Explaining the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam - The Natural Commentary on Vedānta
In the Vedic tradition, the Vedānta-sūtra represents the culmination of all philosophical inquiry. However, the sūtras (codes) are terse and easily misunderstood by the uninitiated. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that to prevent such misunderstandings, the author, Śrīla Vyāsadeva, wrote his own natural commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra. That brilliant, illuminating commentary is the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Because it is the ultimate spiritual science, the Bhāgavatam must be explained and heard with the utmost respect and strict adherence to authorized authorities.
The Original Transmission of Knowledge
The knowledge contained in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is not the product of human mental speculation; it descends directly from the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently reminds us of the original chain of disciplic succession (paramparā). The Supreme Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, first explained the essence of the Bhāgavatam in four verses (the catuḥ-ślokī) to Lord Brahmā, who then explained it to Nārada, who instructed Vyāsadeva, who finally taught it to his liberated son, Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
- Brahma said to Narada, "Whatever I have spoken to you about the Bhagavatam was explained to me by the Lord and I am advising you to expand these topics nicely so that people may easily understand the mysterious bhakti-yoga by transcendental loving service."
- Sukadeva Gosvami explained the cream of Srimad-Bhagavatam in four verses, which had been explained to Lord Brahma at the end of the severe austerities he performed for one thousand celestial years.
- Whatever was spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to Lord Brahma in those four verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam was also explained to Narada by Lord Brahma.
- Srila Vyasadeva also instructed the Bhagavatam to his own son, Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, who was already at the liberated stage of transcendence. Srila Sukadeva realized it personally and then explained it.
The Folly of Professional Reciters
Because the Bhāgavatam is so highly revered, many unscrupulous people try to use it for material gain. Śrīla Prabhupāda heavily critiques "professional reciters" who hold seven-day reading events (Bhāgavata-saptāha) for money. They often skip the foundational philosophy of the first nine cantos to prematurely explain the intimate pastimes of Kṛṣṇa in the Tenth Canto. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out the absurdity of rushing through this profound scripture.
- They (professional reciters) want to finish Srimad-Bhagavatam in a week, although it is so sublime that even one verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam, if properly explained, cannot be completed in three months.
- How you can finish Bhagavatam in seven days? You cannot finish even one word. My Guru Maharaja explained Srimad-Bhagavatam, the first verse, janmady asya yatah (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.1), in Dacca, for three months. Actually it is so profound.
- My Guru Maharaja explained this verse in Dacca for three months. Janmady asya. (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.1) Actually, it is so important.
- Impersonalists twist some meanings out of Bhagavatam to suit and support impersonalist views, and the professional readers at once go to the Tenth Canto to misexplain the most confidential part of the Lord's pastimes.
Rejecting Impersonalist Interpretations
The Bhāgavatam is strictly a text of bhakti-yoga (devotional service). Therefore, any attempt to explain it using Māyāvādī (impersonalist) philosophy is a severe offense. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is Kṛṣṇa Himself, was entirely uncompromising on this point, ensuring that the Bhāgavatam was only explained in the light of pure, unalloyed devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- When Lord Caitanya beat Advaita Acarya for explaining Srimad-Bhagavatam from an impersonalist viewpoint opposed to the principles of bhakti-yoga, Acyutananda was also present.
- Asuras in the dress of sannyasis even explain the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam in different ways according to their own imaginations. Thus they continue to remain asuras birth after birth.
- In the present town of Navadvipa, which was formerly known as Kuliya, Caitanya showed such mercy to him (Devananda Pandita) that he gave up the Mayavadi interpretation of Srimad-Bhagavatam and learned how to explain Srimad-Bhagavatam in terms of bhakti.
- Put forth your explanation of Srimad-Bhagavatam following in the footsteps of Sridhara Svami. Giving up your false pride, worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.
Lord Caitanya: The Ideal Acarya
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu set the perfect example of how an ācārya should relish and explain the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. His mastery was unparalleled. To prove the absolute supremacy of devotional service, Lord Caitanya famously took a single verse from the Bhāgavatam (the ātmārāma verse) and brilliantly extracted sixty-one distinct, profound meanings from it.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as an ideal teacher, or acarya, explained Srimad-Bhagavatam very elaborately Himself. He sometimes also empowered His devotees to speak while He listened. This is the way an acarya should train his disciples.
- When Lord Caitanya explained this atmarama verse (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.10) to Srila Sanatana Gosvami, He described sixty-one meanings, and all of them point toward the devotional service of the Lord.
- Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recited some verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam and explained them vividly, thus enjoying the taste of transcendental sweetness with great happiness.
- Thereafter Sanatana Gosvami inquired from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu about all the conclusive statements concerning devotional service, and the Lord very vividly explained all the confidential meanings of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission was to present the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam exactly as it was explained by Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. By avoiding the pitfalls of professional recitation and impersonalist speculation, and by hearing the Bhāgavatam from a bona fide spiritual master, any sincere soul can grasp the highest transcendental knowledge and achieve pure love of Godhead.
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