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The greatness and sweetness of \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam and the right mood of approaching it<\/em><\/p>\n by Gauranga Darshan Das<\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n A multitalented person could do many things alone and even simultaneously. But have you ever heard of a book that does multitasking like this? \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> does. Because \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> is also a person, non-different from the God descends to save the devotees, destroy the demons and reestablish dharma<\/em> (BG 4.8). For these purposes, He appears as Matsya among the fish, as Var\u0101ha among the animals, as Ha\u1e41sa among the birds, as R\u0101ma and K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a among humans, and as V\u0101mana This Book is a Teacher, a Friend and a Lover<\/strong><\/p>\n The way \u015ar\u012bmad<\/em> Bh<\/em>\u0101<\/em>gavatam<\/em> teaches its readers is profound. This book has multiple meanings and perspectives that cater to multiple audiences. \u015ar\u012bla K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47ad\u0101sa Kavir\u0101ja Gosv\u0101m\u012b writes,<\/p>\n k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-tulya bh\u0101gavata\u2014vibhu, sarv\u0101\u015braya<\/em><\/p>\n prati-\u015bloke prati-ak\u1e63are n\u0101n\u0101 artha kaya<\/em><\/p>\n \u201c\u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> is as great as K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, the Supreme Lord and shelter of everything. In each and every verse of \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam and in each and every syllable, there are various meanings.\u201d (\u015ar\u012b Caitanya Carit\u0101m\u1e5bta, Madhya-l\u012bla, 24.318)<\/p>\n It is said that the Vedas generally teach in an instructive manner like a parent educates the child; the Pur\u0101\u1e47as teach laterally, like a friend to another friend; and the K\u0101vyas (poetic works) teach their audience just like a lover speaks to a beloved, ved\u0101\u1e25 pur\u0101\u1e47a\u1e41 k\u0101vya\u1e41 ca<\/em><\/p>\n prabhur mitra\u1e41 priyeva ca<\/em><\/p>\n bodhayant\u012bti hi pr\u0101hus<\/em><\/p>\n triv\u1e5bd bh\u0101gavata\u1e41 puna\u1e25<\/em><\/p>\n (Quoted in Tattva-sandarbha; From Mukt\u0101-phale, by Hem\u0101dri)<\/p>\n By this beautiful Bh\u0101gavatam, we are taught in times of ignorance, reasoned with in times of doubt, and nourished at all other times, as if by our most intimate companion. It is in this mood that \u015ar\u012bla San\u0101tana Gosv\u0101m\u012b prays:<\/p>\n mad-eka-bandho mat-sa\u1e45gin<\/em><\/p>\n mad-guro man-mah\u0101-dhana<\/em><\/p>\n man-nist\u0101raka mad-bh\u0101gya<\/em><\/p>\n mad-\u0101nanda namo \u2019stu te<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cO my only friend! my companion!, my guru!, my great wealth!, my savior!, my fortune!, my happiness!, I offer my respects onto You.\u201d (K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-l\u012bl\u0101-stava 415)<\/p>\n \u015ar\u012bla N\u0101rada Muni who inspired \u015ar\u012bla Vy\u0101sadeva to compile \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em>, instructed him to write it in such a way that it mitigates the miseries of common masses and satisfies the hankerings of learned people (SB 1.5.40). Thus, the Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> caters to the needs of multiple audiences ranging from hard core materialists to elevated spiritualists. Being K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s literary incarnation, the Bh\u0101gavatam <\/em>reciprocates with the moods and needs of its readers.<\/p>\n Amongst the Pur\u0101\u1e47\u0101s<\/em>, \u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> is considered spotless (amala\u1e41<\/em>) because it does not present anything material and is very dear to pure Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava devotees (vai\u1e63\u1e47av\u0101n\u0101\u1e41 priya\u1e41<\/em>) (SB 12.13.18). \u015ar\u012bla Vi\u015bvan\u0101tha Cakravarti This book is like a lamp<\/strong><\/p>\n A lamp dissipates darkness in a room. Similarly, the lamp (adhy\u0101tma-d\u012bpam<\/em>) of \u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> eradicates the darkness of ignorance in our hearts, by revealing the general