Srimad BhagavatamSrimad Bhagavatam1.1.11.1.1

janmädy asya yatojanmädy asya yato

What is Srimad Bhagavatam?What is Srimad Bhagavatam?– Bonafide commentary on Vedanta SutraBonafide commentary on Vedanta Sutra– By the same author Srila VyasadevaBy the same author Srila Vyasadeva

How the content of SB is arranged?How the content of SB is arranged?– Begins with Definition of Ultimate sourceBegins with Definition of Ultimate source– 18,000 verses, 12 cantos, begins with Gayatri18,000 verses, 12 cantos, begins with Gayatri

How to approach Bhagavatam?How to approach Bhagavatam?– Only qualification needed is to proceed step by step & Only qualification needed is to proceed step by step &

not jumping haphazardly.not jumping haphazardly.

ResultResult– By regular reading of SB from canto 1 thru 9 one is sure By regular reading of SB from canto 1 thru 9 one is sure

to become God-realized soul.to become God-realized soul.

OverviewOverview

First three texts form a prelude to the bookFirst three texts form a prelude to the book

11stst verse: Defines the Absolute Truth verse: Defines the Absolute Truth

22ndnd verse: Describes the Bhagavatam & verse: Describes the Bhagavatam & Defines the actual religionDefines the actual religion

33rdrd verse: Invites humanity to taste verse: Invites humanity to taste Bhagavatam’s sweetnessBhagavatam’s sweetness

Text 1Text 1

oà namo bhagavate oà namo bhagavate väsudeväyaväsudeväya

janmädy asya yato ’nvayäd itarataçjanmädy asya yato ’nvayäd itarataç cärtheñv abhijïaù svaräöcärtheñv abhijïaù svaräö

tene brahma hådä ya ädi-kavayetene brahma hådä ya ädi-kavaye muhyanti yat sürayaùmuhyanti yat sürayaùtejo-väri-mådäà yathätejo-väri-mådäà yathä

vinimayo yatra tri-sargo ’måñävinimayo yatra tri-sargo ’måñädhämnä svena sadä nirasta-kuhakaàdhämnä svena sadä nirasta-kuhakaà

satyaà paraà dhémahisatyaà paraà dhémahi

TranslationTranslation

O my Lord, Çré Kåñëa, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading O my Lord, Çré Kåñëa, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord Çré Kåñëa obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord Çré Kåñëa because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmäjé, the original living being. By Him even the Brahmäjé, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord Çré unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord Çré Kåñëa, who is eternally existent in the Kåñëa, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.

janmädy asya yatojanmädy asya yato

janma-ädi—creation, sustenance janma-ädi—creation, sustenance and destruction; and destruction; asya—of the manifested universes; asya—of the manifested universes; yataù—from whomyataù—from whom““I meditate upon Lord Çré Kåñëa I meditate upon Lord Çré Kåñëa because He is the Absolute Truth because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested and destruction of the manifested universes.”universes.”

Conception of Absolute Truth Conception of God

Indicates Summum BonumOr the Ultimate Source of all energies.

That substance from which nothing is different.

Indicates Controller

Both understanding are not on the same level.

Absolute truth is a person , the divine son of Vasudeva and Devaki known as Krsna , the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

(Para 1: Jiva Goswami’s Krsna Sandarbha, Brahma Samhita,

Sama Veda, Padma Purana – name of Krsna is the supreme)

Everything else including Brahma Jyoti – emanates from Him.

Ref. BG 10.8, BG 14.27

Krsna is the Absolute TruthKrsna is the Absolute TruthNarada asking from Brahma - Narada asking from Brahma - SB 2.5.4

““My dear father, what is the source of your knowledge? Under whose My dear father, what is the source of your knowledge? Under whose protection are you standing? And under whom are you working? What is protection are you standing? And under whom are you working? What is your real position? Do you alone create all entities with material elements by your real position? Do you alone create all entities with material elements by your personal energy?”your personal energy?”

