Srimad Bhagavatam discussion --part 3

[Guest guest]

uddhava dushyant wrote:

 

> what conclusive proof or need or validation or anything is there to

> conclude that the Bhagavatam is older than 1200 years old?

 

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.8 T

(Translation: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)

 

sa samhitam bhagavatim

krtvanukramya catma-jam

sukam adhyapayam asa

nivrtti-niratam munih

 

SYNONYMS

sah--that; samhitam--Vedic literature; bhagavatim--in relation with the

Personality of Godhead; krtva--having done; anukramya--by correction and

repetition; ca--and; atma-jam--his own son; sukam--Sukadeva Gosvami;

adhyapayam asa--taught; nivrtti--path of self realization; niratam--engaged;

munih--the sage.

 

TRANSLATION

The great sage Vyasadeva, after compiling the Srimad-Bhagavatam and

revising it, taught it to his own son, Sri Sukadeva Gosvami, who was already

engaged in self-realization.

 

PURPORT

Srimad-Bhagavatam is the natural commentation on the Brahma-sutras

compiled by the same author. This Brahma-sutra, or Vedanta-sutra, is meant

for those who are already engaged in self-realization. Srimad-Bhagavatam is

so made that one becomes at once engaged in the path of self-realization

simply by hearing the topics. Although it is especially meant for the

paramahamsas, or those who are totally engaged in self-realization, it works

into the depths of the hearts of those who may be worldly men. Worldly men

are all engaged in sense gratification. But even such men will find in this

Vedic literature a remedial measure for their material diseases. Sukadeva

Gosvami was a liberated soul from the very beginning of his birth, and his

father taught him Srimad-Bhagavatam. Amongst mundane scholars, there is some

diversity of opinion as to the date of compilation of Srimad-Bhagavatam. It

is, however, certain from the text of the Bhagavatam that it was compiled

before the disappearance of King Pariksit and after the departure of Lord

Krsna. When Maharaja Pariksit was ruling the world as the King of

Bharata-varsa, he chastised the personality of Kali. According to revealed

scriptures and astrological calculation, the age of Kali is in its five

thousandth year. Therefore, Srimad-Bhagavatam was compiled not less than

five thousand years ago. Mahabharata was compiled before Srimad-Bhagavatam,

and the Puranas were compiled before Mahabharata. That is an estimation of

the date of compilation of the different Vedic literatures. The synopsis of

Srimad-Bhagavatam was given before the detailed description under

instruction of Narada. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the science for following the

path of nivrtti-marga. The path of pravrtti-marga was condemned by Narada.

That path is the natural inclination for all conditioned souls. The theme of

Srimad-Bhagavatam is the cure of the materialistic disease of the human

being, or stopping completely the pangs of material existence.