FROM PADMA-PURANA UTTARA-KHANDA CHAPTER 193 - 194
The Greatness of the Bhagavata
Parvati said:
O Mahadeva, O god of god, O Omniscient one, O you giving all kinds of
wealth, showing great compassion for me, tell me what I ask you. I heard the
greatness of the Gita’s 18 chapters, containing many wonderful tales.
Therefore, an eagerness to listen to the great account of Krsna has arisen in
me. Among all the Puranas, Bhagavata is the best, in what by every word Sri
Krsna is sung in various ways by the sages. Now tell me its greatness
properly and along with the historical accounts.
Lord Siva said:
Saunaka, adept in tasting the sweetness of the nectar of a story, said
to the highly intelligent Suta, seated in the Naimisa, and after saluting him:
Saunaka said:
Narrate to us the account of Srimad Bhagavata, which is an elixir,
which destroys the darkness of ignorance and the sins of a crore of past
existences, O Suta. How does discrimination rich with devotion, knowledge
and detachment grow? How do Vishnu’s devotees remove illusion and
delusion? Here in this Kali-age a being has almost attained demon hood.
What is the elixir to purify him who is overcome with affliction? Now tell us
that which is the highest good of all good, which is the most purifying of all
purifying objects, and which is the means to please Sri Krsna. A preceptor,
who is pleased, gives to his disciple this desire-yielding gem, happiness in
the world, like the wealth of the position of the lord of Gods, and also
Vaikuntha, which is extremely difficult to obtain.
Suta said:
O best of brahmanas, I am pleased with you, therefore I shall tell you
that as I have heard it which is better than the best, which destroys the fear
of the mundane existence, which increases devotion, which is the cause of
pleasing Krsna. Listen attentively when I am telling it. In the Kali-age, Krsna
has told the Holy Text of Srimad Bhagavata, which brings about the
protection of the world, which is held in the mouth of the tiger of Death.
There is nothing superior to this that would purify the mind. Good men by
means of religious merit, earned in many previous existences, obtain it.
Knowing the salvation of King Pariksit, the lotus-born one compared the holy
texts and the great Puranas. Among them, Srimad Bhagavatam came to be
had even by gods. Thinking like this many good, pure sages looked upon
Srimad Bhagavatam as a Form of Lord Visnu. By reciting and listening to it a
man goes to Lord Vishnu’s Abode. O good one, what is the use of talking too
much? The good men should everyday drink the nectar of Srimad
Bhagavatam, which records the Lila of Krsna.
Sanaka and others, full of compassion, formerly told it to Narada who
had already heard it from Lord Brahma.
Saunaka said:
Having obtained excellent knowledge called Srimad Bhagavatam from
his father, Narada who knows the facts about the three worlds, always roams
over the earth. Where did Narada meet those noble ones from whom the
divine sage heard the manner of hearing Srimad Bhagavatam?
Suta said:
About this I shall tell you an account full of devotion, which formerly
Sukra told me. Once the sages Sanaka and others saw at the bank of Visala,
Narada, with his mind dejected. The sages, given to thinking about the
Supreme Lord, and full of amazement, seeing their brother thinking like that,
asked him.
Kumaras said:
O brahmana, what are you, very much helpless and afflicted, thinking
about? This is not proper for you who are associated with bliss. Tell us the
cause of your dejection.
Narada said:
Knowing the earth to be the best of all the best, having various kinds of
holy places, of an auspicious nature, I wandered here and there. I visited
places like; Puskara, Prayaga, Kasi, the bank of Godavari, Hari-ksetra,
Kuruksetra, Sriranga, Setubandhana, but nowhere did I find happiness, giving
delight to my mind. Now Kali, the friend of unrighteousness, afflicts the
earth. On the earth truth, purity, pity, and charity exist nowhere. People are
selfish, miserable and are false witnesses. They are lethargic, dull-witted,
and resort to heretical men. Householders attach too much importance to
women: religious students don’t observe vows, vanaprasthas are living in
cities; those who have renounced the world are sense-enjoyers. Through
greed they sell their daughters; they are fallen from good behavior; and are
hypocrites.
The hermitages, holy places, rivers, and pools are besieged by
Yavanas. The temples are destroyed by the wicked. A meditating saint, a
siddha, or a wise man doing good deeds is rarely seen. Today, fulfillment of
vows is reduced to ash due to the wild fire of the Kali-age. Brahmanas sell
religious rites to maintain their families, and women overly adore their hair.
Once I reached the auspicious bank of the Yamuna. There I saw
Vrndavana where Krsna had sported. O best of sages, listen to the wonder I
saw there. A young lady, with her mind dejected, was seated there. Two old
men, breathing slowly and senseless, lay by her side. Weeping before these
two, she was nursing them, trying to wake them. I saw her looking into the
directions, as it were, looking for her protector. Repeatedly she was fanned
and advised by many women. Seeing her from a distance, I approached her
through curiosity. Seeing me, the young lady got up and spoke these words.