Brahma’s reply - Brahma’s reply - SB 2.5.11 I create after the Lord's creation by His personal effulgence [known as the I create after the Lord's creation by His personal effulgence [known as the

brahmajyoti], just as when the sun manifests its fire, the moon, the brahmajyoti], just as when the sun manifests its fire, the moon, the firmament, the influential planets and the twinkling stars also manifest their firmament, the influential planets and the twinkling stars also manifest their brightness.brightness.

yasya prabhä prabhavato jagad-aëòa-koöi- yasya prabhä prabhavato jagad-aëòa-koöi- BS 5.40

From 3rd para

1. Inquiring about the origin – human intelligence2. SB - gives direct answers3. Analgoy of scientist / satellites – Krsna the Supremely intelligent.

From 4th paraKrsna is the chief individual person. Katha Upanishad 2.2.13, BG 7.7

Sustenance and Sustenance and Destruction;Destruction;

Also primarily carried out by the Lord Also primarily carried out by the Lord Krsna alone in the form of Vishnu-murty as Krsna alone in the form of Vishnu-murty as Ksirodakshayi Vishnu & Maha-Vishnu.Ksirodakshayi Vishnu & Maha-Vishnu.

Therefor Krsna is the source of everything Therefor Krsna is the source of everything creation, sustances and destruction and creation, sustances and destruction and thus,thus,

janmädy asya yatahjanmädy asya yatah

anvayäd itarataç cärtheñv anvayäd itarataç cärtheñv abhijïaùabhijïaù

anvayät—directly; anvayät—directly;

itarataù—indirectly; itarataù—indirectly;

ca—and; ca—and;

artheñu—purposes; artheñu—purposes;

abhijïaù—fully cognizant;abhijïaù—fully cognizant;

““He is directly and indirectly He is directly and indirectly conscious of all conscious of all manifestations.”manifestations.”

IndirectlyIndirectly cognizantcognizantUniverse is compared to big organization and all the Universe is compared to big organization and all the demigods to the heads of different departments and Krsna demigods to the heads of different departments and Krsna is the owner or this universal organization.is the owner or this universal organization.Thus He is indirectly cognizant of the affairs of universe Thus He is indirectly cognizant of the affairs of universe through the different department heads, who act as His through the different department heads, who act as His servants to carry out the affairs of universal management.servants to carry out the affairs of universal management.As the Paramatma in the heart of everyone As the Paramatma in the heart of everyone BG 13.23

Çvetäçvatara Upaniñad (4.7)

Paramatma in heartParamatma in heart

In spiritual world, there is no Paramatma feature, but Krsna knows directly everything. BG 7.26

DirectlyDirectly cognizantcognizant

eko ’py asau racayituà jagad-aëòa-koöiàeko ’py asau racayituà jagad-aëòa-koöiàyac-chaktir asti jagad-aëòa-cayä yad-antaùyac-chaktir asti jagad-aëòa-cayä yad-antaùaëòäntara-stha-paramäëu-cayäntara-sthaàaëòäntara-stha-paramäëu-cayäntara-sthaàgovindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämigovindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi

““I worship the Personality of Godhead, Govinda, who, by one of His plenary I worship the Personality of Godhead, Govinda, who, by one of His plenary portions, enters into the existence of every universe portions, enters into the existence of every universe andand every particle of every particle of the atoms and thus unlimitedly manifests His infinite energy all over the the atoms and thus unlimitedly manifests His infinite energy all over the material creation.”material creation.”

SP analogies: 1. Civil Engineer 2. Chemist 3. Gold mine & Gold ornaments SP analogies: 1. Civil Engineer 2. Chemist 3. Gold mine & Gold ornaments Para 7,8 & 9Para 7,8 & 9

Sva-rāt — Lord is fully Sva-rāt — Lord is fully independentindependent

Independence in material worldIndependence in material world““Independence is our birth right.”Independence is our birth right.”It is illusion in this material world.It is illusion in this material world.Everyone is dependent on something or someone for survival, nourishment, Everyone is dependent on something or someone for survival, nourishment, happiness, and so on.happiness, and so on.No other living entity is either abhijñah? or svarat?. That is, no one is either fully No other living entity is either abhijñah? or svarat?. That is, no one is either fully cognizant or fully independentcognizant or fully independentEven Brahma has to meditate upon the Supreme Lord in order to create. what to Even Brahma has to meditate upon the Supreme Lord in order to create. what to speak of scientists / Mayavadis / Atheists?speak of scientists / Mayavadis / Atheists?

