20201107 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.41

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
hariḥ oṁ tat sat

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.41

tad idaṁ grāhayām āsa
sutam ātmavatāṁ varam
sarva-vedetihāsānāṁ
sāraṁ sāraṁ samuddhṛtam

Translation: Śrī Vyāsadeva delivered it to his son, who is the most respected among the self-realized, after extracting the cream of all Vedic literatures and histories of the universe.

Purport: Men with a poor fund of knowledge only accept the history of the world from the time of Buddha, or since 600 B.C., and prior to this period all histories mentioned in the scriptures are calculated by them to be only imaginary stories. That is not a fact. All the stories mentioned in the Purāṇas and Mahābhārata, etc., are actual histories, not only of this planet but also of millions of other planets within the universe. Sometimes the history of planets beyond this world appears to such men to be unbelievable. But they do not know that different planets are not equal in all respects and that therefore some of the historical facts derived from other planets do not correspond with the experience of this planet. Considering the different situation of different planets and also time and circumstances, there is nothing wonderful in the stories of the Purāṇas, nor are they imaginary. We should always remember the maxim that one man’s food is another man’s poison. We should not, therefore, reject the stories and histories of the Purāṇas as imaginary. The great ṛṣis like Vyāsa had no business putting some imaginary stories in their literatures.

So Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is worshipable, literary incarnation of the Lord. And in many parts of at least eastern India, the Bhāgavatam is worshiped. In Odisha, they have Bhāgavata Tungis. They worship the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there. In Assam they have the nāmagad. They chant the holy name, and they worship the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In Assam they do this. So, we also worship the Bhāgavatam. So this way, especial on Bhadra Pūrṇimā, we offer respect to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, worship the Lord and do ārati. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is worshipable to us. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has the synopsis of various histories of the universe. These histories may be in other planets, therefore people think it cannot be true. There could be some other situations there. We don’t have knowledge but we can think this way, as we don’t have experience of other planets. This, Śrīla Vyāsadeva, told to his son, Śukadeva. And Śukadeva Gosvāmī accepted this. That is why therefore we should take this as a serious work, not a fictitious writing. Parīkṣit Mahārāja sacrificed his life to hear this subject. All of us can make our lives successful, by the process of his hearing of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. So the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is something that every devotee should study.

I was thinking, yesterday morning and last night also, Śrīla Prabhupāda had desired that all his disciples, grand disciples, all study his books. He made this system of Bhakti-śāstrī, Bhakti Vaibhava, Bhaktivedanta, Bhakti Sārvabhauma. So all the devotees should read these books and get all the titles. Atula Kṛṣṇa dāsa, he has told the south Indian leaders that they don’t have to take the course, they just have to pass the test. So in Māyāpur we are very fortunate, if we want we can take the course, but if we know the stuff, we can just take the exam. Navadvīpa dhāma was originally a very special place of learning. So I was thinking how all the devotees can study the books of Śrīla Prabhupāda in a systematic manner. Māyāpur should be a special place for studying the books of Śrīla Prabhupāda. I say for taking second initiation, they should have Bhakti-śāstrī, and should have read till 3^rd canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. So, many people request that gurudeva I cannot do all the reading, I don’t remember so much, I forget, I drank milk. I remember that Śrīla Prabhupāda, one time he was thinking that there is so much recognition of the zonal secretary, temple presidents. He was thinking that they are getting all the recognitions, what about all the other sevas? What about the pujaris, the cooks, the saṅkīrtana devotees, youth preachers, the ladies who are expert in certain services? Śrīla Prabhupāda was thinking that everybody should get some kind of recognition or title. Those who are expert, they should teach others. Not that they get puffed up. This is just so that they are able to teach others. I was thinking that this was Śrīla Prabhupāda’s desires, we should institute this. I don’t know if this will be taken up by the whole ISKCON, the whole GBC? If in Māyāpur at least we could do. Or at least in my zone, I can do. Like Śukadeva Gosvāmī was recognized as Mahā Muni. He was considered to have taken the cream of the cream. He gave that to Parīkṣit Mahārāja. Now that knowledge is available to us. This is an invaluable treasure.

We should read the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, again and again. I read the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam many times. I am reading again. I find newer and newer things now. I remember how Dhṛtarāṣṭra receiving instructions from Vidura, he retired and he consumed himself in the aṣṭāṅga-yoga fire. And how Arjuna was in separation when Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa had left the planet, and how Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja had to deal with the situation. So we remember how Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja handed over the whole kingdom of the whole world, to Parīkṣit Mahārāja. And he gave up his royal clothes, royal throne and he wore like simple clothes. He looked like a street urchin, a beggar, no one could recognize him, and he walked towards the Himalayas. He completely freed himself from all attachments, and he went to the Himalayas. This way, one can learn how to go back home, back to Godhead by preparing themselves.

Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying in the purport, that today the politicians if they can they want to stay in power even if they are 90 years old or 95 and never give up! So here, Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja was emperor of the entire world, he gave up everything. Now it is Kali-yuga, and we are recommended to stay in the āśrama. People are not so pious. Anyway, people in previous ages were thinking how to make their human life successful. So like this, we should try to make our human lives successful by learning different practices of bhakti-yoga. And, I was thinking that every devotee, every disciple, they should reach the highest platform of perfection. So, the real purpose of human life is to realize that we are the self, and to serve Kṛṣṇa. So in this way, studying the Bhāgavatam, applying this in our lives, this is the real purpose of our life.