The young lady said:
O good man, stay here for a moment, and remove my anxiety. O good
one, the sight of good men like you completely destroys streams of sins. I
have had your sight due to my deeds in former existences. Therefore, O you,
who respect others, please remove my mental agony.
Narada said:
Thus addressed by her, I, with my hear affectionate through pity, and
full of curiosity, asked the beautiful lade: “O good one, who are you? Who are
these two? Who are these lotus-eyed ones? Tell me the entire cause of your
grief.” Thus asked by me, that young lady, with her mind afflicted, told me
her entire agony and its cause.
The young lady said:
I am known as Bhakti, Devotion. These two are my excellent sons
named Jnana(knowledge), and Vairagya (detachment). They are hurt due to
contact with destiny. These rivers like Ganga have come here to serve me. O
Narada, by these I am everyday served with respect. I am still not getting
any happiness; I am worn weak all around. O best brahmana, listen to my
account due to which I became unhappy.
I was born in the Dravida country and brought up in Karnata. For a little
while I lived in Maharastra, and became old in Gujerat. There, due to contact
with heretics, I got my limbs cut. For a long time I have become weak, and
became dull along with my sons.
O Narada, through luck I have reached this Vrndavana: I have, as it
were, again become a beautiful young girl. Here these two sons have their
minds greatly afflicted. Now I am unable to go, leaving them who are very
old. How have I become a young girl? Why have my sons become old? Due to
what is this difference among us, who were of the same condition? O you
who know the religious practices, O kind one, O protector of the helpless, tell
me truly the cause of this situation.
Narada said:
Thus asked by her, I thought for a moment and again spoke to Bhakti
who was emaciated for a long time: “O sinless one, through my wisdom I see
all your account. Do not be sad. O wise one, Visnu will make you happy. O
child, this is Kali Yuga, fearful and destroying all goodness. Due to it, good
conduct, the path of Yoga, and penance, are all violated. Sinful men, doing
dishonest and bad acts, become deities in this age, and the good are much
afflicted with grief, and the bad are delighted at heart.
No strong minded or wise men are seen. This earth, having the burden
of these groups of wicked men, is not fit to be touched or seen. This is the
order of the age, everyday auspiciousness is given up. O beautiful lady, no
one will either see you, or these sons of yours. Men, full of attachment, have
abandoned you, therefore you have become infirm. Due to you contact with
Vrndavana you have again become young. This Vrndavana, where Bhakti has
become young again, is blessed. These sons are asleep due to nil joy being
experienced by them.
Bhakti said:
How did Pariksit install this impure Kali? Why did Lord Visnu, given to
kindness, ignore impiety? Remove this doubt of mine; I am happy to hear
your words.
Narada said:
O brahmana, having heard her words, I spoke again; “ O girl, if you
have asked affectionately, then listen. Since the day Sri Krsna left this earth,
going to His own abode, Kali, obstructer of truth has flourished. A king saw
him in his conquest of the world and yielded to him certain places of
residence.
Yet for those who always remember the virtues of Sri Krsna, Kali does
not overcome that person. In the Kali age an intelligent man gets that fruit,
by narrating the accounts of Visnu, which are not otherwise obtainable
through penance or meditation. Understanding the difficulties of the Kali age,
the Lord has established this for the good of those born in the age of Kali.
Due to bad actions, all excellence has gone away from every place.
Objects lie on the ground like husks without seeds. Brahmanas recite the
Bhagavata out of greed for wealth, men doing cruel deeds, atheists, and
hypocrites stay at all holy places. So the excellence has gone. With minds
overtaken by passion, anger, great greed, they desire commence so-called
religious acts. Therefore the excellence of these religious acts has gone.
The fruits of meditation are unavailable because of men’s
uncontrollable minds, and lack of studying holy texts. The wise dally with
their wives like he-buffalo. They are expert in producing sons and not in
accomplishing salvation. Devotion to Visnu is nowhere. All are led by
tradition and blaspheming gods. This is the practice in the age of Kali.
Therefore, remembering the Lotus-Eyed Visnu will alone get you
happiness.” Hearing these words uttered by me, Bhakti was amazed. Having
praised me, she spoke as follows;
Bhakti said:
O divine sage, you are blessed. Due to my good luck you have come
here. The sight of the good gives all prosperity in the world. Now advise me
in such a way that I will have a means for my happiness. O brahmana, in this
world there is nothing to be accomplished by you. I salute Brahma’s son.
Srimad Bhagavatam, the Destroyer of All Miseries
Suta said:
O kind sages, listen to what was told by Narada when he was thus
requested by that extremely helpless Bhakti.
