Bhagavatam A Major Contribution to the Understanding of God
The Vedas deal with many subjects. They are the books of a highly developed civilization and cover all departments of knowledge. Among them, Srimad-Bhagavatam (also known as the Bhagavata Purana) deals exclusively with subjects about God. Srimad means "beautiful" or "opulent," and Bhagavatam means "related to God." Hence, Srimad-Bhagavatam can be translated as "The Beautiful Story of God."
Srimad-Bhagavatam describes God, our relationship with Him, and the process for realizing that relationship. Its 18,000 verses give detailed accounts of God's names, forms, nature, personality, devotees, activities, residences, and much more.
In one of the opening chapters, the narrator explains that the sage Vyasadeva, who wrote portions of the Vedic literature and compiled the rest, felt dissatisfied despite his accomplishments. Under the order of his guru, he then embarked on writing Srimad-Bhagavatam, considered the ripe fruit of the tree of the Vedas.
Srimad-Bhagavatam describes God, our relationship with Him, and the process for realizing that relationship. Its 18,000 verses give detailed accounts of God's names, forms, nature, personality, devotees, activities, residences, and much more.
In one of the opening chapters, the narrator explains that the sage Vyasadeva, who wrote portions of the Vedic literature and compiled the rest, felt dissatisfied despite his accomplishments. Under the order of his guru, he then embarked on writing Srimad-Bhagavatam, considered the ripe fruit of the tree of the Vedas.
love would increase most efficiently in separation
śravaṇād darśanād dhyānān
mayi bhāvo 'nukīrtanāt
na tathā sannikarṣeṇa
pratiyāta tato gṛhān
SYNONYMS
śravaṇāt — by hearing; darśanāt — by seeing the Deity form; dhyānāt — by meditation; mayi — for Me; bhāvaḥ — love; anukīrtanāt — by chanting My names and qualities; na — not; tathā — in the same way; sannikarṣeṇa — by literal proximity; pratiyāta — return; tataḥ — therefore; gṛhān — to your homes.
TRANSLATION
Krishna to Brahmin's Ladies,It is by hearing about Me, seeing My Deity form, meditating upon Me and chanting My names and glories that love for Me develops, not by physical proximity. Therefore please go back to your homes.
There Is No Factual Separation From Him
How to avoid our separation from the Lord ?
The order of the Lord and the Lord Himself are identical. As long as one is engaged in the execution of the order of the Lord, there is no factual separation from Him.
Sreemad Bhagavatham, 3.4.21.
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Everyone aspires for happiness
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
February 23, 1975, Caracas
Happiness, everyone aspires for happiness. Nobody aspires for distress, but distress is forcibly come upon you. Similarly, the sastra says, "As distress comes without any desire, similarly, happiness also will come without any endeavor." So long we are in the material world, the so-called happiness and distress will come and go, but our, the human life, the endeavor should be how to find out or revive our relationship with God. That is our main business. They are just like seasonal changes, happiness and distress. Matra-sparsas tu kaunteya sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah. Just like there is winter season. It is pinching cold. That will also not stay. And the scorching heat, that will also not stay. It comes and goes. Therefore, so long in the material world we are, the so-called happiness and distress will come and go. Don't bother about it. You simply try for reviving your Krsna consciousness, or God consciousness.
Same Word Diffferent Meanings
The devas, the celestial beings, had all the comforts they could aspire for and led a life of pleasure. Though they were free from hunger, thirst, old age and death, they were not really happy. They felt that they lacked something. So, they decided to seek advice and guidance from Prajapati Brahma. They all left for the abode of Brahma.
Unlike their counterparts in heaven, The maanavas – human beings were leading a hard life. They toiled hard to obtain money. But, on no account, would they part with what they had gained. Yet, despite all the riches they had earned and stored away, they, too, were far from happy. They also felt they lacked contentment and peace of mind. So, they decided to approach Prajapati Brahma for guidance.
