- A structural review of the main topics of Bhagavatam. Lect.3 - Bhakti Vijnana Goswami

Three levels of Srimad Bhagavatam. ŚB आभासश्च निरोधश्च यतोऽस्त्यध्यवसीयते । स आश्रय: परं ब्रह्म परमात्मेति शब्द्यते ॥ ७ ॥ ābhāsaś ca nirodhaś ca yato ’sty adhyavasīyate sa āśrayaḥ paraṁ brahma paramātmeti śabdyate Synonyms ābhāsaḥ — the cosmic manifestation; ca — and; nirodhaḥ — and its winding up; ca — also; yataḥ — from the source; asti — is; adhyavasīyate — become manifested; saḥ — He; āśrayaḥ — reservoir; param — the Supreme; brahma — Being; paramātmā — the Supersoul; iti — thus; śabdyate — called. Translation The supreme one who is celebrated as the Supreme Being or the Supreme Soul is the supreme source of the cosmic manifestation as well as its reservoir and winding up. Thus He is the Supreme Fountainhead, the Absolute Truth. The first time we read scriptures to live happily in this world. Second time when we read scriptures, we try to extract what they say about liberation. The third meaning of scriptures is bhakti and the highest manifestation of this is “Srimad-Bhagavatam“. The reason why nine topics of “Srimad-Bhagavatam“ are being explained is to show the difference between jiva and the Lord, and the importance of bhakti. “Srimad-Bhagavatam“ describes asraya in two tracks: 1) the general description of asraya, which is God; 2) very specific description, which is Krisna. There are three metaphors in “Srimad-Bhagavatam“: 1) dipa or spiritual lamp; 2) sun, it illuminates everything so that we could see more clearly; 3) ripe juicy fruit. Two topics of “Srimad-Bhagavatam“ among ten topics are like adhiatma dipa or the spiritual knowledge: sarga and nirodha – we are not in control of our birth and death, the Lord controls everything, so there is nothing to fear. Seven other topics visarga, sthanam, posanam, uti, manvantara, isanukatha, mukti are compared with the sun. “Srimad-Bhagavatam“ gives complete understanding, and while understanding all these topics you will be able to live properly and to get mukti. If the real devotee, who has the key to the third level of the meaning of “Srimad-Bhagavatam“ – it’s like a ripe juicy fruit, - if he reads “Bhagavatam“, he will become completely ecstatic. The sun is different in different zodiacs. “Srimad-Bhagavatam“ has twelve cantos, and the description of asraya is different in different cantos. The main meaning of the first canto is adhikari-tattva, or who is qualified to speak and to hear “Srimad-Bhagavatam“. If we don’t understand the first canto, we will not be able to understand the whole book. There are three levels of speakers and listeners: 1) Suta Goswami and sages of Naimisaranya; 2) Vyasadeva and Narada Muni; 3) Sukadeva Goswami and Maharaja Pariksit, they have the highest level of knowledge and renunciation. When the more qualified pair of speaker and listener is being described, then the more emphasis is given to the listener. If you live the life of a devotee, you will be able to understand “Srimad-Bhagavatam“. If we want to be immune to the vices of the age of Kali, we have to strictly follow four regulative principles, that is a very important qualification to understand “Srimad-Bhagavatam“.