We will take some questions.

Question: Many people, after hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from different speakers out of ISKCON become somewhat attracted to spirituality. However, later after even coming in contact with ISKCON, and understanding its authenticity in presenting Kṛṣṇa consciousness, still remain attached to those speakers. For whatever emotional reasons and considering them as patha-pradarśaka-gurus. How can we encourage them to hear only from bona fide representatives of Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Jayapatākā Swami: First, it is important to understand if these other speakers are also bona fide or not. If they fall into the category of apasampradāya? So, that way they should be gradually trained, how they should recognize the proper bona fide sampradāya. I don’t know particularly the people you are referring to are all apasampradāyas? Because if they are bona fide sampradāyas, then we don’t want to commit any Vaiṣṇava aparādhā. We should also praise Śrīla Prabhupāda, how he presented the philosophy in a very simple straightforward way. Like that, don’t criticize others, unless there is some specific reason to criticize them. Better to glorify Śrīla Prabhupāda, and try to build up your faith in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings.

Nitāi Candra Nimāi dāsa: Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja. As you mentioned we need to train different divisions of services, can you please clarify Guru Mahārāja, what should be the basis of this training?

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying that the standard for each service should be established. Like there is a Deity Worship minister. So that minister, he may create some standards for pujaris. Ati-pūjārī, mahā-pūjārī. Extraordinary pūjārī, great pūjārī. Like that amongst the cooks, who is the expert cook. Who knows how to cook Bengali preps, Gujarati preps, South Indian preps, Italian preps. Any volunteers for testing? Many people are raising their hands! So, like, that I saw, maybe, about 20 different gośālās in south India. So, maybe our Cow-minister, he can make some standards for caring for the cows. Just like for Bharata Nāṭyam, they have different degrees, so like that different things – I am not an expert in every activity, but that Śrīla Prabhupāda wanted that they should be recognized. They should teach others.

Jayarāseśvarī devī dāsī: In the present situation where as gṛhasthas, we want to take vānaprastha and lead a life reading the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and being Kṛṣṇa conscious, the situation is such that I cannot disentangle myself because of various reasons. How to deal with this situation? Please guide dear gurudeva.

Jayapatākā Swami: Very good question. I think that the people in their working lives, they should save ahead for their retirement. Then the point is that, we are not like in the Dvāpara-yuga or other yugas, that we go to the forest. Now there is no forest, they have cut all down! So anyway, the point is that we can concentrate on preaching and spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Some people retired from the Middle East, and bought a flat in Māyāpur, and they are staying here doing some sevā. So, they attend maṅgala-ārati, they go to temple programs. They use their abilities to do sevā for the temple. This way, they study Śrīla Prabhupāda books, and they do sevā. So this is more practical, in the present scenario.

Question: I am now taking Bhakti Vaibhava course and although I am enjoying it immensely, I sometimes feel that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is so advanced that I find it difficult to understand – particularly, the 5^th Canto. How should we approach the Bhāgavatam or how should or could we understand better? Phaṇeśvarī Lakṣmī devī dāsī.

Jayapatākā Swami: Phaṇeśvarī Lakṣmī are you in San Diego area? Anyway, I think that Śukadeva Gosvāmī explained in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that nobody can understand and explain the universe. So he tried to do something, but he expressed his incapability of properly doing it. So don’t worry about not understanding the 5^th canto. If you understand it fully, tell us! We have a whole committee, who is trying to present that in the West Wing, in the TOVP. Anyway, apart from that, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is mostly understandable. In the 5^th canto we saw that it is describing the way that Brahmā, the higher entities see the universe. But the universe as seen by the demons, is presented in the Sūrya Siddhānta. And that was given some 174 million years ago, to the Māyā demon, by the Sun god. So, that shows the planets the way we see them. So like that there are different visions, different points of view. So that way we are using Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5^th canto and Sūrya Siddhānta to present in the TOVP, West Wing. You can come and visit that when it is ready!!

Question: [Bengali] Guru Mahārāja. Why don’t we get any benefit from hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from professional reciters and atheists?

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the special science of bhakti-yoga, devotional service. How will those who are atheistic, understand what is devotional service? And how will they make others understand? They will explain in an impersonal or different way. That way, Śrīla Prabhupāda had given the example that milk is nectarean, but if that milk is touched by the lips of a poisonous snake, then that milk becomes poisonous. This way Devānanda Paṇḍita also was reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, but in an impersonal way. But Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura came one day and just hearing the verse, he started crying in ecstasy. Devānanda Paṇḍita said, what is this? Throw him away. He is creating disturbance and crying in ecstasy. So like that, he ended up committing an offence to Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. Then later he understood that it was his mistake. This way, non-vaiṣṇavas, atheists if we hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from them, we get other results.

Thank you very much, thank you Sujitendriya, thank you all the listeners. Hope you liked the class. Haribol! I am very grateful to the volunteers who wanted to test the cooks!