SP analogies: 1. Chemist 2. Gold mine & Gold ornaments 3.Brahma , atheists, mayavadisSP analogies: 1. Chemist 2. Gold mine & Gold ornaments 3.Brahma , atheists, mayavadisPara 7& 9Para 7& 9

BG 7.12: Know that all states of being — be they of goodness, passion or ignorance — are manifested by My energy. I am, in one sense, everything, but I am independent. I am not under the modes of material nature, for they, on the contrary, are within Me.

1111thth Para Para

After defining Krsna as the all-perfect all –attractive Supreme After defining Krsna as the all-perfect all –attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth and the Cause of All Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth and the Cause of All causes,causes,

Srila Prabhupada recommends that everyone Surrender to Him and Srila Prabhupada recommends that everyone Surrender to Him and become a Great Soul, a mahatma. become a Great Soul, a mahatma. BG 7.19BG 7.19::

One who does not surrender is in illusionOne who does not surrender is in illusion

Because the Lord is omniscient Because the Lord is omniscient BG 7.26BG 7.26, for Him there is no illusion, for Him there is no illusion

tene brahma hådä ya ädi-tene brahma hådä ya ädi-kavayekavaye

““It is He only who first It is He only who first imparted the Vedic imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the knowledge unto the heart of heart of BrahmäjéBrahmäjé, , the original living the original living being.”being.”

Birth of Brahma within universe.Birth of Brahma within universe.

Brahma’s bewilderment and tapasya.Brahma’s bewilderment and tapasya.

Krsna revealing to him the purpose of his birth.Krsna revealing to him the purpose of his birth.

Brahma engaging in creation work and his Brahma engaging in creation work and his confession.confession.

muhyanti yat sürayaù tejo-väri-muhyanti yat sürayaù tejo-väri-

mådäà yathämådäà yathä ““By Him even the great sages and demi-By Him even the great sages and demi-gods are placed into illusion, as one is gods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on of water seen in fire, or land seen on water.”water.”Illusions of different kinds.Illusions of different kinds.Bodily concept of life.Bodily concept of life.Krsna bewildering even the great Krsna bewildering even the great demigods.demigods.

Brahma bewildered.Brahma bewildered.

Krsna enjoying Krsna enjoying meal with his meal with his cowherd boy cowherd boy friends and friends and Brahma coming to Brahma coming to see and examine see and examine Krsna’s potencies.Krsna’s potencies.

Even Balaram bewilderedEven Balaram bewildered

Seeing Krsna’s Seeing Krsna’s pastimes in pastimes in relationship to cows relationship to cows & calves and & calves and cowherd men & cowherd men & cowherd boys even cowherd boys even Lord Balaram Lord Balaram bewildered.bewildered.

Brahma seeing so many VishnusBrahma seeing so many Vishnus

Brahma amazed to Brahma amazed to see Krsna still see Krsna still playing with playing with cowherd boys.cowherd boys.All cowherd boys All cowherd boys transformed into transformed into Vishnu forms and Vishnu forms and thus Brahma thus Brahma bewildered.bewildered.

Brahma humbledBrahma humbled

Brahma becoming Brahma becoming confused and confused and bewilderd and then bewilderd and then finally realized that finally realized that Krsna is not a ordinary Krsna is not a ordinary boy, but master of all boy, but master of all the mystics.the mystics.

Brahma offering Brahma offering prayers to Krsna.prayers to Krsna.

Lord Shiva bewilderedLord Shiva bewildered

After the churning of After the churning of milk ocean and milk ocean and hearing the hearing the wonderful deeds of wonderful deeds of Lord Vishnu, Lord Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva approached Shiva approached and requested to and requested to see Mohini Murty see Mohini Murty form of Lord.form of Lord.

Lord Shiva runs behind MohiniLord Shiva runs behind Mohini

Lord Vishnu reveals Lord Vishnu reveals His maya potency His maya potency and Lord Shiva gets and Lord Shiva gets bewildered and runs bewildered and runs behind Mohini Murty.behind Mohini Murty.

Prayers by Lord Prayers by Lord Shiva to glorify Shiva to glorify Supreme Lord.Supreme Lord.

Many demigods bewilderedMany demigods bewildered

Indra bewildered so many times.Indra bewildered so many times.

Thus Lord’s potencies are unsurmountable Thus Lord’s potencies are unsurmountable and only who take shelter of Him can and only who take shelter of Him can overcome the illusory potency.overcome the illusory potency.

