brown cow in charity.
One who daily reads or hears even a half or a quarter of a verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam attains the results of giving one thousand cows in charity.
My dear son, one who daily reads Srimad-Bhagavatam with full concentration attains the results of studying the eighteen Puranas.
Vaishnavas like Prahlada Maharaja are always present wherever the topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam are discussed. Those who worship Srimad-Bhagavatam are beyond the jurisdiction of Kali.
Those persons who worship the Vaishnava literature Srimad-Bhagavatam in their house are freed from all sins and they become worshipable by even the demigods.
In the age of Kali, I become very pleased with those who regularly worship Srimad-Bhagavatam in their house and dance without fear.
O My dear son, as long as Srimad-Bhagavatam is present in one's house, for that long his forefathers consume milk, ghee, honey, and water.
One who with devotion gives the gift of Srimad-Bhagavatam to a Vaishnava resides in My abode for millions of kalpas.
One who always worships Srimad-Bhagavatam in his house satisfies the demigods for the duration of one kalpa.
If even a half or a quarter of a verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam is kept in one's house that is glorious. For what is the need of accumulating thousands of other literatures?
In Kali-yuga, one who does not keep Srimad-Bhagavatam in his house can never be delivered from the control of Yamaraja.
In Kali-yuga, how can one be considered a Vaishnava who does not keep Srimad-Bhagavatam in his house? He is more abominable than a candala.
My dear son, lord of the universe. For My pleasure and the pleasure of the Vaishnavas one should keep Srimad-Bhagavatam with devotion.
In Kali-yuga, wherever the auspicious Srimad-Bhagavatam is recited, I reside, along with all the demigods.
My dear son, all the holy rivers, kundas, and lakes, all sacrifices, the seven sacred cities�Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya (Haridvara), Kasi, Kanci, Avanti (Ujjain), and Dvaraka�and all the holy mountains are present where Srimad-Bhagavatam is discussed.
O lord of the universe, one should hear Srimad-Bhagavatam in order to attain fame, religiosity, victory, freedom from sin, or liberation.
By hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam one becomes religious and he lives a long life, free from disease and all sinful reactions.
O lord of the universe, I speak the truth: those who do not hear the topmost literature, Srimad-Bhagavatam, or do not express happiness after hearing it are kept under Yamaraja's jurisdiction.
O My dear son, there is no one more sinful than one who does not go anywhere to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, especially on the day of Ekadasi.
I reside in the house of one who has kept there a verse, a half verse, or even a quarter of a verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
The purity one attains by hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam cannot be attained by visiting Badarikasrama or taking bath in the confluence at Prayaga.
O four-headed Brahma, I go wherever the topics of Srimad-Bhagavatam are discussed, just as a cow spontaneously follows her calf.
I never leave one who enjoys speaking or hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam. One who does not offer respects after seeing the auspicious Srimad-Bhagavatam loses the pious credits he accumulated over the past year.
I am unlimitedly pleased with one who stands in respect and then offers obeisances upon seeing Srimad-Bhagavatam.
A person who circumambulates Srimad-Bhagavatam achieves the results of an asvamedha-yajna with every step. Of this there is no doubt.
For one who stands in respect and then offers obeisances upon seeing Srimad-Bhagavatam, I offer him wealth, wife, children, and devotional service.
My dear son, I am controlled by those who worship Srimad-Bhagavatam with sixteen ingredients and hear Srimad-Bhagavatam with devotion.
O Brahma, O Suvrata, among all types of festivals, the festival of discussing Srimad-Bhagavatam is the topmost. Those who participate in such festivals for My pleasure and hear Srimad-Bhagavatam with devotion and those who worship Srimad-Bhagavatam with cloth, ornaments, flowers, lamp, and incense certainly control Me just as a chaste wife controls her good husband.
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