CONTENTS:
- SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM IS THE CREAM OF ALL VEDIC KNOWLEDGE
- SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
- GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
1. SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM IS THE CREAM OF ALL VEDIC KNOWLEDGE
nigama-kalpa-taror galitaà phalaà
çuka-mukhäd amåta-drava-saàyutam
pibata bhägavataà rasam älayaà
muhur aho rasikä bhuvi bhävukäù
TRANSLATION
O expert and thoughtful men, relish ÇrémadBhägavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Sri Sukdeva Goswami. Therefore, this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls.
This is the beginning of Srimad Bhagavatam. Srimad Bhagavatam surpasses all Vedic literatures. Srimad Bhagavatam is the cream of all Vedic knowledge. Patient and submissive hearing is very important. Srimad Bhagavatam is the essence of all Vedic literatures. A desire tree is a tree that can give anything that one wants and the Vedas are like desire trees. The fruit is Krishna Consciousness the highest spiritual gift. Krishna is to be known and understood. The purpose of the Vedas is to reveal the identity of Krishna. The ripened fruit is Brajalila. The Supreme Personality of Godhead in Vaikuntha is the fruit but the ripened fruit is Brajalila which is given by Sukadeva Goswami and is blended with the juice from the lotus mouth of Sukadeva Goswami. This is revealing Krishna’s Brajalila.
The tenth Canto and the other nine Cantos are preparations to reach the tenth Canto. It’s so lofty therefore there are different steps from one to nine and then we get to see Krishna in Vrindavan. The Srimad Bhagavatam if the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The main part of the body is the face and also the main part of the Srimad Bhagavatam is the face of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The lotus feet are Cantos one and two, the thighs are Cantos three and four, the abdomen is Canto five, the chest is Canto six, the arms are Canto seven and eight, the neck is Canto nine, the smiling lotus face is Canto ten, the forehead is Canto eleven and the head is Canto twelve. In this way the Lord’s body is being represented through the Srimad Bhagavatam.
WHO IS SUKADEVA GOSWAMI AND WHAT IS SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM?
Krishna along with His associates left and went back to the spiritual world. Srimati Radharani had a parrot named Suta. This parrot always used to sing the name of Krishna for the pleasure of Srimati Radharani. One day the parrot flew in Krishna’s Garden and started to chant sounds like Radharani.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Krishna saw this beautiful parrot and Krishna kept the parrot. Lalita and Vishaka found the parrot and told Krishna to give it back. They called the parrot but he wouldn’t come so they went to complain to Mother Yashoda that Krishna stole their parrot and they wanted their parrot back. So, Mother Yashoda dragged Krishna to bath and they got the parrot back. Krishna told Suka to stay back after Krishna left this world and Suka was crying but Krishna said the world needs to know about Me and My pastimes. Please create the good fortune for them. Suka also wanted to hear the glory of Krishna not only sing the glory. Lord Shiva was telling Parvati the Srimad Bhagavatam. They were under a tree and listening to Lord Shiva narrating the story of Krishna, when He was approaching the pastimes, Parvati was not interested in philosophy and she fell asleep. Lord Shiva was still speaking but Parvati was asleep and Suka was responding when Lord Shiva narrated the entire Srimad Bhagavatam. At the twelfth Canto Parvati woke up and said I didn’t hear the tenth Canto and explained that she fell asleep.
Lord Shiva was walking and he saw Suka bird. See parrots can imitate so Suka imitated the voice of Parvati. Lord Shiva said that unqualified people should not hear Srimad Bhagavatam and He picked up His trident and chased the parrot. Vyasadeva narrated to his wife and she was wonderstruck so her mouth was open and Suka flew into her mouth. Lord Shiva said “When one listens to Srimad Bhagavatam he becomes immortal and it is only for humans not birds. What happens when this bird listens to Srimad Bhagavatam? This bird will become immortal” and then Lord Shiva left. This bird stayed in the womb for 16 years on the request of Vyasadeva and Lord Sukadeva came out. When Parikshit Maharaja was preparing to leave his body then Sukadeva Goswami narrated Srimad Bhagavatam to the sages at Naimasharanya. When Sukadeva Goswami spoke, it became very relishable. Another example when we speak then understand the subject and ask questions. Bhagavat is the book and the person. The book can’t reciprocate but the person can. When listening we have questions and answers. When one does not understand he questions.
That is essential when trying to receive proper knowledge. Questions and Answers are very important in understanding this topic. When the opportunity comes take full advantage of it. The more we approach the topic the more we want to know. It is an endless ocean of information. We should never think that we understood everything. The more we advance the more we come to know. Never think that you understood everything. Get together and discuss Krishna katha. Appreciate the mellow of Krishna Consciousness and you should always speak on Krishna Consciousness. Take this opportunity. nityaà bhägavata sevayä Sukadeva Goswami spoke for seven days. Båhad-näradéya Puräëa mentions why Srimati Radharani’s name doesn’t appear in Srimad Bhagavatam. Actually, the whole of the Srimad Bhagavatam is describing Srimati Radharani but is doing so in a very subtle way. The subtle understanding is more relishable than the gross. Two reasons: Partly covered makes it more beautiful and Sukadeva Goswami was so fond of Srimati Radharani when he would say Her name he would faint in ecstasy for six months. Now he knew that Parikshit Maharaja had only 6 days left so therefore He restrained Himself from uttering the name of Srimati Radharani.