descriptions of the Supreme Lord, such as His pastimes of creating ya\u1e25 sv\u0101nubh\u0101vam akhila-\u015bruti-s\u0101ram ekam<\/em><\/p>\n adhy\u0101tma-d\u012bpam atitit\u012br\u1e63at\u0101\u1e41 tamo \u2019ndham<\/em><\/p>\n sa\u1e41s\u0101ri\u1e47\u0101\u1e41 karu\u1e47ay\u0101ha pur\u0101\u1e47a-guhya\u1e41<\/em><\/p>\n ta\u1e41 vy\u0101sa-s\u016bnum upay\u0101mi guru\u1e41 mun\u012bn\u0101m<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cObeisances unto the son of Vy\u0101sadeva, \u015aukadeva Gosv\u0101m\u012b, the guru<\/em> of all sages, who, out of his compassion for the materialists who struggle to cross over the dark material existence, spoke the confidential essence of all \u015arutis,<\/em> \u015ar\u012bmad Bh<\/em>\u0101<\/em>gavatam, <\/em>the kasmai yena vibh\u0101sito \u2019yam atulo j\u00f1\u0101na-prad\u012bpa\u1e25 pur\u0101<\/em><\/p>\n tad-r\u016bpe\u1e47a ca n\u0101rad\u0101ya munaye k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47\u0101ya tad-r\u016bpi\u1e47\u0101<\/em><\/p>\n yog\u012bndr\u0101ya tad-\u0101tman\u0101tha bhagavad-r\u0101t\u0101ya k\u0101ru\u1e47yatas<\/em><\/p>\n tac chuddha\u1e41 vimala\u1e41 vi\u015bokam am\u1e5bta\u1e41 satya\u1e41 para\u1e41 dh\u012bmahi<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI meditate upon that pure and spotless Supreme Absolute Truth, who in the beginning personally revealed this incomparable lamp of knowledge (Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em>) to Brahm\u0101. Brahm\u0101 then spoke it to N\u0101rada, who narrated it to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a-dvaip\u0101yana Vy\u0101sa, who This book is like the Sun<\/strong><\/p>\n A lamp can eliminate the darkness within a room, but to fully dissipate the dense darkness of the night, the sun has to rise. With the sun rises even the thieves and rogues become fearful to steal. The Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em>, like a lamp, not only dissipates k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47e sva-dh\u0101mopagate <\/em><\/p>\n dharma-j\u00f1\u0101n\u0101dibhi\u1e25 saha<\/em><\/p>\n kalau na\u1e63\u00f6a-d\u1e5b\u015b\u0101m e\u1e63a<\/em><\/p>\n pur\u0101\u1e47\u0101rko \u2018dhunodita\u1e25<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThis Bh\u0101gavata Pur\u0101\u1e47a<\/em> is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in This book is like a Fruit<\/strong><\/p>\n \u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> is also compared to a tasty fruit. Although all twelve cantos of the Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> are like the lamp, the sun and a tasty fruit, the sweet topics of the Supreme Lord\u2019s appearance and activities, and the topics of His devotees, The Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> is described as a tasty ripened fruit in its third verse.<\/p>\n nigama-kalpa-taror galita\u1e41 phala\u1e41<\/em><\/p>\n \u015buka-mukh\u0101d am\u1e5bta-drava-sa\u1e41yutam<\/em><\/p>\n pibata bh\u0101gavata\u1e41 rasam \u0101-laya\u1e41<\/em><\/p>\n muhur aho rasik\u0101 bhuvi bh\u0101vuk\u0101\u1e25<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cO expert and thoughtful men, relish \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of \u015ar\u012b \u015aukadeva Gosv\u0101m\u012b. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already \u201cGalitam<\/em> means that it falls down of its own accord when ripened on the tree, not by force. Even after falling from a high position in the tree, it does not break, nor does it lose its sweetness. That is because it comes down from the highest This book is like a Mohin\u012b<\/strong><\/p>\n The tasty fruit of the Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em>, however, is not accessible to everyone. Right consciousness is required to relish it. The Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em>, being a person, doesn\u2019t reveal its heart or deeper meanings to someone who approaches it insincerely When the demigods and the demons churned the milk ocean, nectar appeared. But the demons snatched it away. The demons are envious, selfish and aesthetic in nature and are not qualified to drink nectar. The demigods who are devoted to the Lord are the Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a said in the Bhagavad-g\u012bt\u0101<\/em> that He would reciprocate with people according to the way they approach Him (ye yath\u0101 