The All Munificent Purushottama - Part 18

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

This is in continuation of the previous offerings wherein we have been meditating on the various incarnations of the Lord and how specifically the Lord manifested His quality of being a Purushottama.

For the people in age of Kali, who are short lived and spiritually unfortunate, it is difficult to read the Vedas and comprehend their meanings. So the Lord has mercifully incarnated in the form of Bhagavata purana. It contains all the activities of Purushottama in His various incarnations we discussed in earlier offerings. For reading Vedas and Vedanta there are many previous qualification needed and there are restrictions of time and place to read them. But the Lord has invested all His potency in Srimad Bhagavatam and there are no qualifications needed for hearing and reading this purana except that one should have a great desire for the same. For a person with genuine desire, the Purushottama enters the hearer in the form of sound vibration of the Bhagavatam and completely relieves him of all miseries and awards pure devotional service. Though Bhagavatam is the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta, it is accessible to one and all unlike the Vedas. So the Purushottama has manifested Himself in the form of Srimad Bhagavatam (which is most merciful and accessible) so that living entities can attain spiritual elevation. The Srimad Bhagavatam confirms this in  12.12.40

saṁsāra-sindhum ati-dustaram uttitīrṣor
nānyaḥ plavo bhagavataḥ puruṣottamasya
līlā-kathā-rasa-niṣevaṇam antareṇa
puṁso bhaved vividha-duḥkha-davārditasya

For a person who is suffering in the fire of countless miseries and who desires to cross the insurmountable ocean of material existence, there is no suitable boat except that of cultivating devotion to the transcendental taste for the narrations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s pastimes.

By listening to Bhagavatam one can attain the personal association of the Purushottama and hence Srila Prabhupada recommends in the purport of  Srimad Bhagavatam 5.6.16 “The pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees are recorded in Srimad Bhagavatam so that those who recite these pastimes and listen to them will become purified. nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā. As a matter of principle, devotees should read, speak and hear Srimad Bhagavatam persistently, twenty-four hours daily if possible.” When one becomes purified by the association of the Lord in His literary form, then dormant love of God is awakened and one gets spontaneous attraction for the Supreme Person Purushottama as mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 3.29.11-12

mad-guṇa-śruti-mātreṇa mayi sarva-guhāśaye
mano-gatir avicchinnā yathā gaṅgāmbhaso ’mbudhau
lakṣaṇaṁ bhakti-yogasya nirguṇasya hy udāhṛtam
ahaituky avyavahitāyā bhaktiḥ puruṣottame

The manifestation of unadulterated devotional service is exhibited when one’s mind is at once attracted to hearing the transcendental name and qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is residing in everyone’s heart. Just as the water of the Ganges flows naturally down towards the ocean, such devotional ecstasy, uninterrupted by any material condition, flows towards the Supreme Lord.

Two words are given here about the devotion ahaituky ‘without reason’ avyavahita means ‘without cessation’. So by hearing about the glories of Purushottama, who always sacrifices Himself for the benefit of others, one can attain pure bhakti which is ahaituki and avyavahita. Srila Prabhupada by his causeless mercy established temples all over the world and arranged for daily Bhagavatam classes so that people can come together and discuss the glories of Purushottama. Also he gave an illuminating commentary on the 15^th chapter of Bhagavad Gita namely Purushottama Yoga and enabled everyone to understand the glories of the Purushottama Sri Hari. And Srila Prabhupada states in the purport of above verse what benefit one gets by understanding the Purushottama. “By such puruṣottama-yoga, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-Gita, one is made perfect even during the present corporeal existence, and one exhibits all the good qualities of the Lord to the highest percentage.”

Krishna willing we shall see one more incarnation of Lord wherein He manifested the merciful quality of being Purushottama.

Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Narahari Krishna das
Chennai.