He mentioned her in a covered way. Srimati Radharani is most expert in serving Krishna. Brhat Bhagavatam explains how Krishna was dancing with Radharani Anaya Rahika There were 16,000 gopis and one Krishna between two gopis and in the centre there was Krishna with one gopi. When She left the rasamandala then Krishna also left and She is very very special. Srimati Radharani’s identity was revealed by Srila Jiva Goswami. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came because Krishna wanted to understand the love that Radha had for Him. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had two books that He always carried and that is the Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita. Gadadhar Pandit was Srimati Radharani and recited Srimad Bhagavatam to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. tato rajas-tamo-bhäväù käma-lobhädayaç ca ye, ceta etair anäviddha When transcending the modes of passion and ignorance comes transcendental goodness. Srimad Bhagavatam is describing the glory of Srimati Radharani. Srimad Bhagavatam is the perfect scripture to understand Krishna. It is important to understand who Krishna is. We have to approach Bhagavad Gita first then Srimad Bhagavatam. Bhagavad Gita will show us who Krishna is and Srimad Bhagavatam will show us who Srimati Radharani is. Step by step. Thank you very much. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
2. SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
Bhaktivedanta purport is the manifestation of Srila Prabhupada’s mercy. Srila Prabhupada has given an ocean of informations.
3. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: Sukadeva Goswami was reciting the holy name I heard he was on Brahman platform....?
A: Everyone can receive knowledge from the self-realised soul. His body changed from a parrot to a human. Vyasadeva may or may not know Krishna but Sukadeva Goswami knows Krishna Divya-jïäna håde prakäçito.
Q: You said that Srimad Bhagavatam tells about Srimati Radharani but there are other personalities described?
A: The manifestation of Srimati Radharani is indirect. The ultimate essence is Srimati Radharani’s love for Krishna and the purpose is the tenth Canto. The objective of the tenth Canto is permeated throughout the Srimad Bhagavatam.
Q: What should be our attitude to receive Srimad Bhagavatam?
A: Wait for the mercy. The real purport you won’t understand. Regulation comes through devotional service. Divya-jïäna håde prakäçito serving the bona fide spiritual master how? By depending on the mercy of the spiritual master and Srila Prabhupada. Bhaktivedanta purport is the manifestation of Srila Prabhupada’s mercy.
Q: Srimati Radharani. . . . . bila Vriksha Nivashani......?
A: I don’t know I have never read that. You should read Srila Prabhupada’s books rather than all these other books.
Q: When Sukadeva Goswami changed from impersonal to personal....?
A: There are two considerations: Hearing and submitting to a bona fide spiritual master. By hearing Sukadeva Goswami was transformed from a parrot to a human. And although he was self-realised to teach the lesson He accepted a bona fide spiritual master like Krishna went to Sandipani Muni’s ashram and accepted him as His guru.
Q: When... Srimad bhagavatam class...more interesting...speaker.
A: When you speak prepare yourself properly and only discuss Krishna katha and make sure you are practising. Anyone can sit on the Vyasasan and speak. When you speak prepare yourself nicely before you speak, study, speak properly about the topic and the topic is Krishna Consciousness. Become qualified even if you are a neophyte. We have to learn to preach. Speak with substance and make it interesting. Krishna katha can make one spellbound. It becomes relishable to the ears and the heart. Don’t take it so lightly. Srila Prabhupada has given an ocean of informations. Srila Prabhupada gave the example someone goes to a distant place and brings back valuable informations to present it in a proper way. Present it properly then the presentation is beautiful. Do as I told you read Srila Prabhupada’s books carefully. Make it a point to read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least for 30 minutes daily. It will enhance your spiritual impetus. Listen to the tapes. HH Tamal Krishna Goswami listened to the tapes when going to the bathroom. Wake up and go to the bathroom and play these tapes nowadays there are so many gizmos so there are so many ways.
4. GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
- Patient and submissive hearing is very important;
- Questions and Answers are very important in understanding this topic. When the opportunity comes take full advantage of it;
- Never think that you understood everything;
- Get together and discuss Krishna katha. Appreciate the mellow of Krishna Consciousness and you should always speak on Krishna Consciousness. Take this opportunity;
- You should read Srila Prabhupada’s books rather than all these other books;
- When you speak prepare yourself nicely before you speak, study, speak properly about the topic and the topic is Krishna Consciousness;
- We have to learn to preach;
- Do as I told you read Srila Prabhupada’s books carefully. Make it a point to read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least for 30 minutes daily; and
- Wake up and go to the bathroom and play these tapes nowadays there are so many gizmos so there are so many ways.
(The content of this E-magazine is based on a lecture given by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami on 17th September 2015 in Surat)
(Compiled and Edited by Hemavati Radhika Devi Dasi)