Narada said:
O girl, do be sad in vain. Having placed your mind in your heart,
remember Sri Krsna’s lotus-like Feet. By that you will obtain happiness. That
Krsna Who protected Draupadi from insult of the Kauravas, who looked after
the beautiful Gopis, has not gone anywhere else. O Bhakti, you are dear to
Him, even more than His own existence. Called by you, the Lord will come
even to mean houses. In the three ages like Satya, knowledge and
detachment accomplished salvation. In the Kali age, Bhakti, devotion alone
brings about self-realization. Deciding like this, He, of the form of knowledge,
delighted in mind, expanded you from His own Divine Form. With your palms
joined you then asked Hari, “What do I do now”, Sri Krsna then ordered you,
“Nourish my devotees.”
You accepted this order, and Hari was pleased with you. He gave
Salvation as your maid, and Knowledge and Detachment as your sons.
Remaining in Vaikuntha you always nourish your devotees. To nourish your
devotees you resorted to your shadow form, or resemblance, salvation.
Knowledge and Detachment came here to earth, with you, and from Satya to
Dvapara Yuga, Salvation stayed here as well.
But in the Kali age, Salvation became emaciated, and she suffered
from diseases due to heretics. By your order she again went back to
Vaikuntha. On merely being remembered by you, she quickly comes back
here. Looking upon these two as your sons, you have protected them by your
side. Due to being ignored in the Kali age, both of them have become dull
and old. Yet should abandon your anxiety, I shall think of a means to help
you.
O beautiful lady, there is no other age like Kali. In it I shall make you
known in every house. If by obscuring other practices, and putting forth
great festivals I shall not be able to promote you, then I am not Hari’s
servant. Those living beings, even though sinful, who are endowed with you,
Bhakti, in the age of Kali, will, being fearless, go to Hari’s abode.
Those of pure form, who are devoted to you, always of the form of
love, will not see Yama even in a dream. An evil spirit, a goblin, a demon, or
an asura is not capable of touching or seeing those whose minds are full of
devotion.
Hari is not obtained by means of austerities, Vedas, knowledge, or
religious acts. He is obtained by devotion (love), only. The proof of this are
the Gopis of Vrndavana. Men of righteous act might have devotion after a
thousand existences it is so rare. In the Kali age, devotion alone excels every
other practice. By means of devotion, Sri Krsna stands before the devotee.
Those who offend Bhakti, perish in the three worlds. Formerly Durvasa, who
condemned Bhakti, suffered misery.
Enough of virtuous conduct, enough of pilgrimages to holy places,
enough of impersonal meditation, enough of sacrifices and narration of wise
tales. Bhakti alone always gives salvation.
Thus addressed by me, and having heard her own greatness, she, with
her entire body full
of joy again, said these words to me.
Bhakti said:
“O Narada, you are blessed. You have a steady affection for me. I
shall never let go your attention to me. O good one, by you, kind to me, my
suffering is destroyed in a moment. My two sons do not have understanding.
Rouse these two.”
Narada said:
“Hearing these words of hers, having pity, and touching them
with my hand, proceeded to rouse them. Bringing my mouth near their ears,
I loudly said, “Jnana, rise quickly. O Vairagya, awake.” Though repeatedly
being aroused by the sounds of the Vedas, by the recitals of the Gita, they
did not get roused. Not seeing anything with their eyes, and languidly
yawning, both were gray-haired like cranes, and had their bodies dry like
wood. These two thin with hunger, looked at me, and then went back to
sleep. Then I was full of thought “What should I do now? Oh, how will their
sleep go away? Their old age is severe.”
O best of brahmanas, thinking like this, I constantly remembered
Govinda. Just then here was heard a divine voice: “O sage, do not be
depressed. Your efforts will be fruitful. There is no doubt. For this purpose O
divine sage, do a good deed. Good men, ornaments of the virtuous, will tell
you that good deed. When that good deed is done, the sleep and old age of
these two will disappear in a moment. Bhakti, devotion, will spread
everywhere.”
O brahmanas, even after having distinctly heard this divine voice, I
could not make out as to what was told in such a secretive manner. What is
that deed due to which the two would be endowed with understanding?
Where would be the good ones? How will they tell that good deed to me?
Then O brahmanas, having left the two sons there, I went out of Vrndavana,
and asked the best of brahmanas here and there. Having heard the entire
account, with their minds amazed, they could not understand the import of
the divine voice, and could not give a reply. Some said, “It cannot be
comprehended (what is this good deed).” Others said, “It cannot be
understood.” Others, thinking again and again, kept mum. This triad of great
souls, (Bhakti and the two sons) could not be roused even by repeated
recitations of the Gita, Vedas and Vedanta. Oh, how cruel is fate! How can
other human beings do that which the meditating saint Narada himself could
not understand?”