BG 10.2 : BG 10.2 : na me viduh sura-ganāhna me viduh sura-ganāh

BG 7.13BG 7.13: : tribhir guna-mayair bhāvairtribhir guna-mayair bhāvair

Escaping illusory potencyEscaping illusory potency

Krsna says in Bg 7.14Krsna says in Bg 7.14daivé hy eñä guëa-mayé mama mäyä daivé hy eñä guëa-mayé mama mäyä duratyayä mäm eva ye prapadyante mäyäm duratyayä mäm eva ye prapadyante mäyäm etäà taranti teetäà taranti te

““This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.”have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.”

The easiest way to surrender to Krsna is by,The easiest way to surrender to Krsna is by,

vinimayo yatra tri-sargo vinimayo yatra tri-sargo ’måñä’måñä

““Only because of Only because of Him do the Him do the material universes, material universes, temporarily temporarily manifested by the manifested by the reactions of the reactions of the three modes of three modes of nature, appear nature, appear factual, although factual, although they are unreal.they are unreal.””

Creation of interaction of 3 modes.Creation of interaction of 3 modes.

3 Modes create 3 Modes create everythingeverything within this within this material world.material world.

Everything means –Everything means –bodies of different living entities,bodies of different living entities,different matter,different matter,different emotions,different emotions,different interactions between different different interactions between different living entities, and so on…living entities, and so on…

Appearing FactualAppearing Factual

Everything is Everything is temporary in this temporary in this world,world,body,body,home,home,love & hatered,love & hatered,happiness & happiness & distress, & so on…distress, & so on…

Yet appears to be Yet appears to be factual (everylasting)factual (everylasting)

Material world compared to Material world compared to dreaming.dreaming.

E.g. in dream on sees being chased by E.g. in dream on sees being chased by tiger,tiger,suffering due to tiger chasing is actually suffering due to tiger chasing is actually non-existant, yet the effect of it is real.non-existant, yet the effect of it is real.Mayavada theory not supported,Mayavada theory not supported,world is temporary and thus unreal, but it world is temporary and thus unreal, but it is not imaginery or non existant.is not imaginery or non existant.Waking up from dreaming drives away all Waking up from dreaming drives away all sufferings.sufferings.

Waking up from dream by,Waking up from dream by,

12th para12th para

Questioning Authority of SB. - VopadevaQuestioning Authority of SB. - Vopadeva

Sridhara Swami - Quotes References from other puranas about the Sridhara Swami - Quotes References from other puranas about the validity of SBvalidity of SB

1. Matsya Purana (oldest Purana) - 1. Gayatri manthra 2. Vrtrasura 1. Matsya Purana (oldest Purana) - 1. Gayatri manthra 2. Vrtrasura pastimepastime

2. Padma Puran?a - conversation between Gautama and Maharaja 2. Padma Puran?a - conversation between Gautama and Maharaja Ambaris?a. Gautama Instructing Ambarisha to regularly read SBAmbaris?a. Gautama Instructing Ambarisha to regularly read SB

Various Scholars commentaries on SBVarious Scholars commentaries on SB

14th Para14th Para

Gradual elevation to the highest perfectional stage of transcendenceGradual elevation to the highest perfectional stage of transcendence

Transcend the 3 modes of material activities - karma kanda, janana Transcend the 3 modes of material activities - karma kanda, janana kanda, upasana kandakanda, upasana kanda

fruitive actions, speculative philosophy, and worship of functional fruitive actions, speculative philosophy, and worship of functional deities as inculcated in Vedic verses.deities as inculcated in Vedic verses.

Brahma Gayatri Bhagavatam 1st Text

Om janmādy asya yato

 Lord Śrī Krsna is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction

Bhur Bhuvah Suvah yatra tri-sargo 'mrsā

 lower/middle/upper planetary systems - or material universes

savitur varenyam bhargah Svarat

Sun's self sustaining effulgence Lord's full independence

Dhiyo yonah prachotayat tene brahma hrda

Prayerful mood of enlightenment

Lord enlightens Brahma because of Brahma's prayerful mood

Dhimahi Satyam Param Dhimahi

I meditate upon the Absolute Truth

Bhagavatams beginning 1.1.1 and end 12.13.19 - ultimate objective : Meditation on Krsna