The asuras (demons) meanwhile inspired fear among both the human beings and devas. They too were overcome by a feeling of dissatisfaction. Although they were powerful and feared by all, they were not at all happy. They too decided to go to Prajapati Brahma for guidance.
The demigods, demons and humans simultaneously reached the abode of Prajapati Brahma. They unanimously asked him for a solution to their discontentment and absence of peace from their lives. Prajapati Brahma just uttered one symbol – "da" .
Everyone was perplexed. They contemplated on what it could mean. They concluded that it was the first syllable of a secret word which would be an answer to the problems faced by them. They all left for their respective homes to ponder over the syllable.
On returing to heaven, the devas were about to resume their life of pleasure , when one deva got up and said, "I ve got it. I know what 'da' means. It means 'damyata', which means that we have to exercise self control." All the devas put aside their pleasures. Then they began to practise self control and experienced a satisfaction never known before.
The humans, meanwhile had also gone back to their work. As a group of farmers were sitting next to a huge pile of their harvest grain, they noticed a few birds trying to eat the grains. The men were angered and one man got up and was about to fling a stone at the birds, when he had a realization dawned on him. He exclaimed that he had understood the meaning of the syllable 'da'. He said that it meant 'datta', meaning to give away. They decided to stop hoarding and allowed the birds to eat the grain. They began practicing charity and realised that there was a joy in giving away and gave away whatever they can.
When the demons were about to resume their activities by tormenting others, they suddenly felt that the syllable "da" indicated 'dayaadhvam', meaning compassion. They stopped tormenting others and started being merciful to other beings. Their hearts were filled with a new kind of joy that they had never experienced before. They concluded that Prajapati Brahma wanted them to practice compassion.
The above story reminds us of a beautiful verse from Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 4.31.19)
Unlike their counterparts in heaven, The maanavas – human beings were leading a hard life. They toiled hard to obtain money. But, on no account, would they part with what they had gained. Yet, despite all the riches they had earned and stored away, they, too, were far from happy. They also felt they lacked contentment and peace of mind. So, they decided to approach Prajapati Brahma for guidance.
The asuras (demons) meanwhile inspired fear among both the human beings and devas. They too were overcome by a feeling of dissatisfaction. Although they were powerful and feared by all, they were not at all happy. They too decided to go to Prajapati Brahma for guidance.
The demigods, demons and humans simultaneously reached the abode of Prajapati Brahma. They unanimously asked him for a solution to their discontentment and absence of peace from their lives. Prajapati Brahma just uttered one symbol – "da" .
Everyone was perplexed. They contemplated on what it could mean. They concluded that it was the first syllable of a secret word which would be an answer to the problems faced by them. They all left for their respective homes to ponder over the syllable.
On returing to heaven, the devas were about to resume their life of pleasure , when one deva got up and said, "I ve got it. I know what 'da' means. It means 'damyata', which means that we have to exercise self control." All the devas put aside their pleasures. Then they began to practise self control and experienced a satisfaction never known before.
The humans, meanwhile had also gone back to their work. As a group of farmers were sitting next to a huge pile of their harvest grain, they noticed a few birds trying to eat the grains. The men were angered and one man got up and was about to fling a stone at the birds, when he had a realization dawned on him. He exclaimed that he had understood the meaning of the syllable 'da'. He said that it meant 'datta', meaning to give away. They decided to stop hoarding and allowed the birds to eat the grain. They began practicing charity and realised that there was a joy in giving away and gave away whatever they can.
When the demons were about to resume their activities by tormenting others, they suddenly felt that the syllable "da" indicated 'dayaadhvam', meaning compassion. They stopped tormenting others and started being merciful to other beings. Their hearts were filled with a new kind of joy that they had never experienced before. They concluded that Prajapati Brahma wanted them to practice compassion.
The above story reminds us of a beautiful verse from Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 4.31.19)
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