Srimad Bhagavatam

1. Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 Chapter 1 Text 2 Srimad-Bhagavatam – best literature in all of creations.

2. Text 2 dharmaù projjhita-kaitavo ’tra paramo nirmatsaräëäà satäà vedyaà västavam atra vastu çivadaà täpa-trayonmülanam çrémad-bhägavate mahä-muni-kåte kià vä parair éçvaraù sadyo hådy avarudhyate ’tra kåtibhiù çuçrüñubhis tat-kñaëät “Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhägavata Puräëa propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhägavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyäsadeva [in his maturity], is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhägavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.”

3. Center of activities Four principles of religion – driven by material consciousness. Modern society not interested in religion – attaining economic development without religion. All these states are simply different types of sense gratification. In the Vedas, the above-mentioned four activities are prescribed in the regulative way so that there will not be any undue competition for sense gratification.

4. Çrémad-Bhägavatam • Çrémad-Bhägavatam is transcendental to all these sense gratificatory activities. • Understood only by the pure devotees of the Lord who are transcendental to competitive sense gratification. • Competitionless society. • Three paths mentioned in the Vedas – all for sense gratification. • Çrémad-Bhägavatam gives information about the Absolute Truth in His personal feature, which is highest.

5. Substance & categories. • karma-käëòa, jïäna-käëòa and upäsanä-käëòa. • Çrémad-Bhägavatam is superior to all of these because it aims at the Supreme Truth which is the substance or the root of all categories. • From Çrémad-Bhägavatam one can come to know the substance as well as the categories. • The energy of the Lord is simultaneously one with and different from the Lord. • This is answer to the mental speculators’ attempt to establish the energy as the Absolute.

6. Kicking out superficial religion • Çrémad-Bhägavatam begins with the surrender of the devotee unto the Absolute Person. • In the material conception, one falsely thinks himself the lord of all he surveys, and therefore he is always troubled by the threefold miseries of life. • But as soon as one comes to know his real position as transcendental servant, he at once becomes free from all miseries. • By service one is immediately freed from material encumbrances.

7. Spotless Puräëa • In other Puräëas there are different methods set forth by which one can worship the demigods. But in the Bhägavatam only the Supreme Lord is mentioned. • Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu has recommended the Çrémad-Bhägavatam as the spotless Puräëa and distinguishes it from all other Puräëas.

8. Learning Srimad-Bhagavatam • The proper method for receiving this transcendental message is to hear it submissively. • word çuçrüñu means one must be anxious to hear this transcendental message. • Less fortunate persons are not at all interested in hearing this Çrémad-Bhägavatam. • Without undergoing the different stages of realization set forth in the Vedas, one can be lifted immediately to the position of paramahaàsa simply by agreeing to receive this message.

9. King Parikshit • Ideal example. • Going for hunting, cold reception in the hermitage of sage, anger due to hunger and thirst, garland of snake to sage. • Curse by brahmana boy. • Renouncing kingdom and everything to simply sit and hear submissiverly. • Attending perfection simply by hearing glories of Supreme Lord. Singing and hearing is done best, by simply chanting, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.