m\u0101\u1e41 prapadyante t\u0101\u1e41s tathaiva bhaj\u0101my aham<\/em>, BG 4.11). Because the Bh<\/em>\u0101<\/em>gavatam<\/em> is nondifferent When Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a entered the wrestling arena of Ka\u1e41sa, He appeared differently to different groups of people. Ka\u1e41sa\u2019s wrestlers saw K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a as a lightning bolt, the men of Mathur\u0101 saw Him as the best of males, the women as Cupid personified, the gopas<\/em> as their relative, the impious rulers as a punisher, His parents as their child, Ka\u1e41sa as death personified, the unintelligent as a material form, the yog\u012bs<\/em> as the Absolute Truth and the V\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47is as their supreme worshipable Deity (mall\u0101n\u0101m a\u015banir n\u1e5b\u1e47\u0101\u1e41 nara-vara\u1e25\u2026 <\/em>SB The purpose of a sincere devotee in approaching Bh\u0101gavtam is to understand the name, fame, pastimes and qualities of the Supreme Lord; to derive inspiration from the lives of His great devotees; to develop Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava qualities of tolerance, humility, compassion Gauranga Darshan Das, a disciple of His Holiness Radhanath Swami, is dean of the Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha at ISKCON GEV, a member of ISKCON Board of Examinations and GEV Administrative council. He has written books namely Gita Subodhini, Bhagavata Subodhini, <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When the demigods and the demons churned the milk ocean, nectar appeared. But the demons snatched it away. The demons are envious, selfish and aesthetic in nature and are not qualified to drink nectar. The demigods who are devoted to the Lord are the meant to drink the nectar. So, the Lord appeared in the form of Mohin\u012b-m\u016brti, a beautiful woman and distributed all the nectar to the demigods and bewildered the demons with Her feminine attributes and didn\u2019t give them even a drop. Similarly, the Bh\u0101gavatam reveals its inner meanings to sincere devotees and baffles those who approach it insincerely, for selfish purposes of making money and earning fame. Such people make a show of studying and speaking the Bh\u0101gavatam and give out deviant meanings to impress their audiences. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88917","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=88917"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88917\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88918,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88917\/revisions\/88918"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=88917"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=88917"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=88917"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n Supremely powerful Person K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.<\/p>\n
\n among the devat\u0101s<\/em>. Similarly, He appears as \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> among the scriptures. The Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> is another form of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.<\/p>\n
\n but \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> does all the three.<\/p>\n
\n Th\u0101k\u016bra, a great commentator on \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em>, compares the Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> with a lamp, the sun, a tasty fruit and Mohin\u012b-m\u016brt\u012b. These four comparisons are very significant in presenting different facets of the Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em>,
\n highlighting how this divine literature benefits the humanity.<\/p>\n
\n the material universe (sarga<\/em>) and destroying the universe (nirodha<\/em>). S\u016bta Gosv\u0101m\u012b compares the Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> to a lamp in the following verses.<\/p>\n
\n transcendental lamp that reveals \u0101tm\u0101<\/em>, after having personally assimilated it by experience.\u201d (SB 1.2.3)<\/p>\n
\n later revealed it to \u015aukadeva Gosv\u0101m\u012b, who mercifully spoke it to Mah\u0101r\u0101ja Par\u012bk\u1e63it.\u201d (SB 12.13.19)<\/p>\n