Then being thoughtful, I came to Badarikasrama. I determined to
practice penance for that purpose. Just then I saw the best of sages, Sanaka
and others, bright like a crore of suns. I spoke to those best sages:
Narada said:
I saw you due to great luck. Therefore, O noble ones, with your
minds pleased, you may please tell me the means for awakening these
three. You are the greatest among the meditating saints. You are vastly
intelligent and very learned, you Kumaras, five years old in appearance, are
the ancestors of all. You always live in Vaikuntha; you are always engaged in
narrating the glory of Sri Visnu. You are intoxicated by the account, the
nectar of Visnu-lila. You are devoted to remembering Him. Therefore old age,
the Daughter of Time does not trouble you. Due to just the knitting of your
eyebrows, formerly two doorkeepers of Visnu became demons for three
existences, and again regained their status. Please tell me the means which
was told by the heavenly voice.
O kind ones, please tell me what should be done and in what
way. The wise ones should well tell me how Bhakti, Jnana, and Vairagya
would secure happiness, and again attain fame in all the worlds.
Sri Kumaras said:
O divine sage, do not be anxious. Have delight in your mind. There is a
means in this matter, which can be easily had, and which gives happiness to
the world. O Narada, you are blessed. You are the crest-jewel of the detached
ones. You are the foremost among those who are fit for Sri Krsna’s love. You
are the best of speakers. O divine sage, it is no wonder for you, engrossed in
the means of devotion, to spread devotion properly on the earth. For
securing divine facilities the sages have devised various means, and they
could only be attained with exertion, and all of them mostly give heaven as
their fruit.
The path leading to Vaikuntha is hidden in the worlds. A good
man, teaching it, is generally not found. O best sage, that good act which the
divine voice indicated to you, is known by the ancients to be the sacrifice of
Bhagavat-katha. We feel that the recitation of Srimad Bhagavatam told by
Suka, will give happiness to Bhakti, Jnana, and Vairagya. All these sins of Kali,
afraid of the sound of Srimad Bhagavatam, run away like wolves at the roar
of lions. Bhakti, along with Jnana and Vairagya, producing feelings of joy in
every house, in every person, will sport happily.
Suta said:
Having heard the Kumara’s words, revered Narada, with his mind
delighted, looking to their prosperity, spoke again.
Narada said:
These three, (Bhakti, Jnana, and Vairagya), covered by Kali’s noxious
qualities, are not rising, though roused by the sounds of the Vedas and
Vedangas, and even by the recitation of the Gita. How then will they rise now
by this recitation of the Bhagavata? You, whose sight is fruitful, should please
remove this doubt. O you, who are affectionate to those who seek your
shelter, please do not hesitate in this matter.
Then Sanaka and the others, detached, and living in perpetual
celibacy, the ancient brahmanas, who had supernatural faculties,
respectfully said to Narada:
Kumaras said:
The Bhagavata account has risen from the quintessence of the Vedas
and the Upanisads. Therefore, it appears to be the best. As the taste is
present in a mango fruit from the bottom to the top, but is different when
separated and drunk, and delights all, as ghee present in milk is not thought
to be pleasant, but when separated is divine, and increases the joy of Gods,
as sugar remains pervading the bottom, middle, and top of a sugarcane, and
is sweeter when separated, so is this Srimad Bhagavatam amongst all the
Vedic knowledge.
This Purana named Srimad Bhagavatam is relish itself: It is
manifested for the happiness of Bhakti, Jnana, and Vairagya, to Brahma,
remaining in the lotus born from the navel of Sri Krsna. The four verses of its
summary contain the totality of the Absolute Truth.
That account was narrated to you, Oh Narada, by Brahma. You
also narrated it to Vyasadeva, to destroy all torments. By remembering it
Vyasadeva became full of joy, and in a manner delighting the soul,
composed and expanded this work. Due to what are you amazed, that you
are asking again and again. This Holy Text of Srimad Bhagavatam is capable
of attracting Sri Krsna Himself.
Suta said:
Having heard these desired words spoken by the foremost ones like
Sanaka, the best of saints, Narada, devoutly held their feet, and saluting
them by bowing his head, said to them who destroy the misery of the world
Narada said:
“Your sight destroys the stream of sins. It gives bliss to those who are
afflicted by the wild fire in the form of the misery of mundane existence. I
have sought your shelter for the manifestation of LOVE of God. If due to the
rise of religious merit earned in many existences a lucky person gets the
company of good souls, his great darkness of delusion caused by ignorance
will perish, and great Holy discrimination springs forth in his heart…..
Jaya Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya Astottara-sata Sri
Srimad His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! BBT ki jaya! Gaura-bhakta
vrnda’s ki jaya!
