- A structural review of the main topics of Bhagavatam. Lect.2 - Bhakti Vijnana Goswami

ŚB . Prayers to Sukadeva Goswami य: स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेक- मध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् । संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥ ३ ॥ yaḥ svānubhāvam akhila-śruti-sāram ekam adhyātma-dīpam atititīrṣatāṁ tamo ’ndham saṁsāriṇāṁ karuṇayāha purāṇa-guhyaṁ taṁ vyāsa-sūnum upayāmi guruṁ munīnām Translation Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto him [Śuka], the spiritual master of all sages, the son of Vyāsadeva, who, out of his great compassion for those gross materialists who struggle to cross over the darkest regions of material existence, spoke this most confidential supplement to the cream of Vedic knowledge, after having personally assimilated it by experience. “Srimad-Bhagavatam“ is the result of the direct experience of Sukadeva Goswami. We can not understand it theoretically, but we should experience it the same way as Sukadeva Goswami. “Bhagavatam“ is also his merciful creation, he revealed it to us so that we can get out of the material world. And we should not be satisfied with the simplistic understanding of this great literature. “Srimad-Bhagavatam“ is Bhagavata-svarup, it’s the Lord Himself, therefore I am the object of Lord’s mercy, He has to give His merciful look upon me, by which some knowledge can be revealed to me. There is only one topic in “Srimad-Bhagavatam“ – the Supreme Personality of Godhead is a young boy who is eternally engaged in loving pastimes with His devotees. There are ten topics of “Srimad-Bhagavatam“ beginning with sarga, and the last topic is asraya, actually asraya is the main topic and nine others are there to explain it. Asraya, or the Supreme shelter has three main functions: 1) yataha – the Absolute Truth is the source of everything; 2) yena – the Absolute Truth enters into everything; 3) yat – in which everything enters after annihilation. Therefore asraya is not accessible to us. The first topic sarga or creation explains how the basic elements of creation came about after the glance of the Lord. First mahat-tattva or the first element was created, then sutra-tattva or living force was created, after that appeared ahankara or false identity. Everything else is a result of ahankara. By understanding how all the elementary creation is coming from the Lord we are getting the first understanding of who the Lord is. Visarga is the secondary creation, Lord Brahma created this universe according to karma. Then different living entities were created. Sthanam or the place is the third topic. For different kinds of people there are different places, where people can fulfill their desires and enjoy in a particular way. Sthanam explains the nature of the Supreme Lord, He creates everything, maintains everything. Posanam or the nourishment is the fourth topic. The Lord created us and by His mercy He maintains us. Uti or the internal impetus for us to act, sometimes we act in a pious way, sometimes we act in a foolish or sinful way. If we want to have a good impetus we have to have an association with good people. Manvantara: this world is created, and there are rulers, and every ruler has to understand that he is the representative of this universal power structure. The ruler is supposed to make sure that everyone follows his nature. Isanukatha: Lord comes to this world and performs His lilas, by His mercy everything is maintained. When people follow dharma, they become pious. The most important subject matter in “Srimad-Bhagavatam“ is asraya. It’s impossible to understand it, but we can have some idea of asraya if we study our situation in this world very carefully with the help of “Srimad-Bhagavatam“.