Glories of Srimad Bhagavatam - Part 1

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

Srimad Bhagavatam is non-different from Krishna. It is called as 'mantra-murti' - sound incarnation of the Lord. When Krishna winded up His pastimes in the material world and returned to Goloka, Kali entered. But Krishna mercifully left Srimad Bhagavatam behind, which like sun is dispelling the darkness of ignorance from our life and also protects us from the evil influence of Kali. In Canto 12, Chapter 13 of this great scripture Suta Goswami very nicely glorifies Srimad Bhagavatam. In verse 12.13.18 he says,

śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ purāṇam amalaṁ yad vaiṣṇavānāṁ priyaṁ
yasmin pāramahaṁsyam ekam amalaṁ jñānaṁ paraṁ gīyate
tatra jñāna-virāga-bhakti-sahitaṁ naiṣkarmyam āviskṛtaṁ
tac chṛṇvan su-paṭhan vicāraṇa-paro bhaktyā vimucyen naraḥ

Srimad Bhagavatam is the spotless purana. It is most dear to the Vaishnavas because it describes the pure and supreme knowledge of the paramahamsas. This Bhagavatam reveals the means for becoming free from all material work, together with the processes of transcendental knowledge, renunciation and devotion. Anyone who seriously tries to understand Srimad Bhagavatam, who properly hears and chants it with devotion, becomes completely liberated.

Since Krishna and His glories are unlimited, same holds true for Srimad Bhagavatam. This is one purana which is glorified by so many people in so many other puranas as well. In this offering we shall try to meditate on some of the glories of Srimad Bhagavatam as mentioned in Uttara khanda of Padmapurana.

When one performs devotional service, transcendental knowledge (jñāna) and renunciation (vairāgya) are like by-products of bhakti. In fact for Bhakti devi, jnaana and vairaagya are two children. Once when Narada was passing through Vrindavana, he saw Bhakti crying and two old men were lying unconscious near her. When Narada Muni inquired her about their identities, Bhakti devi narrated their story to him. Being pleased by the presence of pure devotee, Bhakti devi after offering her pranams to Narada Muni said that these two old-men were none other than her own children. She told him how due to fear of Kali yuga, she and her children had become weak. Srimad Bhagavatam verses 1.4.17 tells us the nature of Kali yuga.

bhautikānāṁ ca bhāvānāṁ śakti-hrāsaṁ ca tat-kṛtam
aśraddadhānān niḥsattvān durmedhān hrasitāyuṣaḥ

The great sage, who was fully equipped in knowledge, could see, through his transcendental vision, the deterioration of everything material, due to the influence of the age. He could also see that the faithless people in general would be reduced in duration of life and would be impatient due to lack of goodness.

In this verse, Srila Prabhupada in the word to word equivalents, mentions 'śakti-hrāsaṁ' as 'deterioration of natural power' - Simply by fearing the evil influence of Kali, the natural power of bhakti, jñāna and vairāgya became weak. By stepping into Vrindavan dham, Bhakti devi attained her youthfulness again, but her children remained unconscious. Unable to bear this agony, she requested Narada Muni to help her children. 

Krishna willing we shall continue more on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.