\n the darkness of the hearts of individual souls, but like the effulgent sun, it destroys the demonic conceptions and atheistic mentalities in the entire world and brings joy to the devotees. Thus, the sun analogy reveals the capability of the Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> in completely nullifying the effects of ignorance. The Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> has twelve cantos, just as the sun has twelve forms for each of the months of the year. \u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em>, like the sun among the planets, shines among the Pur\u0101\u1e47as
\n (pur\u0101\u1e47\u0101rka<\/em>).<\/p>\n
\n the age of Kali shall get light from this Pur\u0101\u1e47a.\u201d (SB 1.3.43)<\/p>\n
\n bhakti<\/em> and prema<\/em>, are especially considered to be the tasty fruit of rasa<\/em>. All the topics, however, give joy to the devotees by taking on a meaning favorable for bhakti<\/em>. The Bh<\/em>\u0101<\/em>gavatam<\/em> fulfills the desires of devotees who approach it with great eagerness to relish the pastimes of the Lord (\u0101\u015braya<\/em>).<\/p>\n
\n relishable for all, including liberated souls.\u201d (SB 1.1.3)<\/p>\n
\n position, from N\u0101r\u0101ya\u1e47a, to the branch of Brahm\u0101, then to the lower branch of N\u0101rada, then to Vy\u0101sa, and finally to the mouth of \u015auka. Thus, without being damaged, it is endowed with liquid sweetness like honey. The parrot, \u015auka, has even made an
\n opening in the fruit with his beak for bringing out the sweetness. Moreover, having been tasted by him, that fruit becomes even sweeter. Moreover, it remains unbroken, coming down step-by-step from the branch of S\u016bta and others. What is implied here
\n is that without the guru-parampar\u0101<\/em>, one cannot drink Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> in its unbroken form \u2013 just by trying to taste it through use of one\u2019s limited intelligence. How should the fruit be consumed? One should drink<\/em> it, for this
\n fruit is the essence of taste (rasam<\/em>), devoid of skin, seed and other objectionable parts.\u201d (1.1.3 V)<\/p>\n
\n and with non-devotional intentions. The same topics of the Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> that give spiritual bliss to the devotees take on a different meaning to bewilder demonic people who are unfavorable to bhakti-yoga<\/em>.<\/p>\n
\n meant to drink the nectar. So, the Lord appeared in the form of Mohin\u012b-m\u016brti, a beautiful woman and distributed all the nectar to the demigods and bewildered the demons with Her feminine attributes and didn\u2019t give them even a drop. Similarly, the
\n Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> reveals its inner meanings to sincere devotees and baffles those who approach it insincerely, for selfish purposes of making money and earning fame. Such people make a show of studying and speaking the Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> and give
\n out deviant meanings to impress their audiences.<\/p>\n
\n from K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, the Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em>also reciprocates with the kind of person that approaches it, giving the true meaning only to the devotees who are sincere and engaged in devotional service of the Lord.<\/p>\n
\n 10.43.17). Just as K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a reveals Himself to different people according to their attitudes, the Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em>, which is non-different from K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a also reciprocates according to the reader\u2019s attitude. K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is full of \u015aaktis<\/em> and so is
\n the Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em>. Thus, it takes meanings corresponding to the minds of various types of persons who read or hear it.<\/p>\n
\n and so on that ender one to the Lord; to render selfless devotional service to the Supreme Lord; and to ultimately develop our innate love for Him. So, if we approach the Bh\u0101gavatam<\/em> in this right mood as taught to us by the parampara<\/em> or the lineage of spiritual teachers, we can attain the greatest benefit from this transcendental masterpiece.<\/p>\n
\n Caitanya Subodhini, Disapproved but not Disowned and Bhagavata Pravaha. He teaches sastric courses at several places in India.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/qaJiQcc.jpeg)
By Gauranga Darshan Das<\/strong><\/p>\n